Huoi Nguyen, when will it be green again?

(Baonghean) -It has been more than 3 years since we had the opportunity to drive along National Highway 48C from Khe Bo - Tam Quang commune to Xieng Lip intersection - Yen Hoa commune (Tuong Duong). Last time, we were startled to witness the signs of devastation of the river system here. And this time, we could not help but feel disappointed when we realized that "basically, the stream system in this area has been torn apart", due to the rampant "gold thieves". Then we asked ourselves, when the water source is stained red, will the people still have a peaceful life as the names the ancients entrusted (Yen Thang, Yen Hoa, Yen Na, Yen Tinh)?

About 10 years ago, when this route had not yet been constructed, we had the opportunity to follow the clear Huoi Nguyen River (also known as Hoi Nguyen) winding through the mountains. According to the Geographical work of Tuong Duong District by Associate Professor Ninh Viet Giao, the Huoi Nguyen River originates from Pu Huong range, flows through Nga My commune, reaches Cooc village (Yen Hoa commune), receives additional water from Cha Ha stream (from Yen Tinh commune) and Nam Ngan stream (from Nga My) to form the Huoi Nguyen River. From here, the Huoi Nguyen River flows along the border between Yen Na and Yen Thang communes, then merges with the Lam River in Dinh Tien village (Tam Dinh commune).

The Huoi Nguyen River and the stream system in the "4 Yen" area were once the source of life for the Thai people here. Because, in the past, there were countless fish and shrimp in the river and stream, people living along the banks could freely cast nets, cast nets, set hooks or set traps... And the rivers and streams here would forever retain their clear blue color if the ground did not contain abundant reserves of placer gold. In the past, someone said that the Huoi Nguyen River was the "navel" of placer gold. And the gold panning profession here has existed since ancient times. The gold mining tools at that time were mainly hoes, shovels and sieves made of wood, shaped like a cone. The gold panning profession brought the people here a significant source of income whenever the rain and sunshine were erratic, and the crops failed. And this manual gold panning method had almost no impact on the ecological environment as well as the flow of the river and stream system.

Manual gold mining along the Huoi Nguyen river.

Stopping at Trung Thang village (Yen Thang commune), we followed the path leading down to the edge of the Huoi Nguyen river. Although we had information that this land was being ravaged by “gold thieves”, we still could not have imagined the chaotic, messy and messy scene that was unfolding before our eyes. That was the result of the repeated plowing by large excavators and bulldozers that disturbed the riverbed, and both banks became eroded like a body full of injuries. The entire water source was stained a murky yellow, and in the middle of the water was a layer of oil.

Here, we met a Thai woman in her 40s, who was panning for gold using manual methods. She used a small crowbar to dig up rocks and soil along the bank, scooped them into a basket, and then brought them to the river bank to use a sieve to pan for gold. Seeing her do it over and over again about 10 times, shaking her head in frustration each time, we boldly got to know her. She said that this method of panning was no longer effective, but because she had free time, and her fields had been cleared and pruned, she came here to try her luck. From morning until now, she had not been able to pan for any gold. The main reason was that recently, mining companies everywhere were noisily bringing in machines to plow. Seeing this, local people also contributed money to buy generators and pumps to mine, contributing to the erosion of the riverbanks and streams. Worse, waste oils from machines and chemicals used to process ores were discharged directly into the water, and fish and shrimp were almost extinct.

Leaving the center of Yen Thang commune, we continued up to Xieng Lip intersection (Yen Hoa), visiting Mr. Vi Kham Mun, a Thai intellectual who has received many awards for his works of collecting and researching the culture of his people. During lunch, after finishing a few cups of wine, Mr. Mun agreed to share some of his feelings. He was sad because this countryside is crisscrossed with streams, but for the past few years, the villages have been severely lacking in domestic water. The "gold bandits" have polluted the streams, making it impossible for even fish to survive, let alone humans.

Then the machines dug and turned upside down all the way to the source of the stream, causing the water pipeline system to be damaged and broken, and clean water could not reach the tank, causing the people to suffer from a lack of water. There were times when people had to go to the edge of the river or stream to dig a small hole for the water to seep in and then take it home to use. But no matter how much they boiled it, a lot of dirt would remain, and when it cooled, it would be covered with scum, so they still had to use it. Then there was the story of when "gold diggers" from all over the country flocked here, bringing with them many social evils, threatening the peaceful life of the village. In particular, since then, the number of village boys and girls involved in drug addiction has increased day by day. People have sometimes forgotten their fields and run after gold mining. Gold is becoming increasingly rare, fields are abandoned, and many families have fallen into hunger...

Huoi Nguyen River was devastated by "gold thieves".

The sun had set behind the Pu Phen range. Mr. Vi Kham Mun led us along Cha Ha stream, through Hao village (Yen Hoa commune), Na Pu village, Na Khom village, Xop Pu village (Yen Na commune). Wherever we went, we saw scenes of messy streams and streams because of the huge piles of soil, rocks, sand and gravel that had been dug up into giant piles. Mr. Mun sadly pointed: "Along Cha Ha stream, there used to be fertile fields with quite high productivity, but now they have become gold mining grounds. I wonder how the people here will live when the "gold storm" passes by?". Then he led us along Huoi Nguyen stream, down to Xop Khau village (Yen Thang commune). Looking down at the muddy water, Mr. Mun pondered again: “In the past, this was the village’s bathing beach. Every afternoon, returning from the fields, the mountain girls would go to the river to bathe and laugh happily. Now, just wading back into the water, they feel itchy rashes all over their bodies. I wonder when the Huoi Nguyen River will be blue again?” And according to him, in recent years the frequency of flash floods has increased, the intensity has become stronger, making the village terrified, mainly due to gold mining, which has devastated and changed the flow of rivers and streams.

Leaving this land, we brought with us the worries and anguish of Mr. Vi Kham Mun and the villagers. Hopefully, one day soon, the Huoi Nguyen River, Khe Lip, Cha Ha, Nam Ngan... will become clear again, so that the people here can soon return to a peaceful life.

Article and photos: CONG KIEN