06:02, 06/08/2023
No one knows when the name "O Moi" was given to the ferry terminal in Long Xuyen City ( An Giang province), but the two words "O Moi" evoke in every person in the Southwestern region of Vietnam many fond memories of their beautiful childhood with this simple tree of their homeland.
Many elderly people recount that in the old days, the Omoi tree grew abundantly along the riverbank where the ferry landing was located, so people named it Omoi Ferry Landing. Whenever the Omoi Ferry Landing is mentioned, the people of An Giang always think of their outstanding son: President Ton Duc Thang.
Over a century ago, the Ô Môi ferry landing bore the footprints of the young student Tôn Đức Thắng, who traveled from his hometown in Mỹ Hòa Hưng village on Ông Hổ islet to Long Xuyên to study. Later, this same ferry sent him to Saigon to continue his studies, work, and embark on the struggle for national freedom.
Someone once said that to love one's country, one must first love one's homeland. Perhaps the simplicity and affection of the land and people of the Mekong Delta, including Ong Ho islet, his hometown, was the starting point for Uncle Ton's patriotism. It was the stilt house of his parents, the rows of olive trees along the road to school, the boats bobbing on the quiet river, the traditional folk songs sung on the bustling merchant boats...
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| O Moi ferry terminal (My Hoa Hung side) today. Photo: Internet |
Today, after more than a century, Long Xuyen, once a small town in the colonial South, has become one of the leading dynamic cities in the Mekong Delta. Its well-maintained streets are always bustling with people and vehicles, its markets are vibrant with trade, promising new urban areas and towering skyscrapers reflect the youthful energy of Long Xuyen… all creating a new face for the city in the 21st century.
Uncle Ton's hometown, My Hoa Hung, has also undergone many changes, from a quiet, secluded village surrounded by rivers and waterways to a vibrant new rural commune. Walking along the beautiful rural roads of My Hoa Hung today, one can easily see the prosperous lives of the people. Furthermore, although it is a commune belonging to Long Xuyen City, it still retains the rustic atmosphere of the countryside, a peacefulness that allows visitors from near and far to appreciate the beauty of the island through every small detail.
Over time, the O Moi ferry landing has become a witness to the ups and downs of history, the vicissitudes of the times, and the changes in the homeland. The ferry has carried countless sons and daughters from the island to all corners of the country and welcomed many visitors from distant lands to the island to pay tribute to the nation's outstanding revolutionary leader.
The Ô Môi ferry landing on the Long Xuyên side remains in its original location, but the Mỹ Hòa Hưng side has changed due to riverbank erosion; only its simple and endearing name remains. Local people have performed a very meaningful act by bringing some Ô Môi trees back to replant at the ferry landing, recreating the image of the past for today's generation to see. After nearly 30 years of replanting, the Ô Môi trees have grown large, spreading their branches to provide shade for the road leading down to the ferry landing.
Looking across the river, the bustling Long Xuyen market is a scene of lively trade, and in the distance, the Long Xuyen floating market with boats and barges crowded along a stretch of the river, with the lush and peaceful Pho Ba islet in the middle. Stepping onto the O Moi wharf and walking about 300 meters, we will see the statue of President Ton Duc Thang, facing the O Moi wharf and towards Ong Ho islet, like the son of Hai Thang who, after many years away, has returned to set foot on his beloved land.
Hung Chau
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