Silver water season area

QTO - As scheduled, every year the Cang region witnesses the flood water rising and falling several times. The ups and downs of floods have become an annual rule during the flood season in the low-lying area, which is considered a miniature "Mekong Delta" in the South of Quang Tri province. Therefore, the people here have had experience for generations and can peacefully live with and adapt well to floods without too much pressure like other places...

Báo Quảng Trị•09/11/2025

Adapting to floods

In early November, the Cang area (small villages and hamlets emerging as "oases" in the middle of the vast water fields in the old Hai Lang district) was covered in a vast silver color. Floodwaters were still lingering next to the Hai Lang flood avoidance route across the low-lying fields - the highest road in the area - which is the main route for local people. Since the impact of floods caused by storm Bualoi in early October, the Cang area has been continuously submerged in water, and travel to many "oases" such as: Hoi Dien, Hung Nhon, An Tho, Phu Kinh, My Chanh (Nam Hai Lang commune), Cay Da, Trung Don, Phuoc Dien (Dien Sanh commune) ... is mainly done by small boats and canoes.

From above, the Cang area has rows of trees and high roofs in the middle of the sea - Photo: D.V

Mr. Vo Van An (70 years old) was born and raised in Cang Hung Nhon. Until now, he still lives and is attached to his hometown "oasis". Talking about the flood season, Mr. An said lightly: "It's normal, almost every year the Cang area is flooded from a few days to a week. People here are too familiar with the flood season, with water coming in and out several times. This year, the flood lasted almost a month, so it was more difficult."

Hung Nhon has been inhabited for several hundred years. According to Mr. An, since ancient times in the main village of Hung Nhon, his ancestors and many other families were sent by the village to live in this hamlet to guard the rice fields. Gradually, their descendants grew and maintained their attachment to this land until his generation and his children's generation as it is now. Currently, Hung Nhon hamlet has about 20 families. This year, the floodwaters have almost completely submerged the hamlets. Looking from above, the village only has a few high roofs and rows of trees.

Not far away, Cang Hoi Dien was also deeply flooded, only the bell tower of the Catholic church could be seen in the distance. Cang Hoi Dien has a strong agricultural mechanization movement. Many households here have purchased agricultural machines such as plows and combine harvesters. Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Van (47 years old) excitedly introduced a newly "unboxed" red Kubota plow, worth 340 million VND in the last crop. He said that it was an asset that he and his wife were very happy to have bought with money from their rice crops. Putting his feet on the edge of the water in the yard, looking at the "array" of plows and harvesters that had been moved to a fairly high outbuilding, Mr. Van said: "Every year at this time, the water is flooded for a few days, sometimes more than a week. Therefore, my family moved the machinery and assets to a higher place. When the water comes out, we change the oil, maintain the machinery and then start the winter-spring crop. In general, we are used to it so we are not too afraid. Here, people are more afraid of storms than floods."

The immense Cang region in the middle of the sea - Photo: D.V

Although they have to face several floods every year, people in the Cang area are not too stressed because they have a lot of experience in coping. Before each rainy season, people in the Cang area often prepare spare lights, flashlights, gasoline, batteries; stock up on dry food, fish sauce, and salt enough for 7-10 days. They also proactively raise their furniture, assets, and food. Many families with conditions build a second floor or mezzanine to provide safe shelter during storms and big floods.

In addition, it is easy to see that in this place, almost every house has 1-2 aluminum boats, which are essential means of transportation during the flood season. Thanks to that, although floods occur frequently, the area rarely suffers damage to people and property. On the contrary, as a rule, after floods, the fields here are deposited with a new layer of alluvium to create rich rice seasons. Then shrimp and fish also come to breed, giving people more means of livelihood.

Live generously and affectionately

The character of the people in Cang area is simple, honest and has the open-mindedness and affection of the residents of the river area. According to Mr. An, in Cang area, many funerals took place during the flood season, which made it quite difficult for the homeowner. However, at that time, the relationship between the village and the people was even more intimate. “The funerals were all supported by the neighbors, relatives, and the village. Without anyone telling anyone, each person had a job to help the homeowner manage the funeral. The hardest part was when the funeral was carried through the flooded area to be temporarily buried in the neighboring hamlets and villages with high ground. At that time, we had to use a large motorboat or connect two small boats to cross the flood to transport the body. Although it was very difficult, everyone was willing and tried to complete the filial piety with the neighbors. I think that is very precious,” Mr. An shared.

Supporting meals and food for people in Cang area - Photo: D.V

During the flood at the end of October, the story of young farmer Nguyen Phung in Hung Nhon village, Nam Hai Lang commune, who volunteered to drive his tractor to transport people from deeply flooded areas to safety is also a beautiful and meaningful image. In the context of rising floodwaters causing many inter-village and inter-hamlet roads to be deeply flooded, making it difficult for people to travel, Mr. Phung drove his tractor across deeply flooded roads to transport people fleeing from the flood to safety. This meaningful act during the tense flood period moved many people. One day, from 5 am to noon, Mr. Phung made 8 trips, including taking one person to the main road that was no longer flooded to give birth at Hue Central Hospital and one sick person...

When asked about his work, Mr. Phung shared sincerely: "Seeing the rising water, people in deep flooded areas are in danger, I volunteered to transport them. Wherever the car can go, I will take people there. The more I can help people during the flood, the better." The tractor, which is Mr. Phung's means of livelihood, during the time of rising flood, became a "rescue vehicle" to help people in low-lying areas overcome difficulties.

Vice Chairman of Nam Hai Lang Commune People's Committee Nguyen Duong Thanh Binh said that in order to respond to the recent storm No. 10, the locality has established teams to inspect storm response work in the area. At the same time, propaganda work on the loudspeaker system has been strengthened to help people raise their vigilance and prevent complicated storms. For low-lying residential areas and flooded riverside areas, the locality always has plans ready to support people when situations arise...

Or it is also the image of the "flood shipper" teams with outstanding members such as Mr. Nguyen Van Thuan, head of Hoi Dien village; Cai Van Thoi; young teacher Nguyen Van Huynh; Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong, Nguyen Van Hanh, Ho Van Tan, Nguyen Van Nhat... who have been working hard for many days to transport rice and food into every alley and house in Hoi Dien and An Tho villages that were flooded to supply the people. They volunteered to row boats through the rapids to receive rice, instant noodles, milk, and drinking water from the volunteer groups to bring back and distribute to each house in the villages.

In floods, many things can be lost, but what is never washed away is human love. For that reason, the simple yet noble gesture of the people of Cang region deserves to be praised and spread as a bright spot in the flood season in Quang Tri .