A glimpse of Ban Ve Lake

(Baonghean) -Since the Ban Ve Hydropower Project (Tuong Duong) was approved, we have traveled up and down the Nam Non River at least 10 times. And each trip is an emotion, a thought before the changes of scenery and life in the majestic mountains of the Western Nghe An region.

The journey from Thuong Luu wharf to Nhon Mai commune center took more than 3 hours by motorboat. When we stepped on the boat, it was pouring rain, which continued throughout the entire journey and for several days after. Despite the wind blowing in our faces, we lifted the tarpaulin to look at the lake through the heavy rain. Unlike previous times, the lake has now accumulated enough water, the generators have been put into operation, so life in the middle of the lake seems much more deserted. In the midst of the vast river scene, we occasionally see a boat going in the opposite direction and a fragile single boat of fishermen.

A "floating village" on the shore of Ban Ve Lake

The lake has a lot of fish, so people who specialize in fishing appeared and formed "floating villages". The residents of these "floating villages" were originally indigenous people who had moved to resettlement areas (mainly in Thanh Chuong district) and due to difficult life, had to return to their "old hometown" to fish, slash-and-burn farming and raise livestock. Mr. Luong Van Thang, formerly from Cha Luon village, Luan Mai commune, now resettled in Thanh Son commune (Thanh Chuong) confided: "When we moved to our new hometown, we were not really used to the new way of doing business. We had many children, so we had to return to our old hometown to fish, farm, and raise cows. Coming here was also very difficult and miserable, because the houses and villages were submerged deep under the lake, so we had to build temporary floating houses. As the water rose, our houses floated with us. We planned to stay here for a while to earn more capital and then return to Thanh Chuong to do business, but we could not stay long-term, because life here was also very precarious."

Arriving at the old Xieng Lam village (in Huu Khuong commune), we tried to look back at the rocky mountain range called Pha Cha La, where there are many beautiful caves and many legends passed down from generation to generation by the Thai people. Now, the water has flooded halfway up the mountain range, leaving no trace of the village, which was once the center of the bustling and prosperous Muong Lam land. The rising water level makes the mountain ranges surrounding the lake seem to be lower. Sometimes, the mist on the mountain descends and dissolves in the vast lake. And it is really enjoyable to see the lush green rice fields along the mountain slopes. A green color that evokes in the mind a revival, a warmth, abundance and full of hope.

Entering the territory of Huu Duong commune (old), we tried to look for the residence of the people of Cha Coong village. Like many other villages in the lake area, Cha Coong village is subject to relocation to the resettlement area in Thanh Chuong. However, due to a number of objective and subjective reasons, many households have not yet relocated. The people of Cha Coong have built makeshift thatched houses on the mountainside to live. Like the residents of the "floating village", they make a living by fishing, farming and raising cattle. From afar, Cha Coong village looks very small in front of the vast landscape and the vast water surface of Ban Ve lake.

The lake water has reached the intersection of the road to Nhon Mai commune. In the past, visitors had to get off the boat and walk along the mountainside trail for nearly an hour to reach the commune center. But now visitors can leisurely sit on the boat to admire the scenery and after about 10 minutes they can reach Nhon Mai commune. In the middle of the great wilderness, in the middle of the vast river, the prosperous villages along the Nam Non river are only in memory. For the sake of the national electricity, for the benefit of the country, people have voluntarily left their birthplace to settle in a new land...

Cong Kien