In his neighborhood, Hung is regarded as one of the last people still practicing the now nearly extinct trade of gas refilling for lighters - a once-thriving business during the golden days of refillable gas lighters in Vietnam. Tran The Hung, one of the last gas lighter refillers in Ho Chi Minh City, continues the job despite his age and illness. On a friend’s advice, he switched to lighter gas refilling, a job that paid cash on the spot. “In those days, refillable gas lighters were everywhere. He built a wooden toolbox attached to the back of his bike, carrying all the tools for lighter repairs.

Source: VietNamNet News February 07, 2026 06:08 UTC