Remembering the old Tri Nguyen fish pond

By chance, a group of young friends invited me to visit Tri Nguyen Island. Standing at the new ferry terminal, looking out at the twilight sea with its rippling waves and passing boats, I saw the fishing villages nestled against the hillside, filling me with nostalgia. The new ferry terminal is closer to the island than the old one, making it feel more familiar because everything is right in front of me. I paid 5,000 dong to board the boat, and after about 5 minutes, it gently docked. People returning home from work in Nha Trang City in the afternoon were calm, relaxed, and full of peace. Perhaps that's the style of the old fishing villages here, still as vibrant as the color of the water, the sky, and the green hills of the island.

Many families still keep commemorative photos taken at Tri Nguyen Fish Pond in the early 1980s. Photo: LN

I remember over 40 years ago, as a teenager, I went with friends to Tri Nguyen Aquarium on a weekend. Tri Nguyen Aquarium was one of the most famous seaside tourist destinations in Southern Vietnam before the country's liberation and until the 1980s. Anyone visiting Nha Trang always remembers the Oceanographic Institute, Bao Dai's Palace, and Tri Nguyen Aquarium. The aquarium on Tri Nguyen Island is a legendary man-made structure built in 1971 by a local man named Le Can. Many still remember the three square ponds in the strait, which housed predatory fish such as sharks, rays, and catfish; the ornamental fish pond contained green parrotfish, lionfish, angelfish, clownfish, and a variety of other fish including pomfret, snapper, and sea bream, especially the hundreds of hawksbill turtles swimming freely in the pond, delighting visitors.

Boats at Tri Nguyen Island.

In the early 1980s, upon taking over, the provincial tourism industry further renovated the area, building a pavilion on the lake where tourists could eat and watch the fish and shrimp swimming below. The image of Tri Nguyen fish pond was printed on postcards distributed throughout Vietnam and the world as a symbol of Nha Trang – a city of white sand and shimmering marine life. Surprisingly, decades later, we discovered a world-class coral reef ecosystem, forming the "Hon Mun Marine Park," now the Hon Mun Marine Reserve. Many people prefer the aquarium built on the site of the three old fish ponds, but I still prefer its pristine state. It's the most innovative fish pond in Vietnam, designed by "engineer" Le Can: Instead of concrete, he used layered rocks and coral to create a connecting wall, allowing the seawater to flow seamlessly into the pond, resulting in crystal-clear water. Tourists stroll along the wall, admiring the clear water, and the fish playfully flick their tails, eagerly awaiting their treats – pieces of bread.

Back then, Tri Nguyen Island had few fishermen living along the western and southern shores towards Mui Chut - Cua Be. People traveled by basket boats or rowboats. Later, as the population grew, they used motorboats from Cau Da port. The pristine beauty of Tri Nguyen captivated tourists at that time, especially at Bai Soi and Bai Tranh beaches… We children climbed the small slope, crossed the hill covered with lush green trees, and set up camp to swim in the sea. I still remember that time after a night's rain, the sea here was white, calm, and refreshingly cool. A friend lent me a copy of Andersen's fairy tales, and when I opened it, I found the story of "The Snow Queen" that fascinated me…

An afternoon snack stall on Tri Nguyen Island.

Returning today, I couldn't visit the old fish pond because I knew there was a large tourism project underway. So I wandered around the village, stopping by the somewhat deserted late-night market, and walking along small paths past old, abandoned houses overgrown with weeds. I felt the lingering charm of this seaside village through the eyes, smiles, and gestures of the people here: a humble woman selling goods by the roadside, men sipping beer in the dark courtyard, young people fishing for sea bream on the embankment, and children running into the quiet, shady schoolyard. Everyone was kind and honest. A woman accompanying me told me that everything on the island is a little different from Nha Trang; life is peaceful and carefree. The pace of life is relaxed. Goods, from food and drinks to household items, are all sold at very reasonable prices. Therefore, it's no coincidence that many friends and relatives come to the island in the afternoons to relax and eat. I secretly wished that when Tet (Lunar New Year) comes around, I would have the chance to return to this island village to feel the melancholic spring atmosphere of a bygone era. Perhaps time has passed, but this seaside village still preserves all of its past. Anyone who has visited Tri Nguyen island village once will feel as if they have rediscovered a corner of Nha Trang in the heart of the ocean...

MY ANH

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/van-hoa/nhung-vung-ky-uc/202406/nho-ho-ca-tri-nguyen-xua-cca4837/