A man has spent more than 20 years repairing saxophones, alongside other wind instruments, in Ho Chi Minh City after he learned the trade from his grandfather.

Nguyen Duy Khang, the 38-year-old owner of Nguyen Khang Saxophone Shop on Huynh Van Gam Street in Tay Thanh Ward, Tan Phu District, has been around the wind instrument since he was in third grade.

His grandfather learned to repair saxophones while he was serving in the military and later turned it into his job.

Khang took over the job when he was 17 and now has mastered not only saxophones but also other wind instruments.

His customers are mainly students from conservatories as well as artists in and outside of Vietnam.

Nguyen Duy Khang works at his repair shop in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City, December 6, 2021. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News

According to the repairman, the amount of time required to fix an instrument depends on its condition.

“Normally it takes me around four days to repair an instrument, but sometimes it’s up to more than a week,” he said.

The more challenging it is to fix an instrument, the more excited he is.

“I’m really happy when I can recover the instrument to its original condition for my customers,” Khang said.

A dented instrument is seen at Nguyen Duy Khang’s repair shop in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City, December 6, 2021. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News

To Khang, repairing saxophones is not only his job but also the passion of his life.

Besides fixing the broken instruments, Khang also collects saxophones and hangs them around his shop.

Nguyen Duy Khang holds a saxophone, dating back to 1922, he collected at his repair shop in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City, December 6, 2021. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News

“You must be persistent, meticulous, and knowledgeable to be a repairman,” Khang said.

“Each instrument is a complicated structure and sometimes it’s very hard to repair.”

Khang is planning to run saxophone repair courses for those who love to join him.

Nguyen Duy Khang checks on an instrument while repairing it at his repair shop in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City, December 6, 2021. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News

Nguyen Duy Khang works at his repair shop in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City, December 6, 2021. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News

Nguyen Duy Khang cleans an instrument before handing it over to a customer at his repair shop in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City, December 6, 2021. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News

Nguyen Duy Khang uses a torch while separating the components of a saxophone at his repair shop in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City, December 6, 2021. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News

Nguyen Duy Khang is seen working at his repair shop in Tan Phu District in Ho Chi Minh City, December 6, 2021. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News

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Ngoc Phuong - Dong Nguyen/Tuoi Tre News