A long stretch of the Trau River

The Trầu River flows through the area from the end of Tam Mỹ Tây commune to Tam Mỹ Đông commune.

On its way to the sea, from the highest peak of Hon Rom in the Rang Cua mountain range, the Trau River meanders through numerous steep and treacherous rocky rapids, passing through Tu My to Dong Co, curving downwards to create the magnificent Giang Thom waterfall, then continuing its winding, meandering course, carrying cool, refreshing water from the high mountains to the villages and hamlets. This creates alluvial plains along the riverbanks, rich with sediment and irrigating the fields of Thanh My, Trung Luong, Trung Chanh, and Trung Thanh (Tam My Tay).

Passing through Dong An hamlet (Trung Thanh) and flowing downstream towards Phu Quy (Tam My Dong), Den hamlet (Tich Tay, Tam Nghia)... finally merging with the Dinh River (Tich Tay) to form the Ben Van River, which flows gently towards Ky Ha estuary and out into the vast ocean.

The Nguyen Phung Bridge spans the Trau River, connecting Tam My Dong commune with Tam Hiep commune.

The Trầu River is neither large nor long, only about fifteen kilometers, but each section it flows through is a wonder bestowed upon humanity by nature. The people who once lived along its banks cherish fond memories. The very existence of the Trầu River is a vivid testament to the many changes that have taken place in their homeland.

A view of the old Ba Giay bridge wharf.

In the old days, the Trầu River flowed abundantly, its waters clear, cool, and refreshing. On both sides were bamboo groves, rice paddies, cassava fields, and sweet potato plantations, all a vibrant, deep green. Fish wriggled and splashed in the river, reflecting a life of prosperity and happiness. Most villages along the river were rice farmers, except for a small hamlet of a few dozen houses in Phú Quý village, known as Lưới hamlet (belonging to Tam Mỹ Đông commune), which specialized in fishing. Now, only a few families in Lưới hamlet still make a living by casting nets on the Trầu River.

The Trầu River used to be an important waterway connecting and facilitating trade between fishermen from Kỳ Hòa (Tam Hải), Kỳ Hà (Tam Quang), and Kỳ Xuân (Tam Giang) with the people of Kỳ Sanh (now Tam Mỹ Đông and Tam Mỹ Tây).

In those days, along the Trầu River, there were ferry landings such as Bến Thế (now Nguyễn Phùng Bridge), Bến Chợ Mới (Tam Mỹ Đông), Bến Bà Nan, Bà Tiên (Cà Đó Market - Trung Thành village, Tam Mỹ Tây)... Every morning, motorboats would bring shrimp and fish from the sea to the mountains, and agricultural products from the mountains back to the sea.

Occasionally, bamboo and wooden rafts would travel downstream from the source to the estuary to be used for shipbuilding, weaving boats, baskets, and building houses… The river at that time was very bustling and lively with joyful and happy sounds.

Dong An hamlet is where the Trau River flows through.

The villages along the Trau River are prosperous and peaceful, such as Go Thu hamlet, Bau hamlet (Trung Luong), Dong Mau, Ruong Vuon (Thanh My), Bau Dung (Trung Chanh), Dong An (Trung Thanh)... and produce delicious and unique agricultural products for each region. Among them, the top-ranked is undoubtedly Bau sticky rice from Bau Dung and Dong An hamlets.

Dong An hamlet, once famous for its beauty and wealth as a region of "white rice and clear water," is the birthplace of two writers, Nguyen Tam My and Nguyen Kim Huy. This small hamlet provided inspiration for Nguyen Kim Huy's collection of short stories, "The Riverbank of Childhood," and for Nguyen Tam My, who incorporated images of his life in Dong An hamlet into his short story "Childhood in War."

From Dong An hamlet (Tam My Tay) downstream to Ben Van, the Trau River stops at The Wharf at the foot of Ba Giay Bridge, now Nguyen Phung Bridge (Tam My Dong), the birthplace of writer Mai Ba An - it was at this riverside that the writer had two short stories born: "The Wharf of Heartbreak" and "Apricot Blossoms at the Ancient Temple".

Rice paddies and lotus ponds beside the Trau River.

Simple, peaceful, and rustic as it may seem, the riverbanks, ferry landings, and the Trầu River forever remain in the hearts of the people here, evoking images of a time to cherish and remember: the ferry journeys along and across the river... Each person's life is like a river flowing on and on, eventually returning to the old landing with memories; or at least retaining in their hearts countless unforgettable recollections.

Rivers and water are the endless flow of time, a sacred source, a source of faith in life, a symbol of morality and conduct...

Whenever I travel up and down the Trau River, I think of an impressive river, eco- tourism , and rural village tour. In the early mornings or late afternoons, returning to Dong An hamlet or standing by Luoi hamlet, listening to the fish splashing in the Trau River, and watching people fishing on both sides of the river, I feel a sense of peace and grow to love my homeland, my village, and my river even more.

The Trau River – a river that embraces the lands it flows through, giving birth to love stories and fostering vibrant, flourishing life. A stream of rich, traditional Vietnamese village culture, it always retains its beautiful image in the hearts of those who cherish this land.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/mien-man-mot-khuc-song-trau-3143752.html