Ms. Pham Thi Huong Xuan was born and raised in Duc Nghia pottery village (Phan Thiet). Before the liberation of the South, she moved to Australia with her family. Nearly 50 years after returning to her homeland, Ms. Xuan found every place name changed and unfamiliar.
The first day she went to the white salt fields that used to be called So Muoi and Ben Loi, she could not imagine the streets and wards with tall buildings growing up close together. Or on both sides of the road to Mui Ne, the rows of coconut trees laden with fruit had replaced hundreds of splendid resorts.
Ms. Huong Xuan shared: “Returning to my hometown, I only recognized the water tower standing tall by the Ca Ty River. Everything had changed. Therefore, for several days I tried to find old photos of the water tower and the iron bridge across the Ca Ty River to recall old memories. But I couldn’t find old photos, there were many new photos but it was difficult to recall childhood memories…”.
After Ms. Pham Thi Huong Xuan shared and confided in her friends and hometown on Facebook, I helped her collect a photo of the old water tower (taken by the late artist Ngo Dinh Cuong before 1975). I also explained the origin, history, and architecture of the Phan Thiet water tower. It was in 1928 that the water tower began construction and was completed in 1934 by Prince Souphanouvong - at that time the chief architect of Nha Trang Public Works (later became President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic) - who also directed the construction, and was in charge of the contractor Ung Du. The water tower is 22 m high. The pedestal of the tower or the octagonal water tank is 5 m high, 9 m in diameter and can hold 350 m3 of water (currently no longer in use). Around the pedestal are 8 circles with the embossed letters UEPT (Usine des Eaux de Phan Thiet - Phan Thiet Water Plant). The lower part is an octagonal cylinder, the bottom is big and the top is small; The tower's base is 10 m in diameter. The castle's roof has 3 octagonal roofs covered with hook tiles. After 95 years of existence, enduring many bombs of war and the harshness of the environment, the Phan Thiet water tower still stands tall, majestic, and sacred next to the gentle Ca Ty river and is a symbol of Binh Thuan province. The tower becomes even more sparkling at night, when illuminated by colored LED lights, making the tower brilliant and impressive, attracting tourists. Surrounding the tower is a green, spacious, airy park with many large-trunk, wide-leafed trees. Visitors can walk in the park, or admire the peaceful river scenery.
Not only Mrs. Pham Thi Huong Xuan but also people far from home love the image of "Phan Thiet Water Tower". Nowadays, tourists from far away come to visit, relax in Phan Thiet or take a boat on Ca Ty River often come to the water tower to take souvenir photos, learn about the unique architecture of the water tower and check-in for friends and relatives to admire.
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