Seeing a fan means you've found your way home.

There are signs that need no name. Like the smell of the sea carried on the wind, like the blazing sun pouring down on the sand dunes, like the wind turbines turning slowly against the blue sky. Along the southernmost strip of land in Khanh Hoa, just encountering these images, one knows they have arrived in Phan Rang.

Late in the afternoon, leaving the seaside town, I joined the stream of cars heading north-south. The big city receded behind, the buildings gradually fading, giving way to the wide-open space of sun and wind. The pace of life slowed down accordingly, as if someone had just turned down the volume of a long day. And then, in an unexpected moment, they appeared. Wind turbines stood silently in the open space, their blades turning steadily, leisurely, and persistently. No need to look at road signs, no need to recheck the route, just a glance was enough to recognize: I've arrived in Phan Rang. That feeling came naturally, repeated, carrying a familiarity difficult to name.

Thuan Bac wind farm. Photo: Tran Duy

Traveling from the north, through Thuan Bac and Ninh Hai, the wind farms appear earlier. The white turbine towers stand out against the sun-scorched land, their blades turning rhythmically in the region's characteristic wind. This image is not noisy or ostentatious, but enough for travelers to recognize their destination. Coming from the south, through Thuan Nam and Phuoc Huu, rows of turbines stretch along the dry slopes, interspersed with salt fields and grasslands, not appearing suddenly but gradually emerging like a quiet greeting. The closer you get, the clearer the feeling of returning home becomes.

Even on National Highway 1, a familiar route through the years, that sign remains intact. It just arrives later, enough for people to travel through a long stretch of memory before suddenly realizing it when the wind turbines touch the horizon. No milestone needed. No inscription required. The wind turbines, in their own way, have become a sign of "return."

But those wind turbines not only evoke emotions, they also tell a story about the direction the land is heading. Phan Rang was once known as a place with abundant sunshine, strong winds, and harsh conditions. These seemingly disadvantageous factors have now become advantages. Wind is no longer an obstacle, but a source of energy. The turbines rotating in the sky not only create a distinctive image but also contribute to supplying electricity to the national grid. From there, a new direction of development is gradually taking shape: a renewable energy economy , creating local jobs, promoting technical services, and gradually building a foundation for green and sustainable development.

Alongside the wind farms is the North-South Expressway, which runs through the area. This route shortens distances, connects destinations, and brings the region closer to the global network. Goods circulate faster, costs are reduced, tourists can visit more easily, and investment opportunities open up. If the wind turbines generate energy, the road creates connectivity. These two seemingly independent elements work together, forming a new rhythm of development for the southern part of Khanh Hoa province.

The North-South Expressway passes through wind power areas, opening up connections and shortening return journeys. Photo: Contributor.

As night falls, the air becomes still. The turbine towers are merely faint silhouettes in the darkness. But atop each tower, tiny red lights continue to twinkle steadily. These small points of light connect to form a silent band of illumination across the vast expanse. Seen from afar, the wind farm resembles another "sky," where "red stars" hang low, flashing in rhythm with the wind. In those moments, one suddenly understands: the feeling of returning home doesn't lie in a place, but in what one discovers after a journey. For Phan Rang, it's the wind turbines – both familiar and enduring, like the rhythm of life in this land.

In the future, new roads will be built. Journeys may be shorter. The landscape will continue to change. But perhaps, there will remain one unchanging sign. Somewhere on the horizon, windmills will still spin steadily in the sun and wind. And just seeing them, one will know: I've come home.

XUAN NGUYEN

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/van-hoa/nhung-goc-pho-nhung-con-duong/202603/thay-quat-gio-la-cham-chonve-360598a/