Visiting Ninh Thuy fishing village in early spring.

On the first morning of the new year, I returned to old Ninh Thuy (now part of Dong Ninh Hoa ward) as the sun was just rising above the horizon, the sea still shrouded in mist. From Ba Ha to Thuy Dam and Ngan Ha – the fishing villages nestled beside Van Phong Bay – awakened to the bustling sounds of boat engines and the gentle lapping of waves against the hulls. The early spring sea breeze carried a familiar salty scent, softly stirring up countless memories.

After the first fishing trip of the year, the boats docked one after another. Baskets of fish and squid were passed ashore, glistening silver in the early morning sun. In Ba Ha 1 and Ba Ha 2 residential areas, the market was held along the sandy beach. At Thuy Dam, fresh squid was arranged in neat rows; in Ngan Ha, there was a lively atmosphere of friendly greetings and bargaining among the fishermen. The entire coastal area seemed to be draped in a fresh, simple, yet warm spring cloak.

Sunrise over Ninh Thuy beach.

I grew up amidst those sounds. My childhood was intertwined with the flickering lights of fishing boats out at sea, and with mornings spent with my mother at the market from dawn. Back then, the market was just a few tarpaulins spread on the damp sand. Mackerel, tuna, and squid, freshly caught, were still glistening. Sellers and buyers called each other by familiar names, inquiring about the calm sea, their children's education, and the newly repaired roofs of their houses. The market was not only a place for exchanging seafood, but also a place for preserving the camaraderie of the fishing village.

Leaving my hometown for work, I carried with me the scent of fresh fish and the sound of crashing waves. Every Tet holiday, the feeling remains unchanged, like the water returning to its old harbor. Walking along the familiar road leading down to Ba Ha 1 fish market, I encounter familiar faces. Mr. Tu – my father's fisherman friend, his hair graying but his voice still clear and strong – says: “The sea is favorable at the beginning of the year, the fish are coming in steadily. Thanks to tourists buying directly, the fishermen are getting better prices.”

In a corner of the market, a steaming pot of fish noodle soup, its broth made from fresh fish bones, exuded a fragrant aroma of onions and cilantro. I sat down and savored the familiar, subtly sweet flavor. Beside me were a few tourists who had come to the dock early with their homestay owner to watch the fishing boats come in, personally selecting their seafood and having it prepared on the spot. Ms. Nguyen Thao Vy, a tourist from Lam Dong province, shared: "This is a simple yet authentic experience that helps me truly feel the rhythm of life in the coastal region." Mr. Le Minh Quan from Dak Lak province also expressed his impression of the friendliness of the locals and the peaceful atmosphere of the fishing dock at the beginning of the year. In the distance, a group of fishermen who had just docked gathered around a bowl of hot noodle soup, recounting stories of their first catch of the spring, interspersed with wishes for a smooth and successful journey.

The village gate of Ba Ha 1 residential area - a place that preserves the community life of the residents of Ninh Thuy coastal village.

In recent years, Ninh Thuy has undergone significant changes. Community-based tourism has opened up a new direction for the coastal village. The coastal road has been invested in and improved. Many houses in Ba Ha, Thuy Dam, and Ngan Ha have been renovated into homestays and seafood restaurants, offering tourists experiences such as net pulling, fishing, and rowing basket boats. The people still rely on the sea for their livelihood, but they have learned to combine it with services to increase their income. Young people in the village have more job options and no longer have to leave their hometown to make a living.

What is truly admirable is that amidst this transformation, the soul of the fishing village has been preserved. The fish market still operates according to the time the boats return to the harbor; the buying and selling methods remain simple and unhurried, without noisy haggling. Before each fishing trip, many boat owners still light incense and pray for calm seas, entrusting their faith to the waves and the patron saint of their profession.

The sun rose high, its golden light illuminating the sea as I walked slowly along the sand. The boats, having unloaded their catch, were preparing for their next fishing trip. The sound of engines, the calls of people mingling with the wind, created a familiar rhythm of the fishing village every spring.

The Ninh Thuy fishing village is steadily rising above the waves. Spring in this coastal village is not only filled with sunshine and the salty breeze, but also ignites a fervent belief in a prosperous new year. For those of us who have left our hometown, each return is a source of renewed strength from the fishing harbor, where the sunrise not only illuminates the sea but also ignites a sense of pride in our homeland's sea.

YOUTH

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/du-lich/202602/dau-xuan-den-tham-lang-chai-ninh-thuy-fc3591a/