Close-up of life on Hua Na Lake

Cong Kien• November 4, 2021 06:55

(Baonghean.vn) - In addition to providing hydropower, Hua Na hydroelectric reservoir (Que Phong) also contributes to the livelihood of local people. On the vast water surface, the life of the residents takes place quietly and peacefully, with hardships and toil but no less interesting.

Hua Na hydroelectric reservoir has an area of over 21 square kilometers, stretching across the two communes of Dong Van and Thong Thu (Que Phong), storing water to serve the Hua Na hydroelectric project. The vast lake surface is a condition for developing waterway transportation and aquaculture, contributing to the livelihood of local people. Photo: Cong Kien

When traveling along Hua Na Lake, we can easily see small motorboats of the residents living around the area. These boats are used to move to farming areas, fish cages or fishing in the middle of the lake. Photo: Cong Kien

The large water surface area is an ideal condition for developing cage fish farming. Many households in Dong Van and Thong Thu communes have boldly invested in cage fish farming for a stable source of income. Currently, there are about 120 households participating in cage fish farming in the middle of Hua Na lake with a total of more than 600 fish cages, supplying food needs for people in and outside the district. Photo: Cong Kien

Fish cage farmers in the middle of Hua Na Lake spend almost the whole year on the river and rarely return home. They stay to monitor the water level, protect their fish cages, find food for the fish and collect floating waste around the farming area. Photo: Cong Kien

Each family usually raises 5-7 fish cages, some even raise dozens of cages. These fish cages are assets, a source of livelihood, so households often build floating houses on the lake to take care of and guard the fish cages. There is no grid electricity, the light is mainly taken from battery power and there is almost no phone signal. Photo: Cong Kien

Living in isolation from the outside world, the daily food of the residents of Hua Na Lake is mainly freshwater fish. Fish are usually caught by casting nets, fishing lines and sometimes in cages. Life is almost self-sufficient, rarely having to worry much about lack of food, water, firewood... Photo: Cong Kien

With fish and firewood available, residents of Hua Na Lake often grill fish and hang it up on the stove so that when guests or friends come over, they can grill it again to enjoy with wine. Photo: Cong Kien

The fish is marinated and grilled over charcoal, giving off a fragrant aroma. If anyone has ever had the chance to sit in a floating house, watching the vast landscape, sipping wine with grilled fish, it will surely be an unforgettable memory. Photo: Cong Kien

In the middle of the lake, there are some oases and the surrounding mountainsides are exploited by local people to grow hybrid acacia. When it is time to harvest, the acacia is transported by boat to the foot of the dam, then loaded onto cars to be transported to the place of consumption. Photo: Cong Kien

Recently, Que Phong district leaders have conducted a survey of the tourism potential of Hua Na lake to develop an exploitation plan and call for investment, build an eco-tourism site, contributing to increasing income for local people. Photo: Cong Kien