Phung Phuc Kieu Peaceful alley

(Baonghean) - In Vinh City, there are three things that always make me miss every time I go away: the small house of my childhood, the food my mother cooked, and the streets in the heart of the city. Those things are everywhere in my mind, on every road I travel or whenever I look back. And coincidentally, those three deep memories are closely related to each other, like roads that, no matter how far away, will always lead back to home.

I am talking about Phung Phuc Kieu Street. The small road connecting Tan Thanh I and Tan Thanh II blocks of Le Mao ward, the starting point of the nearly 1km long stretch is the shady banyan tree next to Le Mao Secondary School. Phung Phuc Kieu Street is probably one of the streets that most realistically reflects the changes of the city. From a small, narrow, dusty road, Phung Phuc Kieu Street is now a flat asphalt road, hugging the majestic high-rise buildings. The name of the street sounds strange, but if you mention the road next to Le Mao Secondary School with two famous table tennis clubs, surely many people know about it. For nearly 30 years, those two private table tennis clubs have been the highlight, inviting visitors from all over to gather on the small road. Table tennis is a sport that is not picky about players, not too expensive, so at rush hour, there is always bustling laughter and applause.

Phung Phuc Kieu Street.

The rhythm of the day also reflects the changes of Phung Phuc Kieu Street, when every morning, the street is bustling with the hustle and bustle of the city: children going to school, adults going to work, car horns echoing along the street corner... But at around 8am, the street is quiet with rows of closed houses, the faint sound of lectures from Le Mao Secondary School echoing over. At this time, the street in the heart of the city suddenly turns into a peaceful and quiet village road, still filled with the sound of clucking chickens, the clear chirping of nightingales echoing in the air.

My small house is located right at the beginning of Phung Phuc Kieu Street. A house right at the beginning of the street has many advantages, but only later, when my eyes can see and think, did I realize. From the balcony on the 2nd floor, looking far away is the intersection of the Post Office - Provincial Radio and Television Station - Bac Trung Bo Bookstore - Ho Tung Mau Street, which is always bustling and crowded. Especially, on holidays, that narrow and messy balcony becomes the envy of my friends, because without having to jostle or push, I can still take in all the magnificence of the New Year's Eve fireworks. Also there, in the quiet late nights, with only the rustling sound of bamboo brooms coming from Dinh Cong Trang Street, I suddenly realized with all my immature experiences that the road of my childhood was not the soulless road of bustling urban life but had become a fate, a destiny attached to human life and the history of the streets. Mentioning the street is mentioning the lives, the people who pass by it every day. The street has many small alleys intersecting it, each alley has only a dozen houses with different occupations: teachers' alley, workers' alley, garment alley, soldiers' alley... The daily activities of each alley are also different. There are alleys where most of the people are teachers, like alley 13, but there are alleys where most of the people are freelancers, still bustling with lights until late at night. Phung Phuc Kieu Street is always restless with the comings and goings of the people.

The grilled vermicelli with grilled pork restaurant at the beginning of Phung Phuc Kieu street is the address of many gourmet diners.

The road has been there for a long time, even before I was born. Many generations have grown up and walked on this small road to reach far horizons. Only then do we know that it is human intention that has given Phung Phuc Kieu road a shape, a soul, a past, and a future. Speaking of the future, Mr. Cao Van Ngoc, a citizen in his sixties who has been attached to Phung Phuc Kieu road for many years, confided: “I find Phung Phuc Kieu road extremely enjoyable, it is located in the city center, near the market, near the school, near the main road, near the station…, and it is quiet, without having to endure the noisy noise day and night. The security of this area is also good, for many years there have been few complicated incidents, people can rest assured to do business and live. In the future, Phung Phuc Kieu road will be very valuable!” I don’t know if the prediction of a person who loves his place of residence is right or wrong, but I only know that right now, Phung Phuc Kieu Street is “renewing” every day. The street in the middle of the street has restaurants and eateries serving until late at night, there are table tennis, billiards, fitness clubs, flower shops, grocery stores… All entertainment needs of the people are fully met.

Phung Phuc Kieu Street is like every other street in Vinh City with all its ups and downs, noisy and quiet. Perhaps, for me, Phung Phuc Kieu is always a very different and special street, because it is always the road to return to the nest. Like wintering birds, even though they are fascinated by strange shores, they still need a familiar road to return...

Article and photos:Phuong Chi