A family that lives far from the sea.

It is now the stormy season, with white-capped waves crashing against the Cua Viet estuary amidst torrential rain, wind, and biting cold. Yet, this weather does not deter the offshore fishing fleet of Cua Viet town, Gio Linh district, from venturing out to sea. On the decks of these fishing vessels, many courageous fishermen from the Bui family are always present, clinging to the sea and fishing grounds to catch seafood, contributing to the protection of the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland's maritime territory.

Many offshore fishing boats belonging to fishermen from the Bui family are returning from the open sea - Photo: HAI AN

Rescuing people at sea.

When I mentioned that many offshore fishing boats belonging to the Bui family in Ward 5 are always ready to go out to sea to rescue ships and boats in distress, the elderly fisherman Bui Dinh Sanh (70 years old) smiled kindly and said that, from ancient times to the present day, fishermen in coastal areas have always believed that rescuing people at sea or on rivers is like "stealing food from the River God," so many fishermen often hesitate to rescue ships and boats in distress at sea or on rivers.

I don't know about other places, but the offshore fishing fleet of Ward 5, including many fishermen from the Bui family, immediately sets off to rescue any vessel in distress at sea or on the river. Sharing the same profession and livelihood at sea, saving lives is a noble act that any fisherman should perform.

I recall that around the end of February 2023, the fishing boat of fishermen Nguyen Van Vinh (born in 1976) and Vo Quang Bac (born in 1972), both residing in Hamlet 4, Gio Hai Commune, Gio Linh District, encountered a problem and sank due to rough waves while returning to the Cua Viet port area after fishing. Fisherman Bui Dinh Hien, residing in Ward 5, Cua Viet Town, immediately went out to sea to rescue the fishermen in distress. Bui Dinh Hien's offshore fishing vessel successfully rescued the fishing boat of fisherman Nguyen Duc Huan (born in 1982), also residing in Ward 5, Cua Viet Town, which had also been damaged and sunk by waves...

The very next day, mobilized by the Cua Viet Port Border Guard Station, fisherman Bui Dinh Hien's offshore fishing vessel, along with the offshore fishing vessel QT - 92567 TS of fisherman Vo Van Thuc residing in Xuan Ngoc village, Gio Viet commune, Gio Linh district, went out to sea to tow the sunken fishing boat ashore amidst rough seas and strong winds, and then handed it over to the fishermen for repairs.

Mr. Bui Dinh Sanh added that, during his nearly 14 years as the head of the Self-Management Team for Safe Fishing Vessels in Ward 5, he has witnessed dozens of instances of fishermen assisting each other during raging storms in the vast ocean. In his self-management team alone, out of 35 offshore fishing vessels, 6-7 have braved rough seas and strong winds to rescue people at sea, including fishing vessels belonging to many fishermen surnamed Bui.

For example, consider the offshore fishing boats of fishermen Bui Dinh Dung, Bui Dinh Hue, Bui Dinh Tan, Bui Van Bien, Bui Dinh Hien... in Ward 5. A lifetime spent as a fisherman, wading through the open sea, requires a compassionate heart. Not only the fishermen of Ward 5, but all fishermen in the coastal region always have a sense of responsibility to rescue people in distress at sea or to share and assist fellow fishermen's families facing hardship and difficulties... all to support each other in protecting the nation's seas and skies.

Determined to stay at sea

Recalling his years as a seasoned fisherman venturing across fishing grounds such as the Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, the Gulf of Tonkin, South Central Vietnam, and the Southwest, 75-year-old fisherman Bui Dinh Chinh from Ward 5 remembers that from the age of 15, he followed his father and became familiar with the rough seas. In the old days, fishermen endured countless hardships in their work at sea.

It's impossible not to suffer when you have to go out to sea in a small, hand-rowed boat. To catch fish and shrimp, you have to look at the stars, the waves, and the direction of the ocean currents to predict the direction of the fish and shrimp before casting your nets or baiting your lines. Everything depends on the seafaring experience accumulated over a lifetime by the fishermen.

A family that lives far from the sea.

Mr. Bui Dinh Chinh meticulously helps his children mend each loose mesh of their fishing net - Photo: HAI AN

It wasn't until 2006 that Mr. Chinh was able to afford to build a new offshore fishing vessel with a capacity of over 400 horsepower, equipped with modern fishing gear, so that he and his children could venture out to sea and make a living from fishing. With his deep understanding and experience gained from decades of dedication to the sea, Mr. Chinh has passed on to his three sons, fishermen Bui Dinh Chien (49 years old), Bui Dinh Hue (47 years old), and Bui Dinh Muoi (34 years old), knowledge about currents and waterways that fish and squid follow, as well as fishing grounds that yield large catches of seafood depending on the season.

Around 2009, due to old age and declining health, Mr. Bui Dinh Chinh could no longer steer the offshore fishing vessel, so he decided not to follow his children out to sea. He stayed home and meticulously helped his children mend the tangled mesh of their fishing nets so they could be ready to take them back to the ships to catch seafood.

His sons now own their own offshore fishing vessels with engines ranging from 450 to nearly 800 horsepower, equipped with modern fishing gear; earning hundreds of millions of dong after each fishing trip. Among Mr. Chinh's three sons, the second son, fisherman Bui Dinh Hue, owns one of the largest steel-hulled vessels in Cua Viet town. The "fleet" of the sons of veteran fisherman Bui Dinh Chinh is currently out at sea day and night, fishing for seafood in distant fishing grounds.

Ward 5 (formerly Tan Loi village) has a long tradition of venturing far out to sea, boasting one of the largest fleets of offshore fishing vessels in Cua Viet town. The Bui family alone owns approximately two-thirds of the total offshore fishing fleet in Cua Viet town, specializing in fishing in the Hoang Sa, Truong Sa, Gulf of Tonkin, South Central, and Southwest fishing grounds.

The 2024 "opening of the sea" season is approaching, with the "opening of the sea" ceremony at the beginning of the new year being a unique cultural tradition that has existed for hundreds of years in coastal villages. Following the "opening of the sea" ceremony at the beginning of the year, joining the fleet of offshore fishing boats from Cua Viet town are many offshore fishing vessels of the courageous fishermen of the Bui family in Ward 5. And in the distant fishing grounds of the Fatherland such as Hoang Sa, Truong Sa, the Gulf of Tonkin, South Central Coast, Southwest Coast... the presence of Cua Viet fishermen contributes to affirming the sovereignty of the Fatherland's sea and islands.

Hai An

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