Ke Tram - ancient silence

Old features remain

A corner of Mr. Dang Ngoc Kim's garden in Tram village, Quynh Thach commune, Quynh Luu district. Photo: Thanh Phuc

We returned to Ke Tram on an early autumn day, when the summer sun still lingered and refused to leave. The scent of ripe star apples wafted in the wind, and the rows of banyan trees cast cool green shadows that seemed to soften the still hot sun. Entering Mr. Dang Ngoc Kim’s garden, we felt like we were lost in a fairy tale garden.

As a long-time cultural officer, in the garden full of trees, Mr. Kim has reserved space for earthenware jars, ceramic pots, porcelain and old bicycles, which to him are "his family's heritage". In particular, behind his house is a fig tree that is hundreds of years old, recognized as a national historical and cultural relic. The fig tree is tall, has a wide canopy, and its base has many knots, covered with moss and mold that thickens over time.

Mr. Dang Ngoc Kim, the owner of the garden with the heritage star apple tree, said: “According to the elders of Lam Cau village, formerly Ke Tram, there were residents of 3 families including Nguyen, Phan and Dang living on the slopes of That Son mountain range. Lam Cau people planted 7 star apple trees on 7 peaks of That Son mountain, which annually produce abundant flowers and fruits, sweet fruits, but the special thing is that the star apple tree currently exists and produces 2 types of fruit with different shapes and flavors.

The fig tree is tall, has a wide canopy, and has many lumps at the base, covered with moss that thickens over time. Photo: Thanh Phuc

During the feudal period, through many dynasties, kings and mandarins on their way to inspect the country or scholars returning to the capital to take the imperial examinations used to rest under this banyan tree when their men and horses were tired. During the resistance war against the French and the Americans to save the country, the banyan tree with its secret bunker under its roots was a shelter and a secret base of operations for revolutionary cadres; the banyan tree's roots were also the place where generations of fathers and brothers - the children of Ke Tram - set out to save the country. In 2015, the banyan tree was granted the title of "Vietnam's Historical and Cultural Relic Tree".

Ke Tram still has traces of a system of communal houses, temples, shrines, and communal houses... reflecting the rich religious and spiritual life of the people here. Along with that, there are many ancient wells that have just been restored and embellished. Today, in the village, there is also Ha Temple, which was recognized as a provincial historical relic in 2014. According to historical records, the temple was built in the 17th century in the south of the village.

Ha Lam Cau Temple. (Photo taken from Quynh Thach commune's archives)

In front of the main hall, there are 2 houses along both sides to worship the late gods who contributed to the construction and protection of the village. The temple is decorated with: incense altar, swords, knives, drums, parasols, on both sides there are 2 lions, tigers in disguise, on the big ceremonies, horizontal lacquered boards, side doors, flags, fans... In 1906, the temple was renovated and upgraded. In 1940, a surrounding wall was built, in front were 2 large and tall pillars, on both sides there are mandarins, generals, elephants, horses in attendance very majestically.

The main deity of the temple is the Four Holy Mothers, 11 lucky deities, and 13 post-gods, all of whom have contributed to the village and the country. Among them, Duke Tran Hau Hoa. At the same time, this is the place where the Hoa Son Party Cell lived during the period of 1946-1954; the stationing place of the anti-aircraft artillery battalion of the heroic Nguyen Viet Xuan Unit during the period of fighting against the destructive war of American imperialism. Every year, important ceremonies take place at the temple, which is a space for spiritual and cultural activities of villagers and visitors from all over.

Ancient well relic in Quynh Thach. Photo: Thanh Phuc

The ancient features of Ke Tram are still preserved in the moss-covered houses, sturdy over time; the neatly trimmed fences; the old men "thất thập cổ lai hy" chewing betel and singing; on summer afternoons under the banyan tree, the children are engrossed in folk games such as playing volleyball, marbles, playing hopscotch... Every person, every family here is conscious of preserving that ancient, rustic feature in their own gardens, houses, and village spaces...

Guava of Tram village and old stories

Gardens in Ke Tram area are full of fragrant flowers and sweet fruits all year round. In the photo: A nearly 100-year-old tree in Mr. Dang Ngoc Kim's garden. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Ke Tram land is also known for many delicious fruits such as: guava, mango, jackfruit, grapefruit, persimmon, pomelo... with charming beauty of mountains and rivers, lush all year round, described as:“Lam Cau has That Tinh mountain/A row of seven peaks like a star/Passing by, birds chirp and flowers greet/Looking back at the scenery is like entering a fairy mountain”. In particular, to this day, Tram village guava is considered a specialty of Quynh Thach commune, associated with a meaningful ancient story.

Mr. Dang Ngoc Diep - Chairman of the Dang Family Council, Lam Cau village, Quynh Thach commune said: "According to the family genealogy, the 9th generation ancestor was a talented general Dang Viet Ha. Once, while leading troops to fight against the invaders, he was chased by the enemy, the army disbanded, he got lost in the deep forest and hid there for a long time. In the forest, he ate wild fruits, drank water from streams and streams to survive day by day.

Tram village guava is associated with an old and meaningful story. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Among the wild fruits he ate, there was a type of guava, round, small, with many seeds but thick, sweet flesh and a distinctive aroma. After escaping the disaster, he returned to the village, bringing the seeds of this delicious guava variety for the people of Tram village to plant. This guava variety is very suitable for the soil and climate of Ke Tram, producing many, fragrant and delicious fruits. At first, only households in the Dang family planted it, then the precious guava variety was given to the villagers to plant in their gardens and on the hills. Guava was the famine-relief tree of Ke Tram people during the period of poverty.

Later, there was a period when Tram village guava was in decline due to its small fruit, low yield and low price, so people cut it down a lot, leaving only a few gardens to preserve this precious guava variety. Accordingly, hybrid guava varieties such as pear guava, queen guava, etc. were introduced. Although Tram village guava has "lost its roots", the special thing is that this hybrid guava variety, when grown on Tram village land, still has its own characteristics. That is, the guava fruit is not as big as other places but has a denser, sweeter and more fragrant flesh than the same guava variety grown in other lands. Therefore, Tram village guava is very popular with consumers.

The guava from Tram village has now disappeared, but other guava varieties imported here and grown on Tram village land still have their own unique characteristics. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Ms. Truong Thi Dung, a guava grower in Ke Tram, said: “Tram villagers can tell by looking at the guava whether it is grown in their village or brought from another place. The skin of Tram village guava is not green and fresh, but is usually yellow and has many brown spots; the flesh is not pure white but slightly yellow, when cut open it is fragrant, and has a sweet taste, not bland or too sweet. Anyone who has eaten guava grown in Tram village will have an immediate impression.”

According to the explanation of experienced guava growers in Ke Tram, the reason for the unique flavor of Tram village guava is due to the soil, climate, and water in Tram village. Because of this characteristic, the Quynh Thach commune government decided to choose Tram village guava to build an OCOP product. Currently, the Commune Farmers' Association has established a Lam Cau guava growing cooperative to create links in the production and consumption of guava products, orienting production towards safety, VietGAP, using organic microbial fertilizers, and using herbal preparations to prevent and control pests and diseases.

At the same time, the process of completing the traceability stamp to digitize guava products when selling them to the market is in progress. In particular, local people are currently experimenting with grafting hybrid guava varieties onto the original guava trunks of Tram village to ensure productivity and economic efficiency, while preserving local guava genes from the risk of loss.

Tram village guava has small fruit, yellow skin and is more delicious than guava of the same type grown in other regions. Photo: Thanh Phuc

“The wish of the people of Tram village is that the guava fruit product is awarded the OCOP star, has a stable consumption market, creates a sustainable livelihood for the people, and at the same time, aims to promote the precious guava variety associated with a historical story of a family with meritorious services to the country in Quynh Thach commune. That is the premise for Ke Tram in the past, Lam Cau today to rise up to integrate, develop the economy, and build a strong homeland. We also hope that in the coming time, Tram village will be a destination for tourists from near and far in an agricultural experience tour: Visit Ha temple, visit the heritage fig tree, ancient well, enjoy Tram village guava, experience the gardens full of fragrant flowers and sweet fruits in Tram village…”, said Mr. Dang Ngoc Hoa - Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, a son of Tram village./.