The charm of Rach Gia coastal city

On some weekend afternoons, after finishing my lectures in the classroom, I often reminisce about the places I've traveled to as a way to relieve the noise and stress. Among countless memories, Rach Gia stands out most vividly with its many charms. Every time I come here, I feel like I'm stepping between two layers of time: the tranquility of the old Mekong Delta and the vibrant pace of life in a developing coastal city.

I remember my first visit to Rach Gia on a late afternoon at the end of the year. Standing on the embankment, the salty sea breeze blowing against my face, I overheard a student whispering to a friend, "Rach Gia is so beautiful and vibrant! So modern!" I chuckled softly, because that remark was similar to what a friend of mine from Vinh Long had said a few years earlier when he first visited Rach Gia. It turns out that the admiration for the beauty, modernity, and spaciousness of Rach Gia remains intact in the hearts of many people from the Mekong Delta like me.

Rach Gia city at night. Photo: Phuong Vu

Returning this time, I was amazed. Rach Gia has donned the modern look of one of the most dynamic coastal cities in the Mekong Delta, with many new roads, a dazzlingly lit reclaimed land area, new constructions springing up one after another, and tourism and commercial services developing strongly. Sitting in a seaside cafe, watching the rhythm of life in this coastal city, I understood why this place easily captured the hearts of so many people. A lecturer accompanying me exclaimed, "This coastal city is on the rise, becoming the most vibrant and modern in the Mekong Delta!" That simple compliment was like an echo from the hearts of people from afar, directed towards a city undergoing transformation.

Deep inside the town, I met Mrs. Tran Thi Hong, a small business owner at the Rach Gia Commercial Center. Having lived here for 40 years, witnessing the development of her hometown, what makes her most proud isn't the new buildings that have sprung up, but the increasingly civilized and orderly way of life here. "Many visitors from other provinces also praise the market for being cleaner, more spacious, and more orderly than before. Hearing that makes me happy because I see the ward is taking care of the people's lives," Mrs. Hong said.

Not only the elderly or small business owners, but also the younger generation has their own unique perspective on Rach Gia city. Tran Quoc Duy (28 years old), my former student who now works in the construction industry, says that Rach Gia gives him the feeling of a "future growing bigger." The coastal city is not so noisy as to be tiring, nor so quiet as to be sluggish; it's just right for living, dreaming, and returning to after the hustle and bustle of city life. Rach Gia is becoming a gathering place for young people in the Mekong Delta thanks to its modern environment, developed services, and expanding career opportunities. "It's vibrant but not chaotic. Modern but still retains the spirit of the Mekong Delta. Here, I see a future for working and building a career," Duy confided.

Late in the afternoon, I walked along the embankment of Ton Duc Thang Street, lined with rows of green trees, where many locals were exercising. As the sun set, the Rach Gia sea turned a honey-colored hue, breathtakingly beautiful. The waves lapped gently, and tourists leaned against the embankment railing, constantly taking photos and exclaiming, "It's incredibly beautiful!"

I met Mr. Nguyen Van Nhanh, a resident of Rach Gia ward, walking along the road. With a friendly smile, he said, “Rach Gia has changed a lot. Before, this area was all swamps and reeds. In 1998, the government built a reclaimed land area, constructed beautiful embankments, and widened the roads. In the afternoons, people come to the seaside park to enjoy the cool breeze, children play, and it's very joyful. Back then, few dared to imagine Rach Gia would change like this.” Mr. Nhanh spoke slowly, as if recalling layers of alluvial memories. His story wasn't long, but each sentence breathed the spirit of a lifetime spent clinging to the land and the sea.

Despite its rapid and bustling development, Rach Gia still retains a peaceful atmosphere. In the small stories of its people, I clearly see their pride in a coastal city that is constantly developing yet remains tranquil. That evening, my friend took me on a tour of Rach Gia, and I enjoyed admiring the charm of the city at night. Even near 11 pm, the streets were still quite busy. A few seaside cafes still sparkled with lights. Several shops on street corners still had customers chatting. My friend shared: “Life is easy here; people value each other with genuine affection. After a hard day's work, the people of Rach Gia always maintain a relaxed pace of life, a rhythm that is very Rach Gia, very much like the Mekong Delta.”

As an educator, I view this coastal city not only with the admiring eyes of a traveler from afar, but also with the emotions of someone seeking inspiration for future lectures. Rach Gia shows me the harmonious blend of modernity and tradition, of bustling city life and the simplicity of its people. It's a lesson in development while preserving its essence, something many cities in the Mekong Delta are striving for.

The afternoon before leaving Rach Gia, I sat on the embankment where I had first stopped. On the water's surface, the last rays of sunlight gently stretched, with only a few boats swaying in the distance. Rach Gia doesn't try to make people remember it, but each visit touches a corner of memory about the sea, about the peace that anyone who has left the Mekong Delta for a long time longs to find again. Rach Gia doesn't call, doesn't hold, but anyone who has ever visited seems to take home a thin, soft thread, gently tied to their memory.

Just as we were getting into the car to leave Rach Gia, my friend from Vinh Long asked over the phone: "What is it about Rach Gia that you love so much and often visit?" I simply replied: "It's a place modern enough to make people yearn for it, yet peaceful enough to make them want to return." And perhaps, that's precisely why Rach Gia, both emotionally and rationally, is a livable place, a region worth visiting, staying in, and loving.

THACH LOAN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/net-duyen-pho-bien-rach-gia-a466975.html