The ferry boat - a beautiful cultural symbol of Southern Vietnam.

Báo Vĩnh Long•04/06/2023

The ferry uses double oars to take passengers across the river at the Long Ho market junction.

Double-rowed ferries ferry passengers across the river at the Long Ho market junction. Women carry baskets filled with various items, preparing for their family's meal.

Down in the ferry, the women sat chatting animatedly, their conversation abruptly ending when the boat reached the shore. And so, with their gentle hands, the women rowed the boats at the river junction, ferrying market-goers across the river teeming with floating water hyacinths.

Rowboats ferry passengers along the Long Ho River, a scene reminiscent of the time when "crossing the river required relying on ferries."

Living in the South in the 80s, 70s, or older, who hasn't crossed a river by ferry or ridden a longboat? The longboat is most associated with my memories, especially the trips back to my maternal grandparents' village. From Cau Vy market wharf (Bung Truong river), I would take a longboat to Huu Thanh, then catch another ferry to Thoi Hoa—my maternal grandparents' village.

Although it was only about 30 kilometers away, it took almost half a day to get to my grandmother's house. The Huu Thanh dock used to be very busy, with boats and canoes side-by-side along a long stretch of the riverbank. Sometimes, boats and canoes couldn't reach the shore and had to anchor or tie themselves to boats and canoes that were already anchored.

The sounds of engines, oars splashing in the water, people calling out to customers, vendors hawking their wares… the atmosphere at the riverside market was bustling and vibrant. In those years, the ebb and flow of the tides made the river muddy due to the sheer volume of boats and ships. The ferry docks, moored boats, and the constant comings and goings of boats were incredibly busy. The era of boats and canoes crammed into the river is now a thing of the past.

Boats, oars, and paddles... these elements add beauty to the picture of daily life in the riverine region. These boat trips are deeply ingrained in the memories of the people of the riverside countryside, closely associated with the gentle river, its ebb and flow of the tides. The water is sometimes murky, sometimes clear, much like life's ups and downs.

Ferry boats, both long and short. These boats were once an integral part of school days, closely linked to trips to the market and inter-provincial travel for people in the riverine region. The images and sounds remain unforgettable, with glimpses of hands waving for a boat from afar, and the calls of "boatman!" These long and short boats carried rain and sunshine, joys and sorrows, accompanying countless generations throughout history.

Yes, that's a familiar cultural trait of the southern riverine region. Even though the days of "crossing the river required relying on a ferry" are over, that cultural trait is still clearly evident in the way people ask for a ride. Even now, when traveling by car, people still call it "cháa giang" (passing by ferry). It's a familiar way of speaking in the riverine region.

And it touches people's hearts through its gentle, familiar, and simple lyrics:

"There is a river flowing through my memory."

My village is on the eroding bank, your village is on the alluvial bank.

Every day I cross the river to go to school.

"Under the shadow of the waiting boat in the misty haze"

(Homeland River - Dinh Tram Ca)

Good

"Remember the old boat from years ago at the old dock,"

I cherish those folk songs calling out to travelers crossing the river.

In her white dress, she smiled and softly called out,

My dearest, I am still waiting for you…

(The traditional Vietnamese blouse - Tran Thien Thanh)

With its intricate network of rivers and canals, boats and canoes are a vital means of transportation, reflecting the unique culture of the waterways. And this beauty, like the rhythmic strokes of oars, has become etched in the memories of the people of Southern Vietnam.

Text and photos: HOAI THUONG

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