Sister river, brother river...

(Baonghean) - These are the two main rivers that merge to form the Ca River, consisting of the Nam Mo and Nam Non streams. These two rivers share the same motherland, Laos. Folklore tells an interesting story about these two rivers: "the older sister river, the younger sister river."

The confluence of the Nậm Nơn and Nậm Mộ rivers is located in Xá Lượng commune, Tương Dương district.

The Nam Mo River enters Vietnam through the communes of Muong Tip and Muong Ai in Ky Son district. This area is inhabited by the Mong and Thai ethnic groups. After traveling hundreds of kilometers, the Nam Mo River meets the Nam Non River in Xa Luong commune, Tuong Duong district. The Nam Non River originates in Hua Phan province (Laos) and enters Vietnam at Cha Nga village (My Ly – Ky Son). After a long journey creating countless rapids and waterfalls, the Nam Non River finally reaches its destination. Besides creating rapids and waterfalls, the Nam Non River also gives rise to a Thai cultural region with many unique customs and traditions.

Every spring, at the end of the first lunar month, at the Van Temple, where the Nam Mo and Nam Non rivers meet, the villagers hold a festival, slaughtering buffaloes as offerings to the heavens. Young men and women flock to enjoy games like throwing the ball, swinging, and writing Thai script... The atmosphere is truly sacred and full of warmth and camaraderie.

Mr. Lo Van Tan, from Xop Chao village (Luong Minh - Tuong Duong), next to the Nam Non River, told us the story of the Nam Mo and Nam Non rivers, two sisters born of the same mother. Nam Mo was the elder sister, and Nam Non was the younger. One day, Mother Earth entrusted the sisters with a sacred task: to return and contribute water to the great sea. They arranged to meet at the confluence of the rivers, where the Van Temple - Cua Rao Festival is held today. The younger sister remembered her mother's instructions and ran tirelessly, creating many waterfalls and rapids along the way. That's why the Nam Non River is so full of rapids and waterfalls.

Upon arriving at the meeting point, the younger sister waited for months before her older sister, Nam Mo, finally arrived. The younger sister, feeling resentful, reproached her: "Didn't you listen to Mother's instructions? Why are you so late?" The older sister explained: "I saw that the people along the way had nothing to eat, so I stopped to clear the land and teach them how to cultivate rice paddies so they wouldn't suffer from hunger." The younger sister, moved by her sister's kindness, created countless alluvial plains and rice paddies on their way to the sea. Thanks to this, the people on both banks of the river became more prosperous. Therefore, along the Nam Mo River, there are terraced rice paddies like Na Luong and Na Chao (Huu Kiem – Ky Son). Because she was in a hurry to complete her task, the younger sister, Nam Non, only created rapids and waterfalls, not rice paddies. Consequently, the people living along the Nam Non River only knew how to cultivate fields and fish.

HỮU VI