Call the village by name.

Each place has its own way of naming villages, sometimes simple and rustic, sometimes elegant and stylized. But no matter what, the name still reflects the spirit and mission of a region, and more profoundly, it illuminates the cultural space and rich history of the village. For a long time now, the village has no longer simply been the name of an administrative unit, but has become the soul, the embodiment of the sacred feelings of its people. And so, when mentioned, a whole realm of memories floods back, a whole region of shimmering recollections illuminated.

I was born in a village, grew up, and left the village to go far away. However, the familiar images of the village – the pond, the well, the dike, the fields – will forever remain in my memories. I love the village for its simplest, smallest things: the crowing of a rooster at dawn, the rustling of birds at sunset, the fragrant rice straw in the fields after harvest, the road to school, and the flamboyant blossoms signaling the exam season...

My village lies beside a picturesque river. Its name is derived from the geographical features dating back to the time of land reclamation, as recounted by the elders. My village has a shrine dedicated to the village guardian deity and a centuries-old persimmon tree recognized as a heritage tree. My village also boasts a traditional carpentry craft, passed down through five generations in many families. During my years away from home studying at university and then working in the city, whenever I think of my village, I am filled with deep affection. I have named my village with such heartfelt love.

A poet once wrote, "The people of the countryside speak with a hoarse, rough voice / Meeting each other, they share joy and sorrow, the familiar sounds of the village," which sounds so close and poignant. The names of villages in the past were mostly vernacular names, sounding simple and familiar, like grains of rice or potatoes. Village names were often associated with the topography, characteristics, and location of the village, sometimes the names of rivers, mountains, or the names of the people who pioneered and settled the land.

The village's name is simple and easy to remember, like a children's nursery rhyme, gentle like a folk song. It is this simplicity that has left its mark and anchored it, so that wherever the people go, they remember and cherish their village, and they have "carried the name of their commune and village with them on every migration."

I've been to new economic zones like Lam Ha, Da Huoai, Cat Tien (Lam Dong province) and Kbang (Gia Lai province), and I've seen many villages and communes still retain their original names or combine them with local names. This shows just how important and meaningful village names are.

The name is the soul of a village, however simple and rustic. A village's name is always linked to its cultural and historical treasures. Whenever it's mentioned, people can picture it, feeling proud and cherishing it. For example, consider the story of the formation and development of the mountain town of Pleiku. According to historical records and accounts from elders, the central area of Pleiku initially consisted only of a village inhabited by the Jrai ethnic group, named Pleiku; later, it gradually separated to form other villages.

Among them, Plei Op is located in the heart of the city. This village still preserves the beautiful traditional culture of the Jrai ethnic group and has become an attractive tourist destination. Or Loc Yen village in Tien Phuoc ( Quang Nam ), Duong Lam village in Son Tay town (Hanoi). And across this S-shaped land, there are countless village names that have become deeply ingrained in the lives of the people, because they carry within them a strong and enduring cultural power.

Over time and through the vicissitudes of life, people may change, but the village will never change. The village name will become a lasting legacy, enduring forever. Many people feel disappointed and worried about the merger of villages, wondering if the old name will be retained. These thoughts and concerns stem from their love for their village, for everything that has been a part of them, everything that has become their very breath.

I returned to the village along the familiar road running alongside the riverbank, lost in memories of "names that sound unpoetic but are incredibly familiar to me." Standing beside the newly built, majestic archway with the red inscription "Cultural Village," my emotions welled up, and I thought to myself that the village's name might disappear, but its essence will forever endure through time and in the hearts of every person.