The greatness of the Ba River

I have written a lot about the Ba river. Yet every time I go down Highway 25, I feel like it’s still not enough, I just want to write something more.

Beautiful riverside village. first. National Highway 25 – Road 7 before 1975, 181km long, starting from Highway 14 at Cheo Reo junction in Chu Se town, Chu Se district, Gia Lai, and ending at Highway 1 in Tuy Hoa city. Phu Yen province. Highway 25 is like a soft silk, when hiding in the vastness of rubber, sometimes through coffee and pepper gardens, then gently squeezing through countless upside down hillsides… However, no matter where it crosses over, Highway 25 is still “in love” with the Ba River. Only in places where the terrain is divided, Highway 25 and the Ba River are temporarily separated – like the angry moments of a boy and a girl who love each other, and then return to each other and blend together. , more intimately. I love all the rivers on this S-shaped strip of land. Because every river is beautiful, wonderful and dreamy. And because, every river has witnessed many heroes of the nation’s history. River Ba – of course – is no exception… Originating from small streams and creeks in the Kon Plong plateau, Kon Tum province with an altitude of 1,549m, the Ba River resembles the strong and proud men of Xe Dang and BarNah. Ba River – the most magnificent river of the Central Highlands – South Central. From the starting point, the Ba River winds on the plateaus of the northernmost Central Highlands in Kon Tum province, then flows down to Gia Lai, passing through the districts of Kbang, An Khe, Dak Po, Kong Chro, Ia Pa, Ayun Pa. Here, the river changes direction to enter Krong Pa district of Gia Lai province and then enters the territory of Phu Yen province in the west – east direction. At the end of the 374km journey, the Ba River merges with the big sea at Da Dien estuary (also known as Da Rang estuary), south of Tuy Hoa city. Peace by the river. Do not know since when, Ba River has been a sacred symbol of the residents living along the two banks. With a basin of 13,900km2, the Ba River is a gathering place, living for a long time of indigenous peoples such as De Trieng, Se Dang, J’rai, BahNar… to form cultural features from here. characteristics of the indigenous peoples. From the majestic waterfalls in the upstream to the bends, the smooth flows downhill carry a bold imprint of the culture of the inhabitants living here: They are immortal epics, epic and romantic chapters; those are beautiful love stories of boys and girls Ede, De Trieng, J’rai, BahNar…; it is the beautiful legend of the magical sword and the Fire King of the J’rai; There are also peaceful villages on both sides of which is a unique and huge cultural heritage with the soaring roofs of the Rong house, the silent statues of the tombs, the sound of gongs, and the la da. A glass of wine, with laziness around the sinuses… The Ba River plays a very important role in the lives of the indigenous people where it flows. With the gifts God has given her, Ba River has generously donated everything back to people. 2. I once had the opportunity to walk along this wonderful river, from upstream to downstream. Everywhere is beautiful. Everywhere wants to stop for a few days, to satisfy! But perhaps – for me, the most impressive point is still Ben Mong, the Red Valley in Ayun Pa town. Remember, a few decades ago, when there was no Ben Mong bridge connecting Ayun Pa with Ia Pa district, I used to come here. There is a boat, day and night, sun and rain, constantly and diligently taking guests across the river. I used to sit on that boat of Mr. Chau Sanh Ngoc (often called Mr. Sau Ngoc), about sixty years old that year. Once, he rowed a boat and took me from Ben Mong, down the Ba River to the Red Valley at the foot of To Na Pass – the demarcation between Ayun Pa town and Krong Pa district of Gia Lai province. That day was in the spring, the water was not big, just enough for the boat not to hit the rocks in the riverbed. The boat floats naturally on the gentle water, sometimes Mr. Sau Ngoc puts the rowing beam into the water, driving the boat from going to the shore. “Calling it Ben Mong is to distinguish it from Ben Mo on the left bank of the river, in Ia Pa district,” Mr. Sau Ngoc told me. He said: Ben Mo that day had a row of green fig trees. In summer, where is hot, but Ben Mo is always cool. Then one year the flood came, the fig tree line was eroded, drifting with the fierce water. Ben Mo has since remained only in memory… Soon came the Rose Valley. There are also other very romantic names such as Valley of Love, Valley of Purple Horizon… Before 1975, I didn’t know, but when I went down to Ben Mong with Mr. Sau Ngoc a few decades ago, the Red Valley was still relatively unspoiled with clusters of orchids on top of the old trees, reflecting down. clear water stream. And apricot forest – sometimes peeking in the groves is a forest apricot tree showing brilliant yellow color. According to Mr. Sau Ngoc, it is called the Valley of Love because the scenery here is beautiful and the climate is cool, so many couples often come here to love themselves. “But it is also associated with a very beautiful love story of the J’rai people here for a long time!”, Mr. Ngoc said. And the Pink Valley or Purple Horizon Valley is probably derived from the color change during the day, depending on the morning, noon or afternoon sunlight shining down on the water, and then reflecting on the riverside forest to have colors. colors at different times of the day. The river section in the Red Valley suddenly widens and the water turns blue. That day, Mr. Sau Ngoc brought a fishing net. The roof beams along the boat, he stood up, slightly shrunk his feet, then threw his hand into the river to catch the fish. The boat swayed slightly. The surface of the water where the fishing net was covered broke into rolling waves… That night, Mr. Sau Ngoc and I removed the fish from the fishing net, drank wine in the heart of the valley… Above the riverbank, Highway 25 still faithfully curves along the river, even though suddenly from the mountain, rushes to a hill to become To Na pass, connecting Ayun Pa with Krong Pa. And back then, the fish in the Red Valley was delicious. On occasion, I will talk about the fighting fish from the Ba Man River in An Khe, or the pelagic fish in the Red Valley at the foot of the To Na pass. Highway 25 is soft winding along the Ba river. 3. There was a chance that I went down road 25, along the Ba River, back to Tuy Hoa. Arriving in Phu Yen province, the Ba river changed its name to the Da Rang river bar – from the reading camp of the name Ea Drang – the ancient Cham language means “the laurel river”. Here, busy and peaceful villages are quietly nestled by the river. Near the big sea, the Ba River is also generous when bending, forming a large delta of over twenty thousand hectares, creating the largest Tuy Hoa field in the South Central. And yet, from the Dong Cam irrigation system, water from the Ba River is brought in, irrigating this vast rice field… … Every time I return to Tuy Hoa, I stay here for the night. I don’t stay at the hotel, but often stop by a small Homestay on Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street. May Homestay – a gentle and cute name. Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street in the city center, a few minutes walk is standing in front of the sea. The night here is strangely quiet, so quiet that you can even hear someone’s light breath – outside, it’s like hearing the whispers of the Ba river – Da Rang river when returning to the sea…