Phu Nghia Dream

(Baonghean) - Perhaps, one of the differences between Quynh Nghia commune (Quynh Luu) and other communes in the coastal area is the undulating sand dunes running along the coast. Along with the majestic and wild beauty of Dragon Mountain, the changes in life have created the charm of a coastal countryside.

No longer having the physical strength of a young man, Mr. Bui Ngoc Ke, Nghia Bac hamlet, Quynh Nghia commune (Quynh Luu) - a veteran of the No-numbered Train, still has a passionate love for the sea. Every morning, he often spends time on the beach, tending to the roots of small casuarina trees to prevent them from being knocked down by storms, a voluntary work with all the enthusiasm and love of a son of a coastal village.

Stemming from that love, Mr. Ke also spent time collecting documents, exploring the "sediment" of the village, gathering them into stories and telling them to his children and grandchildren. "This land has a history of nearly a thousand years, through many events, ups and downs, families from all over came here to open land and establish villages. Today's life cannot be said to be rich but it is no longer as hard and hungry as before, the future promises many changes and improvements" - veteran Bui Ngoc Ke could not hide his pride and expressed the tone of a researcher.

According to the elders in Quynh Nghia, the scallop islands along the coast were formed thousands of years ago, due to the impact of geological changes. In ancient times, this was a saltwater bay, favorable for the growth of clams and scallops. When the sea level rose, then gradually receded, in the words of history books, "the sea advanced" and "the sea retreated", causing these creatures to not have time to adapt and die en masse. Due to the impact of waves and currents, clams and scallops were washed ashore and accumulated into islands, traces of which can still be seen today.

Along with the dunes, more than 30 years ago, archaeologists also discovered 3 spade blades and 1 hoe blade made of gray stone, which are believed to be primitive labor tools. The document "Nghia Ly Village Agreement" (another name for Quynh Nghia) states: "Our village was Trang Nghia Lo during the Le Dynasty, and by the end of the 14th century, it was called Hien Luong village, located in Hoan Hau commune, Phu Hau canton later."

Dragon Mountain landscape, Quynh Nghia commune (Quynh Luu). Photo: Sy Minh

In the early 17th century, this land was renamed Phu Nghia commune, including two large villages: Thuong Thon (current Quynh Nghia commune) and Ha Thon (current Tien Thuy commune). And the name Phu Nghia represents the dreams and aspirations of the residents of the coastal village here, the dream of a prosperous, wealthy, full and meaningful life, promoting humanity.

By the 18th century, there were up to 20 clans gathered here, the Nguyen clan came from Nam Sach (Hai Duong), the Dinh clan came from the ancient capital of Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh), the Ho clan came from many different regions, the Truong Dac clan came from Minh Linh district (Quang Tri) and the Bui clan came from Ha Trung land (Thanh Hoa)... The clans worked hard to produce and protect their homeland. At the same time, they built rich cultural and spiritual values, imbued with identity, expressed through the system of communal houses, temples, shrines as well as festival activities and customs. Then, they built the solidarity of the community, villages, united and joined forces to fight against storms, natural disasters and bandits, preserving the countryside and peaceful life...

Living along the beach, the natural conditions are quite rich, so the people of Phu Nghia live by many different occupations. There are fields and alluvial land for farmers to grow rice, corn, peanuts, sesame; there are salt fields for salt farmers to produce; there is a vast sea for fishermen to develop fishing and exploiting seafood. And, for generations, fishing has become the main occupation, the spearhead occupation in Phu Nghia village, from the time when small boats went out to sea until today with a large capacity fleet of nearly 150 boats day and night sticking to the sea, going offshore, in the first 6 months of this year, nearly 10,000 tons of shrimp and fish have been exploited.

Along with that, the seafood processing industry is maintained and developed, creating jobs and bringing in large income for the people. In addition, Phu Nghia fishing village also has a traditional carpentry profession, originating from shipbuilding, later developing into household carpentry. And, when the market economy develops, the types of services in Quynh Nghia commune begin to catch up and accelerate, contributing to increasing income and socio-economic development. Recently, this locality has begun to exploit the potential of natural landscapes to develop tourism - services, helping to quickly change the face of life, the pace of life of the fishing village is increasingly bustling.

The charm of Hon Ong - Hon Ba in Dragon Mountain, Quynh Nghia Commune (Quynh Luu). Photo: Sy Minh

When talking about Quynh Nghia fishing village, we cannot help but mention Dragon Mountain (literally Long Linh) - a mountain located in the Southeast, a "shield" during storms, and also a scenic spot, a "masterpiece" bestowed by nature. The mountain is 189m high, running along the edge of the sea, protecting the village behind.

The mountain has the shape of a dragon holding water and spraying rain, its head facing the Southeast, its body winding, its tail spreading out in the shape of a phoenix wing, a place to absorb the sacred energy of the sky, the sea and the earth. Since ancient times, Dragon Mountain has been praised by people, recorded in many historical books, in which the book "Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi" written by the National History Institute of the Nguyen Dynasty wrote: "The cliffs are steep, the caves are deep, the birds are full, the caves of the gods do not need to be repaired or built but are full of natural beauty".

It is not wrong to say that Dragon Mountain is a “masterpiece”, the system of stalactites around the mountain curves in the shape of waves, creating a dragon’s fin. On one side is a long rocky beach with countless rocks of different sizes and majestic shapes, the most impressive is the pair of Ong and Ba rocks standing side by side, expressing the desire for eternal happiness.

Next is O Ga rock with the image of a mother hen and her chicks chirping together, expressing the desire for the growth and reproduction of all things. On the dragon's body are also Go Khi, Ke Quan peak, Ham Ech, Ham Thong..., each name is based on a shape, expressing a desire, a philosophy of life of the people. Next to the foot of the mountain is a fine sandbank, each wave rushing back to lull people to sleep, since ancient times this place has been the village's bathing beach, also the place where small boats rest.

Bustling life at Lach Quen port, Quynh Nghia commune (Quynh Luu). Photo: Viet Hung

In the mountain, there is Dragon Cave with its pristine beauty, with blocks of stone stacked on top of each other in a myriad of colors. The cave entrance leads to the sea, so you can take a boat here to explore and admire the ingenuity and ingenuity of nature that has carved out majestic, shimmering and magical shapes. On the ceiling of the cave, there is a point connecting to the outside called the skylight, which welcomes sunlight, making the scenery more beautiful and splendid. From here, you can observe the vegetation clinging to the cliffs, showing a strong vitality and a resilient spirit, bearing the strong image of the children of Phu Nghia fishing village. The beauty of Dragon Mountain and the appeal of Dragon Cave, the charm of the sea are helping this place become an ideal destination.

We walked through the sand dunes, the rows of casuarinas, the rice fields and the corn fields that were all green. On the Quen creek, boats were bustling, the fish market was bustling, adding to the peaceful scenery of the fishing village. Fresh catches of fish had just been brought back from the sea, and the vehicles were rushing in and out, bringing them to the countryside near and far, making the life of the fishing village more vibrant. The face of the village was changing with asphalt roads, rows of spacious houses and solid constructions, standing firm against the harshness of storms, the aspiration from long ago was becoming a reality.

Leaving the coastal village of Quynh Nghia, the images that lingered in our minds were the rows of casuarinas blocking the waves, the sturdy bodies of the fishermen, and the friendly eyes and smiles of the locals. And there, the shape of Dragon Mountain in front of the sea - the legendary mountain standing tall amidst the storms of everyday life...

Cong Khang