When Uncle Ba Phi met the Prince of Bac Lieu

During a conversation in Ca Mau, while discussing a symbolic image representing the unification of Bac Lieu and Ca Mau provinces, a farmer jokingly remarked, "Well, let's see if Uncle Ba Phi (a famous Vietnamese poet) can meet the Prince of Bac Lieu!"

The moment the words were spoken, the whole neighborhood burst into laughter. But the more they listened, the more insightful it became: it wasn't just a joke, but a vivid metaphor for a symbolic encounter between tradition and modernity, between folk elements and the spirit of innovation.

Illustration: To Minh Tan

A storyteller - A storyteller

Uncle Ba Phi, a symbol of the Southern Vietnamese farmer, was imaginative, lived in harmony with nature, and loved life with laughter and stories that were "truthful but genuine." Within that simple humor lay creativity and adaptability, fundamental qualities for surviving in the mangrove, swampy, and ever-changing landscape.

The Prince of Bac Lieu is often remembered for his flamboyant appearance, but hidden beneath that was a spirit of daring to think, daring to act, and daring to spend money on big things. In the modern era, that image can be viewed in a different light: aspiration for advancement, private sector economic thinking, and a proactive attitude towards the times.

When Uncle Ba Phi met the Prince of Bac Lieu, it was a moment when local knowledge joined hands with the spirit of entrepreneurship. One person preserved the soul of the Southern land, while the other opened the door for the development of a green economy and a cultural economy.

A handshake on salty ground

Imagine an afternoon on the Gành Hào estuary, the wind blowing fiercely from the sea. Uncle Ba Phi squats on a rickety bridge, fishing rod in hand, recounting stories of catching snakehead fish as big as a small boat. The young master of Bạc Liêu, in a white vest and gleaming shoes, cigar in hand, sits on a bamboo chair, listening intently.

The story ended, and the young master burst into laughter: "Those stories you told would make a great movie. It'd be great for a film, but playing your role would be difficult, you know! With that big belly, you might not fit in a boat!"

Laughter erupted. But behind the laughter was a meaningful handshake: tradition and modernity can share the same table, together recounting a story of their homeland, in a new way, on an old foundation.

New Ca Mau Province - When the story becomes a dream of development

From a symbolic image, it's possible to spark a whole new way of thinking about the development space after the merger. It's no longer simply a stack of administrative maps, but a convergence of cultural flows, people, potential, and aspirations.

The province of Ca Mau has chosen a different strategy: preserving its rural charm, traditional character, and the unique identity of its land, water, forests, and sea. At the same time, it aims for breakthroughs through entrepreneurship, regional linkages, and technological innovation.

The philosophy from the meeting: Development from inner strength.

Development doesn't begin with what doesn't exist, but with what already exists. The ABCD philosophy – "Development based on existing assets within the community" – can begin with a story, a person, a group of artisans, or a skilled farming community.

The image of Uncle Ba Phi is a treasure trove of folk knowledge; if cherished and recreated, it can become a product for tourism, education , and communication. Similarly, the spirit of the Prince of Bac Lieu, if understood as a yearning for innovation, will be a powerful source of inspiration for local youth, young entrepreneurs, and those who dare to think big from their own hometowns.

New Ca Mau - From story to action

When a region knows how to tell its own story, in its native voice, through the faces of real people and real events, then that place is no longer a "low-lying area," but a highlight in the development landscape.

The newly merged Ca Mau province has the potential to become a model for ecological, cultural, and community development. A place where dreams of reaching further begin with laughter, stories, and a handshake between two seemingly opposite individuals, but who are actually very complementary.

One person dares to tell a different story, another dares to do something different, and who knows, perhaps from that, a region will change in its own unique, profound, and meaningful way.

Le Minh Hoan

Source: https://baocamau.vn/khi-bac-ba-phi-gap-cong-tu-bac-lieu-a39926.html