The "lifeblood" of the village

In early summer, the highland villages of Thanh Hoa province are pleasantly cool amidst the green hues of the mountains and forests. After the first rains of the season, the rivers and streams become fuller, winding their way through the low-lying stilt houses. For generations, these cool, refreshing waters have contributed to the peaceful, unhurried, yet vibrant rhythm of life in this mountainous region.

Ngam Stream, winding through Yen Thang commune, has rich potential for tourism development.

The Thai people have a saying, "Tay kin nam," which means the Thai people live by the water. Since ancient times, they have chosen places with rivers and streams to establish their villages and communities. The water not only irrigates the fields and sustains the people, but also preserves the way of life, customs, and cultural essence of the community. In many Thai villages today, rivers and streams are still considered the "lifeblood" of the community.

In a conversation with Mr. Vi Tien Dat in Muong village, Son Thuy commune, memories of early mornings when the whole village would go down to the stream to fish emerged with great excitement. Every year-end or during major village and national festivals, from dawn, young men would shoulder their fishing nets, others would carry bamboo baskets, and still others would hold fishing traps, all heading to the Xia stream. On large rocks, the elderly, women, and children would stand on both banks, cheering them on. With each net pulled up, the carp and other fish would thrash about in the early morning sun. The children would shout and run after the baskets full of fish. This atmosphere made one feel that this was not just a fishing trip, but a celebration of unity for the village.

“For the whole year, no one fishes in this section of the stream. Only at the end of the year or on major festivals do we go down to the stream, so there are a lot of fish then. The young people here look forward to this day the most; even those working far away try to come back. The village festival is both fun and makes us feel more connected to our homeland,” Dat shared.

The Xia stream, stretching over a kilometer through Muong village, flows through the area. Its water remains clear, cool, and refreshing year-round. The villagers have consistently protected the stream as they would their fields and forests. For many years, the village has maintained a rule prohibiting regular fishing and strictly forbidding electric fishing or other destructive fishing methods. The village security team takes turns patrolling and reminding residents of the rules. In some sections of the stream, residents have even installed surveillance cameras to monitor and protect the natural fish population.

After hours of fishing, the fish are gathered along the stream bank and divided among each household according to their rations. The rest is used for a village feast. Around the feast table, the village elders tell stories about the flood seasons, about the village boys of yesteryear learning to cast nets, about children following their mothers to the stream to fetch water...

While the Xia stream is a symbol of preservation for the local people during festivals, the Luong River, flowing through Ngam village in Son Dien commune, is contributing daily to the success of community tourism in the area. In 2018, the people of Ngam village held a meeting and agreed to include the protection of the Luong River in their village regulations. According to the regulations, people are not allowed to fish in the river on their own initiative. Only on special occasions such as Lunar New Year, National Day, or the National Unity Day does the entire village organize a collective fishing trip.

Ngam village head Luong Van Duan said: "Initially, there were some dissenting opinions, because why ban fishing in natural rivers and streams? But after analyzing the consequences of overfishing and the role of the river in community tourism in the village, many households agreed. Every time the whole village goes down to the river to fish, it's a lot of fun. Young people, the elderly, women, and even tourists participate. After the fishing trip, the villagers and tourists sit down to eat, drink, and chat together. Community spirit and neighborly bonds are strengthened as a result, and tourists also enjoy it."

Not only in Muong or Ngam villages, but along the streams of western Thanh Hoa province today, many Thai communities are still quietly preserving the "water sources" of their villages as if they were an integral part of their being. From protecting fish stocks and preserving the natural landscape to developing community tourism, these streams not only sustain people but also open up new livelihoods for the villagers.

In Yen Thang commune, Ngam stream is also being hailed as a "treasure" of the mountains and forests, preserving its pristine beauty and offering promising opportunities for community-based tourism linked to the unique identity of the Black Thai people.

The stream originates in the Vietnam-Laos border region, winding through villages on both banks before merging into the Am River. Along the stream are terraced rice fields and waterwheels diligently working day and night. Suspension bridges connecting the two banks of the Ngam stream further enhance the peaceful scenery. Artisan Lo Viet Lam from Ngam Poc village said: “Since ancient times, the Black Thai people here have lived by the Ngam stream. The stream is the source of life. People use the water for daily life, fishing, and have formed many customs and festivals associated with the stream. Now, the locality is orienting towards tourism development, so it is even more important to keep the stream clean and strictly prohibit destructive fishing practices to protect the natural ecosystem.”

Mr. Vu The Vinh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Yen Thang commune, said: "The locality is gradually building a development orientation for community tourism associated with preserving natural landscapes and maintaining the cultural identity of the Black Thai people. The commune hopes that with the gifts of nature from the majestic mountains, the traditional stilt houses, the sound of looms echoing in each house, and the Ngam stream, the locality will have more motivation to develop tourism in the future."

Text and photos: Dinh Giang

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/mach-song-cua-ban-lang-287981.htm