Le Viet Thuat Street - Old charm in a new street

(Baonghean) - The wide, spacious road resembles the gateway to Vinh City, a dynamic and integrated city, yet it still retains a lingering sense of nostalgia for the old ways of a land with a rich history, culture, and revolution. These are my impressions of Le Viet Thuat Street…

A section of Le Viet Thuat street.

For the people of the heroic Red City, that road has been familiar since its days as a wild, uninhabited path in the early 1800s. By the early 1950s, the French colonial government expanded it, and Le Viet Thuat Street, connecting Vinh and Cua Hoi, became an important inner-city transportation route. Today, Le Viet Thuat Street is also known as Provincial Road 535, managed by the Nghe An Department of Transport, starting from the Post Office Bridge – the intersection of Nguyen Sy Sach and Nguyen Phong Sac streets. This shows that the road is not just a familiar path, as it was initially thought nearly two centuries ago, but has emerged as an indispensable "lifeline" of this first-class city.

Le Viet Thuat Street is located right in the heart of the vibrant Hung Loc region, stretching across the hamlets of Tan Hung, Xuan Hung, Mau Don, Mau Lam, Ngu Phuc… I have strolled along Le Viet Thuat Street countless times, only to be captivated by the "Mau Don Culture" archway leading into this rich cultural heritage area, compelling me to explore and learn more. Soon, the residents of Mau Don hamlet – a part of Le Viet Thuat Street – will celebrate the 10th anniversary of their honorary recognition as a Provincial-level Cultural Hamlet. Ten years is a significant number in terms of official titles and documents, but the cultural essence and rich history of this land and its people must be traced back hundreds of years. From ancient times, this area has also been home to the Mau Don village temple, renowned far and wide for its solemnity and sacredness. The temple serves as a spiritual refuge for the villagers and also symbolizes protection against evil. The spiritual essence of the village temple, once a symbol of Mother Goddess, has permeated the daily lives of the villagers, and even after centuries, it continues to harmoniously nurture a sense of peace. Even Le Viet Thuat Street, which only runs for about 500 meters through the hamlet, benefits from this profound blessing, imbuing its atmosphere with tranquility, despite the hustle and bustle of modernity.

Walking along Le Viet Thuat Street today, we are reminiscing about the footsteps of our ancestors and the history we have witnessed. It's the thunderous, defiant spirit of thousands of people from Loc Da and Duc Thinh during the Nghệ-Tĩnh Soviet uprising; or the deep craters left by American bombs, and the glorious anti-aircraft artillery positions that once illuminated the skies of Vinh City. Even the original inhabitants of this area, recalling those times, find it hard to believe that one day, this road, which has witnessed so many changes in the land and its people, would rise so powerfully. From a dusty, sandy road in the hot season and muddy in the rainy season, once a source of hardship for many, it is now spacious and impressive, with two lanes in each direction, rows of houses and shops overflowing with convenient goods. The most authentic taste of the street is felt on a cool afternoon, like this time of year, amidst the hustle and bustle of rush hour and the weariness of a day gone by. The lingering aromas of hot pot, barbecue, and dog meat restaurants are increasingly present on Le Viet Thuat Street, shaping its unique culinary identity.

Coi Market (Hung Loc commune).

This road also bears the mark of Coi Market – a traditional market that has existed in Hung Loc for nearly a hundred years. In the memories of those of advanced age, Coi Market was simply a rural market, selling a few baskets of rice noodles, some stacks of steamed rice cakes with scallions and oil, a few stalls selling red braised meat, and three or four rows of vegetables, rice, and grain… The name's origin is also unclear; some say Coi is a corrupted form of Coi – meaning sedge mats – a once popular commodity in this market. Others say no, Coi also means Coi, but refers to the sedge bird (related to the stork) that used to inhabit the wetlands of Hung Loc in ancient times. Neither explanation is entirely accurate, but it is certain that the market has created a distinct urban character that persists to this day. Even though more than two years have passed since Coi Market was renovated into a new two-story market spanning over 8,600 square meters, and its traditional rural market charm has faded, Le Viet Thuat Street still retains the vibrant and familiar atmosphere of that bustling marketplace until late at night.

The street lies on a land steeped in revolutionary history, so inevitably, the heroic spirit still resonates in the town's atmosphere; its people remain straightforward, simple, and chivalrous. I know a restaurant owner somewhere along Le Viet Thuat Street. He's the youngest son of a veteran from the 280th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment. His father's memories of the American bombing raids, the earth-shattering explosions, the landslides that ravaged the small city, still recovering from years of defending the homeland, and the cheers of victory, the tears of joy on reunion... have become a fairytale that accompanied his childhood. He loves this city, still facing many hardships, deeply because of his father's heroic memories, and above all, it has become an anchor that keeps him here, determined to prosper in his homeland. His restaurant faces Le Viet Thuat Street, primarily serving students, manual laborers, and low-paid civil servants. A few vegetables, some pieces of meat, a bowl of hot soup, and a generous serving of rice… for years, this simple yet compassionate way of serving the needy has been a testament to this. It's not exactly a free meal, as the owner himself isn't exactly well-off, but anyone who steps inside can feel confident and happy with their modest amount of money…

A feeling of excitement fills me as I drive along Le Viet Thuat Street, a road that serves as the gateway to the northeastern part of the city, with a strong potential to reach the Cua Hoi - Cua Lo coastal tourist center and connect directly to the "heart" of Vinh City's inner city, yet still retains a certain contemplative suburban charm. On those rare sunny days in late autumn, leisurely driving to the end of the street, I feel a growing hope for the city's future.

Phuong Chi