Natural masterpieces: Ham Ho - a love song of rock and water

Deep in the Tay Son region, there is a crystal clear stream that passes through strange rock formations like a battle formation. People call it Ham Ho, a beautiful ink painting bestowed upon Binh Dinh by nature.

A SPOT IN THE MOUNTAINS AND FORESTS

About 9 km from Quang Trung Museum and about 50 km from Quy Nhon City, Ham Ho (Phu My village, Tay Phu commune, Tay Son district, Binh Dinh) appears as a vivid highlight among the majestic mountains and forests. In 1995, this place was recognized as a provincial scenic area thanks to its unique beauty and special historical value.

Ham Ho stream is actually a section of Kut river, more than 10 km long, flowing through the old forest with a streambed filled with strange boulders. Some rocks are stacked like natural chess pieces, some are flat like giant hands. On both banks, rocks stand in walls, with vivid shapes: turtles, crocodiles, elephants, hands, hearts... Places like Flying Fish waterfall, Ban Co rock, Chum rock... evoke rich imagination, making tourists excited.

Ho Cave appears as a vivid highlight among the majestic mountains and forests.

Ham Ho stream bed is filled with strange boulders

PHOTO: DUNG NHAN

In an article published in early 2024, Dr. Pham S (then Vice Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee, now retired) commented that Ham Ho converges the quintessence of nature: mountains, forests, animals, birds on the mountains, fish in the river, water at the foot and the high blue sky.

According to him, it is not an exaggeration to say that Ham Ho is a masterpiece of nature. Coming to Ham Ho, visitors can not only admire the beautiful scenery but also immerse themselves in the symphony of nature: the chirping of birds, the babbling of streams, the melodious sound of the wind blowing like a gentle invitation.

In the book "Nuoc non Binh Dinh" , the late poet Quach Tan said that the name "Ham Ho" originated from the sound and terrain of the stream. The water flows rapidly through jagged rapids, the two sides of the stone banks are vertical like ramparts, creating dangerous and bumpy sections. At a bend, the stream suddenly falls into a large stone tunnel, the water hits the rocks and creates white foam, creating a "whoosh" sound that echoes throughout a corner of the forest.

The sound of the water was like a resounding "call", signaling to the people who were rafting down the river that a dangerous section was approaching and that they should prepare to respond. That tunnel was Ham Ho, where the stream got its name from the sound and the majestic landscape here.

Another legend says that the entrance to the tunnel has rocks growing precariously like buck teeth gaping in the sky. Binh Dinh people are honest and simple, so instead of calling it "Hole Teeth Tunnel", they shortened it to the affectionate name "Hole Tunnel".

Also according to the late poet Quach Tan, during the South wind season, Ham Ho stream welcomes schools of fish from the Kon River swimming upstream to lay eggs. Thousands of fish compete to "fly" over the waterfall, so Ham Ho also has another name, "Flying Fish Waterfall". Legend has it that the Dragon King holds two dragon transformation exams every year, and the Kon River fish enter Ham Ho to take the exam. The fish that pass the waterfall will turn into dragons and fly to heaven, while the fish that fall will be reincarnated. Therefore, Ham Ho is also called Vu Mon.

STREAM OF HEROIC MORTALITY

Not only a majestic landscape painting, Ham Ho is also a land that marks heroic historical pages. According to Mr. Bui Tinh, Director of Binh Dinh Provincial Museum, Ham Ho was once an important base of the Tay Son movement and the Can Vuong movement against the French in the late 19th century.

The stream is exploited for tourism at Ham Ho.

A dam at Ham Ho stream

Visit Ham Ho by small boat

Here, the famous general Vo Van Dung of the Tay Son Dynasty, an outstanding son of Phu My village, chose Ham Ho as a place to train soldiers and forge their fighting spirit. Female general Bui Thi Xuan, another talented general of the Tay Son movement, also led a powerful elephant army here to train war elephants, preparing for fierce battles. Hero Mai Xuan Thuong, the marshal of the Can Vuong movement, built Linh Dong and Ham Ho secret bases to resist the French in the middle of the jungle, turning this place into a solid support for the arduous resistance war.

Right at the entrance to the tourist area, visitors will see Dinh Tien Hien, where two ancestors Le Kim Boi and Le Kim Bang are worshiped. There is a theory that the two men once supported the Tay Son army in raising the flag of uprising. There is also a theory that they were the ancestors who dug mountains and built dams, leading the Dong Huu River to irrigate the fields in the 19th century. Whether the story is true or not, no one is sure, but the flows are still there, and the Loc Dong - Kieng Giang dam has persistently nourished nearly 400 hectares of rice fields downstream throughout many seasons. After 1975, the project was upgraded by the local government to the Loc Giang irrigation system.

Every year, on January 20, the sound of gongs and drums resounds throughout the Ham Ho area. The Tay Son people and local authorities solemnly celebrate the death anniversary of the two ancestors with solemn folk rituals: visiting graves, carrying incense altars, offering incense, and making offerings according to ancient customs with full five-color flags, funeral orations, and traditional music.

During the festival, visitors and locals together burn incense respectfully, then enjoy the death anniversary offerings in a sacred space, both as a way to express gratitude and as a way to preserve the source of memories of the heroic land.

Currently, Ham Ho eco-tourism area is managed by Ham Ho Rosa Alba Tourism Joint Stock Company, with a total area of ​​over 90 hectares, of which 15 hectares are reserved for protecting historical relics. ( continued )

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhung-tuyet-tac-thien-nhien-ham-ho-ban-tinh-ca-cua-da-va-nuoc-185250509231930464.htm