A complete love for the sea.

For the fishermen of Da Nang who are deeply connected to the beaches of Nam O, Pham Van Dong, My Khe, Non Nuoc, etc., the blue sea, white sand, and golden sunshine are unforgettable memories.

Because the sea is a wonderful gift that nature has bestowed upon our daily lives and always holds a special place in our hearts.

Sunrise over Da Nang beach. Photo: Kim Lien

1. Traveling in the opposite direction, towards Nam O beach on a sunny afternoon with a gentle breeze, and blue and white clouds swirling across the distant hills of Hai Van Pass, I met Mr. Tran Ngoc Vinh, Chairman of the Nam O Fish Sauce Village Association, meticulously tending to each earthenware jar used for fermenting fragrant fish sauce. A fisherman who has braved the waves and winds of the sea for nearly 30 years, he always feels proud to have been born and raised there. For him, Nam O beach not only boasts a beautiful location and the harmonious green landscape of ancient forests and poetic rivers, but it also provides the rice and grain that nourished his children's education. Therefore, the sea is like the breath and lifeblood of his family for four generations, both in the past and present.

Mr. Vinh shared that, unlike today, where you can make fish sauce simply by placing a fish and some salt, in the past, to make a jar of fish sauce, he and the whole village would tirelessly wait for boats on the beach from late night until early morning. Each boat that docked represented hope for the future of the whole family. People would measure and count each firm, plump, and shiny anchovy. Once everything was ready, everyone would carry the fish back to prepare it for the fish sauce making process. Now, every time he goes to the sea, those vivid memories flood back, filling his heart with nostalgia and longing…

Mr. Vinh proudly stated: “With dedication and commitment, I and the people of Nam O village always remind ourselves to lay solid foundations in terms of quality, ensuring the preservation of the traditional craft process to take Nam O fish sauce further in the future. Perhaps, as a silent thank you for the sweat and effort of the fish sauce makers, Nam O fish sauce now has a place on the national fish sauce map. This motivates me and the villagers to preserve the traditional craft of our village for generations. Furthermore, my fellow villagers and I are not only dedicated to our craft but also to the sea, sharing a great love for it. Without the sea in our imagination, life would be difficult to be joyful and complete. Therefore, we are conscious of preserving the sea and everything related to it in its most complete and beautiful form.”

Now, when visiting Nam O coastal village, we can not only stroll along the village paths fragrant with the aroma of fish sauce and the sea, but also visit the Nam O rocky outcrops with their lush green mossy beaches or feast our eyes on the Nam O coastline embraced by the Hai Van mountain range, stretching endlessly beneath the forests.

Like Mr. Vinh, fisherman Nguyen Dinh, head of the community organization implementing co-management for the protection of aquatic resources (Tho Quang ward, Son Tra district), understood the benefits of the sea early on. Therefore, he and his fishing community are always conscious of preserving the sea for today and future generations. According to him, the sea brings abundant catches and full nets, building dreams of prosperity for all fishermen. Therefore, he and his fishing community are raising awareness about protecting resources and the coastal landscape, both nearshore and offshore, to attract domestic and international tourists to the city.

Fishermen pull their nets along the coastline. Photo: Kim Lien

2. Speaking of My Khe or Pham Van Dong beach, as someone born in a coastal area, with a house about ten minutes' walk from the beach, in my memory, the beach of the past had no sturdy seawalls, no solid fences, no high-rise buildings or crowded shops, just clusters of sea morning glory, casuarina trees, the familiar basket boats, and a few temporary houses of the fishermen... Standing on the shore, I could see the sea in the distance, but to touch the water, I had to walk through the dense casuarina trees. Sometimes, the wind would howl, and waves would crash in all directions, making me feel like I was lost in a deep forest. Beyond this scene, the vast ocean appeared, like a dream world , with long stretches of white sand, clear blue water, and a distant horizon. Every time I went to the beach, I secretly painted naive dreams and aspirations. The sea even became an invisible friend to whom I could confide my daily struggles. Years have passed, and now, standing before the sea, I still feel as small as I did back then, and vivid memories unfold before my eyes, so real that words cannot describe them.

Mr. Nguyen Xau (75 years old, Nai Hien Dong ward, Son Tra district), head of the Thang Loi Solidarity Group, confided that for him, Pham Van Dong beach and other beaches not only hold beautiful memories but also shape the lives and livelihoods of countless fishing families. In silence, he expresses his gratitude to the sea, for without it, his family and other fishermen would have nothing to rely on. He proudly stated that the sea brings immense benefits, not only materially but also spiritually. The entire fishing community largely relies on the spiritual life derived from the sea to build the beautiful culture of the fishing village through festivals praying for a good catch and peace, or the renowned Ba Trao folk singing... This is extremely important in preserving the beautiful traditional values ​​of the sea in the face of urbanization.

“I remember, in the past, the beach was deserted, with few tourists. Now, with just one step, you can encounter dozens of domestic and international tourists. That's a success that contributes to the economic development of people living along the coast through trade and business. Therefore, in my mind, as well as in the minds of every fisherman and every local person, we are wholeheartedly committed to preserving the sea, from its environmental landscape to exploiting marine resources according to regulations. Only then can the sea be preserved for future generations,” Mr. Xấu said happily.

3. Da Nang is blessed by nature with the advantage of being nestled against mountains, facing the sea, and having a river running through the city. The sea, in particular, has become the city's trademark, boasting a long, winding coastline. My Khe Beach, in particular, quickly gained international fame when Forbes, a leading American business magazine, voted it the most beautiful beach on the planet. In 2023, My Khe Beach continued to rank 8th in the list of the 10 most beautiful beaches in Asia, as voted by the travel review platform Tripadvisor. This places My Khe Beach on par with other beaches around the world such as Railay (Thailand), Whitehaven, Queensland (Australia), Pensacola (USA), and Kelingking (Indonesia)…

The goal by 2030 is to develop Da Nang into a major maritime economic center of the country and an international coastal city, based on the strong development of marine economic sectors; ensuring social welfare and environmental protection, sustainable development; proactively adapting to climate change and sea level rise; preventing pollution, degradation of the marine environment, coastal erosion and sea encroachment; and restoring and preserving important marine ecosystems. Simultaneously, new, advanced, and modern scientific achievements will become direct factors promoting sustainable development of the marine economy. The vision for 2045 is for Da Nang to become a city with a sustainable, prosperous, secure, and safe marine economy, making a significant contribution to the sustainable development of the national economy and actively and responsibly participating in addressing international issues concerning the sea and oceans.

We believe that Da Nang's coastline will experience a breakthrough in the future, and its beaches will continue to make their mark on the world map. And we have the right to dream of Da Nang soon becoming a key maritime economic development city for the country in particular and the world in general.

"The entire fishing community largely relies on the spiritual life of the sea to build the cultural beauty of the fishing village through festivals such as the Fishing Festival, the Peace Festival, or the famous Ba Trao folk singing art..."

According to Huynh Tuong Vy (baodanang.vn)

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/tron-tinh-yeu-with-bien-post328603.html