My hometown river

I searched my memories for the rivers and streams of yesteryear. Yes! Those days are long gone, at least thirty or forty years ago. Those rivers of my homeland cooled my childhood, the rivers that connected lovers and brought life.

Rivers evoke endless nostalgia in people's hearts. The poet Te Hanh wrote: “My homeland has a verdant river / Its clear water reflects the hair of the bamboo trees / My soul is like summer afternoons / Sunlight shining down on the shimmering river…” In those days, the river was music, poetry, and all the love and attachment that generations of people have entrusted to it, burdened with debt and longing. The river is the soul of the land, the source of the homeland's beauty and charm, the lifeblood that nourishes the green banks of villages. The river gives wings to dreams, holding back the hearts of those far from home. These are the verdant rivers, winding between banks of lush green bamboo. Boats sail up and down, folk songs and melodies drift along the river, carried by the wind, the moon, and the love between young men and women. Add to that the riverbanks, where boats docked for trade, where mothers, sisters, and daughters came at night to bathe, wash clothes, carry water, and even wait for their dates… Like the Dinh River in my hometown, a river flowing gently from Tanh Linh through Ham Tan down to La Gi town and then quietly merging into the sea. Anyone who has lived in the old Binh Tuy or the present-day La Gi has more or less unforgettable memories associated with this river. How can one forget those summer afternoons spent soaking in the cool water of childhood, or strolling along the riverbanks to pick water hyacinths, pick bougainvillea, go fishing, and search for crabs and snails? Not only that, the Dinh River also has the Da Dung Dam, a very beautiful scenic spot.

Back then, Đá Dựng had a cherry blossom garden, a one-pillar pagoda, stone lion statues, and curved wooden bridges. Sitting at Đá Dựng on a moonlit night was like being in a fairytale garden. In the distance, under the moonlight, tiny fishing boats drifted lazily along the tranquil water; then came the sound of water trickling in the moonlight, the faint sound of moonlight falling delicately on the cherry blossom garden. All of this created a shimmering, magical beauty. The Dinh River is still there now, but much of its former shimmering, magical beauty is gone. Like the fate of so many rivers and streams in Vietnam, these rivers today no longer offer the same gentleness and tranquility. In the dry season, the riverbed lies exposed, revealing the rocks; in the rainy season, the floodwaters roar and surge.

The Dinh River is small and picturesque, but when it rages, the consequences are devastating. Remember July 1999, when a horrific flash flood swept away almost all the bridges, culverts, and houses along its banks, then submerged the entire town of La Gi in a sea of water. And recently, on the night of August 28, 2021, amidst a spreading pandemic, the Dinh River roared again, bringing floods that submerged dozens of fishing boats. Property, houses, fields… so much hard work, sweat, tears, and even blood were all swallowed up in the flood.

The once tranquil river of their homeland has now become a source of terror during the rainy season and floods. Vietnam currently has over 70 hydroelectric dams, with a significant proportion in Central Vietnam and the Central Highlands. Some rivers carry dozens of hydroelectric dams on their backs. Simply put, hydroelectric dams in Central Vietnam have small capacities and low investment costs, but high profits. However, the harm to the people is immeasurable. Ten hydroelectric dams on the same river, ten reservoirs – surely downstream, there will be no water left for people to make a living during the dry season… Restoring peace to these rivers is our responsibility.

Comment (0)