Cuu Long garden area

The Southern region does not have constant rain, nor is the sun too harsh on the skin. On clear days, the sound of birds calling to each other on the coconut trees, the gentle splashing of oars, the crisp laughter echoing from the houses along the river - all blend into the melody of a peaceful yet fulfilling life.

The gourd vines surrounding the house are lush and green thanks to my father's careful cultivation. Photo: DO TINH

In that place, people live close to nature, intimately connected to the fields, the ebb and flow of the tides, and the trellises of pumpkins and gourds. The small garden behind the house, the vegetable patch, the banana trees, the loofah or gourd vines, all lush and green, are the fruits of a lifetime of care, of love for the land, homeland, and hard work.

Local produce is not only delicious thanks to the fertile alluvial soil, but also imbued with the warmth of human connection. A bowl of gourd soup with shrimp, a plate of boiled vegetables dipped in fermented fish sauce – a simple yet heartwarming country meal, seemingly containing the essence of the countryside, the very soul of this gentle land. Each rustic dish is a slice of the garden culture – simple yet profound, rustic yet rich in flavor. Cuisine here is not just a combination of ingredients, but the crystallization of way of life, kinship, and sharing.

From these seemingly small things, national values ​​are nurtured through generations. The folk song "Oh gourd, have pity on the pumpkin" is not only a gentle lullaby, but also a philosophy of life deeply ingrained in the consciousness of the people of Southern Vietnam. Love and mutual support become the roots of morality, the strength that helps people overcome floods and difficult times, while still maintaining their gentle smiles and open hearts.

The countryside is where people learn to love, be considerate, and be grateful. Children grow up beside trellises of gourds and pumpkins, familiar with the sound of roosters crowing at dawn and the passing boats; from this, they develop diligence, honesty, and a sense of loyalty. The warmth of the homeland, of parents, and of those diligent harvests follows the people of Southern Vietnam to all corners of the world. Wherever they are, whenever they remember the river of their childhood, the canal around their house, the sweet soup made with young gourds by their mother, their hearts are soothed. These are not just memories, but the source that nourishes the Vietnamese soul – gentle, tolerant, and loyal.

In today's development, as urbanization spreads and modern life permeates every corner, the simple values ​​of the Mekong Delta's riverside gardens become even more precious. The trellises of gourds and pumpkins, the orchards laden with fruit, are not only a source of livelihood but also a symbol of the connection between humans and nature, of the principle of "remembering the one who planted the tree when you eat the fruit." Preserving a simple lifestyle, loving labor, and valuing kindness and compassion is also about preserving the cultural roots of the nation.

The orchards of our homeland are not only the birthplace of abundant agricultural products, but in each lush green gourd and pumpkin, we see the image of our parents, the hardworking yet compassionate spirit of the countryside. The river still flows, the gourd vines remain green, and the people here still diligently cultivate their crops, maintaining their gentle smiles and open hearts. And as the old folk song, "Oh gourd, have pity on the pumpkin," continues to flow in the hearts of every Vietnamese person—like the persistent alluvial soil enriching the peaceful, fertile, and compassionate land of the South.

LIBRA

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/miet-vuon-cuu-long-post819989.html