I have an appointment with Khanh Vinh.

Actually, Khánh Vĩnh has been familiar to me for decades during my time as a civil servant. There's so much information that it's difficult to recount all the gradual changes that have become so familiar. The old Cây Đa restaurant where I used to have lunch, and later several other eateries. From the dilapidated market to the newly built market, the park… Although so familiar, each year I return and notice the changes that have taken place here.

We usually choose the route through Dien Khanh Citadel, following the Cai River through Dien Lac, Dien Phuoc, Dien Tho… We leisurely stop to take pictures wherever we like. As we enter Khanh Vinh district, the roads are beautiful, with some winding sections lined with spectacular frangipani trees, some bends full of flowers, and ancient tamarind trees along the roadside… When we no longer see the river, we know we’ve entered the center of Khanh Vinh.

Looking at the map, from the upstream of Khanh Vinh, rivers such as Khanh Le, Cho River, Giang River... all flow into the Cai Nha Trang River, winding spectacularly. The density of rivers and streams in Khanh Vinh is higher than in other districts in the province, so Khanh Vinh has quite a few suspension bridges.

Usually, we'd wander around the city center for a while, visit a friend, then follow the road to Da Lat, turning back whenever we felt we were going too far. That day, we went to kilometer 91 and turned back, leisurely sitting in a riverside cafe – one of the rest stops for buses on the Nha Trang - Da Lat route.

And always, our way back passed through Khánh Bình, much further but in return we got to admire the beautiful acacia forest. I remember when I was working there, on late afternoons we would encounter rain, and we would enjoy the beautiful yet melancholic rain in the forest. On both sides, the dense green trees were submerged in the rain, tinged with a wistful, melancholic hue, evoking many memories. Imagine the forest silent, only the rain speaking to itself, its light and heavy bursts depending on the wind's direction, creating sad melodies. The melancholic rain and the sad afternoon always evoked a feeling of the traveler's heart.

On the way back through Khánh Bình, we encountered quite a few suspension bridges. These bridges spanning small rivers upstream always piqued our curiosity. At one riverbank, we chatted with women washing clothes. The river water was crystal clear, revealing the sand beneath. The suspension bridges connected the villages to the main road. On the bridges, students rode their bicycles home from school. It was so peaceful!

We crossed a suspension bridge into the village. Beyond the bridge were houses and grapefruit orchards. Most of the houses in the hamlets were well-built brick structures. The grapefruit orchards were laden with fruit. The gentle fragrance of grapefruit blossoms created a peaceful atmosphere. Standing on the suspension bridge, the river looked beautiful and incredibly serene in every direction. Below, children were swimming in the river, their laughter echoing along the quiet stretch of water.

The road has just been renovated, making for a smooth ride. On both sides, grapefruit orchards are laden with fruit, a refreshing sight. Mango orchards are in full bloom. Then there are sections passing through acacia forests…

A one-day tour of my hometown like that is just enough to show my love, and I'll say goodbye to Khanh Vinh next season.

KIM DUY

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/van-hoa/sang-tac/202504/hen-voi-khanh-vinh-e2a6b7a/