"Living landmarks" at sea
The smartphone lit up, and Mr. Danh Phu tapped on the familiar icon on the screen. Flashing green dots appeared, clearly and detailedly displaying the fishing vessel's number, coordinates, speed, and direction of travel. In just a few hours, the fishing logistics vessels would arrive at the port one after another.
Hands once accustomed to fishing now skillfully operate smartphones, demonstrating that fishermen's digital lives have kept pace with technology. Thanks to vessel monitoring systems (VMS) and electronic seafood traceability systems (eCDT), managing fishing vessels and identifying fishing grounds has become easier than ever. Speaking about his work, Mr. Danh Phu confided: "At first, it felt too difficult, but with the guidance of the Border Guard soldiers, everyone became proficient."
Born on the pearl island of Phu Quoc, the salty taste of the sea permeated his childhood soul. The gentle sound of ocean waves, the soaring seagulls, and his mother's lullabies remain beautiful memories. Growing up, this young man of the Khmer ethnic group volunteered for military service (1978), working at the Phu Quoc district military command. After completing his military service, he returned to his hometown and dedicated himself to the fishing industry.
Being healthy and skilled, he was sought after by many fishing boat owners. With some technical knowledge of machinery, he took on the role of chief engineer on large offshore fishing vessels. As he gained experience, the boat owners entrusted him with the important responsibility of captain. His inherent diligence, dynamism, hard work, and good judgment ensured that after each long voyage at sea, he always brought back holds full of fish.
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Mr. Danh Phu shared his experience in managing fishing vessels through a software application installed on his mobile phone. |
With the hearty voice of a Southerner, Mr. Danh Phu shared: "Previously, identifying schools of fish relied entirely on experience; now, with the help of modern equipment, it's much easier." According to folk wisdom, when schools of fish arrive, the seawater changes color, and unusual ripples appear. Observing the intensity and density of seagulls' feeding can also help estimate the quantity of fish.
The story became even more captivating when he spoke about the schooling behavior of fish. Each sea region has a few characteristic fish species, and experienced fishermen know when the fish return, how to harvest them, when to fish near the shore, and when to go further out. For him, the taboo is not to fish during the breeding season, in order to protect, preserve, and develop diverse and sustainable marine resources.
To acquire that basic knowledge and skills, he had to gain practical experience and draw his own conclusions. Besides having a good memory and being familiar with fishing grounds, he also had a firm grasp of maritime laws and regulations, which gave the crew members peace of mind when fishing offshore.
Treat others as you would treat yourself.
Placing his work notebook in the corner of his desk, Mr. Danh Phu was about to turn off the lights and go to bed when the phone rang. On the other end, his old friend's voice was hurried: "The hospital just received an emergency case. The child is from a poor family, in dire straits. The father died early, the mother works as a laborer, and they desperately need the community's help." Before hanging up, his friend didn't forget to provide full information, address, and contact number. Looking into the darkness, it felt like a black hole was separating them. The command to save the child echoed in his head. Without hesitation, Mr. Danh Phu grabbed his coat from the cupboard and took a taxi to the hospital.
On Phu Quoc Island, people often affectionately call him "Uncle Hai." This is because Uncle Hai is not only approachable but also very kind-hearted, having helped many people both materially and spiritually. For example, the case of Mr. Nguyen Van Meo, born in 1973, who suffered from hip joint necrosis and several other underlying health conditions.
Mr. Meo was from another province and rented a room in Suoi Da hamlet, Duong To commune, Phu Quoc city. One day, he felt pain and went to the doctor, who diagnosed him with hip joint necrosis, requiring prompt treatment as delay could lead to disability. In his despair, desperately needing family support, he had no one, no money, rented accommodation, a wife and children far away, and the threat of his illness loomed large. With all that in mind, he resigned himself to fate.
Upon hearing the story, Mr. Danh Phu came to see him and encouraged him: "Health is the most precious asset a person has, and I will be there for you." So, he took care of all the procedures, from hospital bills to daily living expenses. Because the treatment costs were high, in addition to his own money, he also mobilized friends and relatives, each contributing a little. On the day of his discharge, Mr. Nguyen Van Meo clasped Mr. Danh Phu's weather-beaten hands tightly, his eyes welling up with tears.
The ancients taught that "settling down leads to prosperity," meaning that only with a stable life can one feel secure and happy in their work. Visiting the house of Mr. Tien Ram (Giong Ke hamlet, Phu Loi commune, Giang Thanh district, Kien Giang province), one can still smell the fresh paint. Looking at the spacious and well-maintained house with its gleaming tiled floor, no one would guess that it was once a dilapidated shack.
Under the shade of a green tree, Mr. Tien Ram shared his personal story. Because he had many siblings, after getting married, he and his wife asked to live separately and built a small temporary house at the edge of the hamlet. As the years passed, the house deteriorated significantly; during the day, the sun shone directly onto the floor, and at night, they could count the stars in the sky. The worst part was the rainy days, when the blankets and mosquito nets were soaked, making it feel like they were outside. His only hope was to build a new house so his wife and children would have an easier life.
Then, the "Farmers' Shelter" program was implemented, and Mr. Danh Phu donated 50 million VND to the family to build a house. On the day of the groundbreaking ceremony, all the neighbors were present, each lending a hand to help the workers. In addition to the support money and their savings, the couple borrowed money from relatives to build additional structures. Placing potted plants in the corner of the house, he proudly showed off that he would plant a few more orchid pots in front of the porch to welcome the flowering season next year.
The passion for the craft burns brightly.
After packing the shipment, the image of anchovies printed on the carton evoked nostalgic memories of the past: "Anchovies are tastier than scad / Because I loved the fish sauce from Hon Island, I ran away from my mother to follow you."
When talking about anchovies, we're talking about the source of raw materials for the islands. There's Phu Quoc Island, Mong Tay Island, May Rut Trong Island, Dam Ngang Island, Thom Island... besides their dreamy beauty, they also carry within them the cultural essence of renowned traditional craft villages. Phu Quoc fish sauce is the epitome of Vietnamese cuisine , a flavor and emotion that evokes memories of "missing you when you're far away, captivating you when you're near."
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Mr. and Mrs. Danh Phu have always been proud of their family's traditional fish sauce making business. |
After years of saving up capital, Mr. Danh Phu discussed with his wife the idea of opening a fish sauce production facility. In 1997, the Hai Nguyen private enterprise officially began operations, creating jobs for the local community.
Using readily available local ingredients such as anchovies and sea salt, along with years of experience in fermenting and extracting fish sauce, his facility has produced a high-protein fish sauce. The product is completely natural, contains no preservatives or flavor enhancers, is very beneficial to health, and is safe for consumers.
Regarding quality, Mr. Danh Phu stated that good fish sauce must meet four criteria: color, clarity, aroma, and taste. Simply put, good fish sauce should have a straw-yellow color, shimmering like honey, appear transparent when held up to a light source, have a harmonious balance of salt and sweetness, a mild aroma, and a natural, not overly harsh, taste.
Despite his advanced age, Mr. Danh Phu is still trusted by the local community and elected as the head of the neighborhood group; the head of the safe boat and ship group; and the solidarity group at sea. In addition, he has supported two fishing vessels. One vessel participates with the local authorities in disaster prevention, rescue, and relief efforts; the other works with the border guard force to disseminate legal information at sea. Over the years, he has also ordered thousands of national flags and portraits of President Ho Chi Minh to present to owners of fishing boats and ships when they go out to sea.
Speaking about the veteran fisherman who has a deep affection for the sea, Lieutenant Colonel Danh Tam, Political Commissar of the Border Guard Command of Duong Dong Port (Kien Giang Provincial Border Guard), shared: “Mr. Danh Phu is a respected figure among the Khmer people, a model veteran. He actively participates with the Border Guard in disseminating and promoting maritime laws, and is working together to lift the yellow card for Vietnam's fisheries sector.”
As the sun set, the streets were illuminated by bright lights. Stopping by his house, I saw Mr. Danh Phu still busy packing gifts. After a firm handshake, he said warmly, "I have to hurry, so I can get them to school tomorrow morning to present the awards to the underprivileged students who have achieved high academic results."
The phone rang again. On the other end, a young voice excitedly announced, "Our ship just docked, the trip was safe and we had a great catch, everyone is doing well, Uncle Hai!"
Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/cuoc-thi-nhung-tam-guong-binh-di-ma-cao-quy-lan-thu-16/nguoi-vac-tu-va-dao-ngoc-832825
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