The elders in Nghi Tien fishing village confirmed that since the 14th century, a few families from other regions came here to settle down and establish villages, with the main occupation being fishing. They were fishermen from Quynh Luu, Dien Chau districts and Ha Tinh province on their way to sea to fish, drifted here and decided to stop and reclaim land and establish a village. In the past, this place was mainly mountains and streams, creeks and streams with steep slopes.
After the geological changes and the sea retreat, quite large alluvial flats were formed, interspersed with wild lakes, lagoons, and streams. Today, in Nghi Tien commune, there is still Go Diep, about 3 hectares wide and about 10 meters high, where fossilized clams and scallops are found in blocks, considered to be traces of the sea from ancient times.
Although coming from many different regions and families, the residents who settled in Nghi Tien commune soon formed an increasingly stable community. Villages were gradually formed, the relationships between members became increasingly close, helping each other to make a living, fighting against the harshness of the sea and many lurking enemies.
Hai Ba and Hai Don villages were formed, the hills along the coast and at the foot of the mountains grew green roofs and gardens. As time went on, Nghi Tien's population became more and more crowded, partly due to the growth, partly because people from everywhere continued to come here to do business and live.
The village became more and more crowded and prosperous, the people were always united, striving for a prosperous life and together building their homeland to develop more and more. The families: Luu, Tran, Ho, Le, Hoang, Nguyen, Pham… drank from the same well, enjoyed the cool breeze under the village banyan tree and shared the benefits from the sea and mountains; together developed and expanded the roads to trade with the outside world.
In front is the vast ocean, surrounded by majestic mountains, the people of Nghi Tien commune mainly live by fishing, growing rice, mining construction materials and later shrimp farming. In particular, fishing has existed very early and is considered a traditional profession, because the first residents to settle here were fishermen who went out to sea to fish. Through many ups and downs, prosperity and historical changes, to this day, the people of Nghi Tien commune are still attached to the profession passed down by their ancestors.
Like many villages in Vietnam, when completing the settlement and establishing the village, the people of Nghi Tien commune joined hands to build cultural works to consolidate the community and entrust their spiritual life. Here, there used to be a Van Thanh house to worship Confucianism and honor Confucianism, encouraging children to follow the path of education and mandarin exams.
Bach Y Tuyet Son Bodhisattva Pagoda was built in 1801 so that people could have a peaceful and virtuous spiritual life. Village communal houses and temples were built for people to pray for peace before storms and protection from Thanh Hoang and gods before each boat trip...
On the last afternoon of the year, I followed Mr. Hoang Khac Canh (nearly 80 years old) in Tien Phong hamlet, Nghi Tien commune, to walk to some places around the village. The first stop was Hai Ba communal house, built in the 17th century, which has been restored and repaired many times but still retains its ancient and solemn features.
The communal house is associated with the formation and development of the village, is a place for community activities and the spiritual life of the residents of the fishing village. On each trip to sea, fishermen often offer incense and pray to the village's guardian spirit for protection. At the beginning of each spring, the village holds a grand ceremony and organizes a boat racing festival, making the life of the fishing village more bustling.
During the two resistance wars against the French and the Americans, the communal house yard was the place where young men from the fishing villages were sent off to the battlefield, vowing to sacrifice their lives to protect the country. This was also the place where memorial services were held to see off those who died for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.
What is special is that around Hai Ba communal house, about 1 km away, there are 4 village wells, named Den well, Gia well, Be well and Dinh well. This is where the water source for daily life of the residents in the area is provided. Local people said that even during the long drought, the wells never run dry. Nowadays, people have their own wells to meet their family's daily needs, but the village wells are still preserved and respected, considered as relics of the village.
We visited each well in turn, all of which were kept almost intact, with stone slabs stacked on top of each other, the well walls built of mountain stones. On the Temple well walls, there were also some Chinese characters, recalling the scene of a communal, happy life and the imprint of the village and commune community in the past.
Leaving the village well, Mr. Hoang Khac Canh led us to the edge of the coastal mountain, where there was a small temple, on the cliff next to it was a stele engraved with the words "Here is a temple to worship the god of the South Sea". According to Mr. Canh, the god of the South Sea is the whale, so it is also called the Ong Tho temple, built by the people of Nghi Tien commune more than 100 years ago, after discovering and organizing the burial of a whale that had washed ashore under the cliff. Since then, every time they set sail, the fishermen of Hai Ba village often burn incense and pray for calm skies, calm seas, and a boat full of fish and shrimp when they return...
During the war, Ong Tho Temple was continuously bombed and gunned down by American warships, causing it to collapse. The temple no longer exists, but it still exists in the memories and spiritual lives of the residents of Hai Ba village in the past, Tien Phong hamlet today. On the first day of the month, the full moon day and holidays, the temple on the cliff edge of the sea is always filled with incense smoke.
On Tien Phong beach, there is also a small temple, which is often called Mau Temple. In the temple grounds, there is a tomb (mausoleum) built of bricks, on the stele is written: "Mortal Whale Tomb, November 2016". Mr. Canh said that at the end of 2016, a whale died and washed ashore, right in front of Mau Temple.
Upon hearing the news, people immediately pooled money to buy a mat to bury the whale and build a grave for it. On holidays and New Year's, families would visit the grave to care for it as if it were a family member. According to the folk beliefs of the sea, whales spend their whole lives swimming in the vast ocean. When they drift to a place to rest, it proves that that place is a good land and their life will be peaceful. Whale burials are always carried out solemnly and sacredly, showing respect.
Nghi Tien Commune is currently located between two famous coastal tourist areas, Bai Lu (Nghi Loc) and Cua Lo Town. Roads are being invested in and upgraded, creating conditions for connection and development. Although life has changed, the people here always hope to preserve the beauty and the rustic life of the coastal village...
