'Experts' build waterwheels in Western Nghe An.

(Baonghean.vn) - Upon arriving in Binh Chuan (Con Cuong district, Nghe An province), many people will be impressed by the series of waterwheels lined up one after another on the stream flowing around the villages. However, few people know that most of these waterwheels were built by the hands of an elderly villager.

Old Tam stands beside her heartfelt "creations".

That's old man Le Van Tam, who lives in Met village (Binh Chuan commune). People from the surrounding villages call him "the waterwheel craftsman" or "the waterwheel expert".

Although he's already 80 years old this year, he still looks very healthy. Especially when he led us on a tour of the waterwheels he built himself, he waded through many streams effortlessly without getting tired.

Old Tam is known by the villagers as the "water wheel expert" or "water wheel craftsman".

According to the locals, making these "water wheels" isn't difficult; there are a few people in the village who can do it. The challenge lies in giving the "water wheel" a "soul," because it's not just for irrigation; these water wheels are also a beautiful cultural feature of the Thai people in the highlands. And that's where Elder Tam comes in.

Binh Chuan commune is a mountainous area with a very high poverty rate. The lack of irrigation canals makes farming very difficult for the people. Initially, like others in the village, old man Tam built a water wheel simply to bring water to his own rice and corn fields.

But then, not just focusing on her own fields, and not just as a job, old Tam became passionate about waterworks. She meticulously studied the terrain of the fields, both high and low, and then carefully considered every detail to build waterwheels that suited them.

Most of the waterwheels in Binh Chuan were built by the old man Tam.

For old woman Tam, building a waterwheel "shouldn't be done haphazardly just to get the job over with, but must be done carefully down to every detail to create a beautiful one." Each waterwheel, to her, is a project of dedication, like an architect building a house.

Even now, after 40 years of building waterwheels, old man Tam can't remember how many he's made. He only knows that through countless corn and rice seasons, whenever a family in or outside the village asked for his help, he would go and guide them, assisting them in their work.

These waterwheels, though simple in appearance, are a vital source of irrigation for rice paddies in areas where the local canal system is still incomplete. Photo: Ho Phuong

Speaking about old man Tam, the head of Met village, Mr. Vi Van Hoang, remarked: "In this area, no one understands and builds waterwheels as well as old man Tam. He is meticulous, thoughtful, and always helps the villagers whenever someone needs a waterwheel built to bring water to their fields."

According to old man Tam, to make a waterwheel, you first need to prepare about 90 to 120 bamboo stalks (which must be collected from the forest), depending on whether the waterwheel is large or small. The bamboo stalks are sharpened at one end after being cut to the diameter of the water wheel. The next step is to weave the blades and water pipes. The number of blades corresponds to the number of water pipes.

The most difficult step is still attaching the pointed ends of the bamboo poles to the "lever" (the shaft), ensuring they are even and balanced. The "lever" must be made of soft wood that can withstand the force of the bamboo rim. Then, erect two symmetrical pillars on either side and attach the wheel; and voilà, you have a complete waterwheel.

It's not easy to create a beautiful, soulful waterwheel. Photo: Ho Phuong

These "works of art" are admired and praised by both locals and tourists passing by. But what worries the old man now is, once he can no longer do the work, who will continue to bring the cultural tapestry of the village to life through these waterwheels?

Perhaps Nọi, the youngest son of the old man, or many other skilled craftsmen in the village, will be passionate and willing to sacrifice their time and effort to create the "soul" of those "water wheels"...

Shun Huang