Preserving the riverine culture

In the U Minh Thuong region, many people still maintain a lifestyle closely tied to boats and canoes. These familiar means of living and earning a living have contributed to preserving the distinctive riverine culture of the Southern region of Vietnam.

Three-leaf boat racing in Vinh Binh commune. Photo: THUY TIEN

At dawn, the tranquil atmosphere of the canals in the U Minh Thuong region is shattered by the crisp sound of engines. Small boats and barges laden with vegetables, fish, and other goods weave through the waterways, serving the local people as a familiar part of their riverside lifestyle. Whenever these boats pass by a house, they stop whenever they see someone waiting. Sellers and buyers exchange a few words about everyday life. For the locals, these trading trips are not simply about making a living, but also about preserving the sense of community and neighborly spirit. “Before, this area didn’t have concrete roads, so people traveled by boat. Now, the roads are more convenient, but many people still prefer buying from the boats – they have everything, it’s convenient in both ways,” said Mrs. Nguyen Thi Be Tu, a resident of Vinh Thuan commune.

Not far away, at Vinh Phong floating market, the sight of small boats selling steaming bowls of vermicelli, weaving alongside larger boats, creates a scene that is both bustling and tranquil. Quickly scooping broth for customers, Mrs. Tran Thi Thuy, a resident of Vinh Phong commune, recalls the golden age of the floating market: “In the past, many people traveled by boat. Early in the morning, they would anchor to eat a hot bowl of vermicelli, chatting and making the whole stretch of river lively. Now, with convenient transportation, fewer people travel by boat, but I still maintain this profession. For me, rowing a boat to sell vermicelli is not only a way to make a living but also to preserve the riverine lifestyle of my homeland.”

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Amidst the changing pace of life, many localities in the U Minh Thuong region are still finding ways to preserve their riverine culture by organizing traditional three-leaf boat races. In Vinh Binh, the People's Committee of the commune recently organized a three-leaf boat race as part of the first commune sports festival in 2026. When the opening whistle sounded, hundreds of people gathered on both banks of the river, cheering and enthusiastically supporting the event. The small boats glided swiftly across the water, creating waves along the river, evoking the atmosphere of labor and land reclamation of their ancestors. The locality's choice of three-leaf boat racing as a community activity serves to remind people of a time when their ancestors endured hardship and used the boat for their livelihood; at the same time, it aims to teach the current generation and future generations to preserve and promote the beautiful traditional values ​​of their forefathers.

In the lives of people in the Mekong Delta, the three-plank boat was once the main means of transportation for travel and work. The three-plank boat was so important that it even appeared in poetry and folk songs such as: "What kind of seeds are you selling, you travel by three-plank boat / Stop by here, I'll send a letter to your mother and father" or "Even if the mandarin marries me in a palanquin, I wouldn't want it / If you marry me in a three-plank boat, I'll still follow"... Therefore, the three-plank boat is also considered a means of transportation that embodies "river civilization".

According to Mr. Huynh Phuoc Ty, former Head of the Culture and Information Department of U Minh Thuong district, the three-plank boat was originally made from three planks of wood. Over time, as wood became increasingly scarce and expensive, boat builders were forced to join many planks together to form the boat, and it was still called a three-plank boat. Today, the boat is also made from composite materials. Although made in many different ways, the boat still retains its unique character in the livelihoods and daily lives of the people in the Mien Thu region. It is a familiar feature of the countryside that evokes fond memories for everyone, and that those who have left the area always remember.

THUY TIEN

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Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/giu-van-hoa-song-nuoc-a488821.html