The process of digging Vinh Dinh River by Nguyen Dynasty

Vinh Dinh is one of the eight major canals dredged under the Nguyen Dynasty. Vinh Dinh River connects Thach Han River at the Co Thanh intersection to Luong Dien River, passing through the communes of Trieu Phong and Hai Lang districts of Quang Tri province, and connecting to Tam Giang lagoon of Thua Thien - Hue province. This is an important inland waterway under the Nguyen Dynasty. Through the official history of the Nguyen Dynasty, the excavation of Vinh Dinh River is truthfully reflected with many specific details.

A section of Vinh Dinh River flowing through Trieu Phong district today - Photo: KHAC NIEN

Vinh Dinh River is a major water management project of Quang Tri province under the Nguyen Dynasty. The river is not only important for agriculture and trade of Quang Tri but also directly related to the capital. The process of digging the river lasted nearly 5 months (from March to July 1825). The project demonstrated the foresight of King Minh Mang in economic development, trade and defense of Hue Capital.

The book “Dai Nam Thuc Luc Chinh Bien” (De Nhi Ky), volume 32, pages 8 and 9 recorded: At Dau, Minh Mang 6th year (1825), spring, March, dug Vinh Dinh river in Quang Tri. Quang Tri used to have a canal from Trung Don to La Vi, then a lot of sand filled it up, making it shallow, making it difficult for boats to travel. The King wanted to clear the transportation route, so he first sent the city supervisor Do Phuc Thinh to inspect. Then he discussed opening a new canal from Quan Kinh to Trung Don (more than 1,720 truong long, the water surface was at most 6 truong wide). Only now did he send Deputy Commander Phan Van Thuy to supervise the river digging, and give him the imperial envoy flag and the royal edict to add more importance to the matter (from now on, when there are special dispatches, flags and edicts will be given).

3,700 people from Thua Thien and Quang Tri were sent to dig, and money and rice were provided (each person received 5 quan of rice per month, 2 phuong and 15 quan). The necessary materials had to be purchased by the mandarins and could not be taken from the people.

Phan Van Thuy said: “Recently there has been little rain, the price of rice is a bit high, I really do not want to tire the people; only that river is beneficial to both public and private, and the person who comes to work gives money for rice, without any hesitation, that is also the idea of ​​using public money to replace charity. You should take that idea and make it clear to the people. As for the money for rice, do not entrust it exclusively to the officials, but let them cut it down, so that our people can rely on the warehouse and happily come to work.”

Then, seeing that the summer was hot, he set a limited working and resting time, when he was tired and when he was free (every day, he came to work at half past the 5th watch, the clock went down to 9 times then he rested, in the afternoon, the clock went down to 4 times then he came to work, at half past the 1st watch then he rested), every 10 days he gave food; when he was sick, he gave medicine. When the digging was finished, he named the river Vinh Dinh. He ordered the royal court to bring buffalo and wine to treat the workers. He rewarded Phan Van Thuy with 2 records, 50 taels of silver, 3 pieces of silk, 1 piece of bamboo, the Admiral Doan Van Truong and Nguyen Van Nam each with 1 record, 30 taels of silver, 2 pieces of silk, and the officers who followed him to work each with 1 record. If digging caused loss of people's land, tax was exempted, graves and houses that had to be moved were given money (Trung Don, La Vi, Quan Kinh are all names of communes).

The official history of the Nguyen Dynasty shows that the digging of Vinh Dinh River was carefully prepared by the Nguyen Dynasty in general and King Minh Mang in particular. The work was clearly assigned by the king. With such a massive task, the river digging was completed after only nearly 5 months, showing the efforts of the court as well as the people participating in digging the river. Later, the river was dredged and cleared many times, from the reign of King Minh Mang to the reigns of the Nguyen Dynasty. Vinh Dinh River played an important role in the development of the Nguyen Dynasty. That is why this river was chosen by King Minh Mang to be engraved on the Nine Urns.

Today, although many sections have been narrowed and filled up, Vinh Dinh River still plays a very important role in providing irrigation water for communes in Hai Lang and Trieu Phong districts. From the Vinh Dinh River excavation project under the reign of King Minh Mang, we can see the agricultural policy of the Nguyen Dynasty. Vinh Dinh River today still plays an important role in irrigation, water supply to fields and transportation, bringing benefits to the people.

Khac Nien

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/qua-trinh-dao-song-vinh-dinh-cua-trieu-nguyen-191183.htm