Sending my longing for the land of rivers and waterways.

I know Cam Ly has traveled extensively; her footprints can be found all over the southern waterways. It seems that Cam Ly's experience of the Mekong Delta has grown month by month, let alone year by year, after all her travels.

Cam Ly is so familiar that even while the car is speeding along the road, whenever people exclaim about a bridge, a river, or a lush orchard, she can readily recount the history, facts, and stories about the land and people of this place. She single-handedly managed the group's trip, which was short but covered almost the entire Mekong Delta, making her deeply familiar with the region.

Illustration: LE NGOC DUY

In the Mekong Delta, I've longed countless times to visit this land, to feel the ebb and flow of the tides, to admire the water hyacinths, to hear the sound of bitterns, and to see the water lilies drifting everywhere. The waterways of the South have followed me into my dreams, into my dreamy gazes southward, towards the bamboo bridges and rickety monkey bridges over the riverbanks that are eroding on one side and building up on the other; there are songs and cải lương (traditional Vietnamese opera) with sweet melodies that instilled in me a deep love for this land I haven't yet visited, yet feel familiar from time immemorial. Hearing people talk about the character of the Southern people, passed down from the time of pioneering and settlement, warms my heart; hearing about the kind and hospitable treatment of visitors from afar makes me yearn to visit again, to enjoy the green gardens, the fruit trees, and to hear the soaring voices of the folk singers. Some say the distant, clear, and high-pitched singing of the Mekong Delta is due to the vast expanse of rivers and waterways, where the fishing boats are far apart, so the singing resonates to bring everyone closer together. And so, over the years, the sounds of folk songs and melodies have become so familiar and endearing. Those who haven't been there yearn to see it for themselves, while those who have been want to return again to satisfy their longing. As for me, I travel as if afraid of running out of space, strolling slowly to admire the fruit orchards to my heart's content, then boarding a small boat to experience the gentle swaying of the alluvial waterways. This trip was full of surprises; I quickly ate a loaf of bread in Dong Ha early in the morning, and by afternoon I was already in the Mekong Delta. The journey wasn't short at all, taking me all the way to Phu Quoc Island, where I listened to the waves lapping against the shore of Kien Giang and sang: "As evening falls, standing by the bridge, I hear the waves of the sea / The golden autumn sun shines brightly on the shore / How beautiful Kien Giang is / The shadows of the clouds match the shadows of the mountains." I stayed there for a while to wander through the island's night market with its abundance of rare products, admire the beautiful scenery, and visit the historical sites of a land frequently mentioned in history books. Then we'll head back to the land of white rice and clear water, to visit the floating markets - a unique cultural feature of the Mekong Delta.

Whether a trip is long or short seems to be measured not by time but by the memories etched in each person's eyes. Though unspoken, I know everyone feels content with the journey, even though the distance remains the same, the time seems to change. It's truly meaningful when travelers like me want to learn more about a beloved part of our homeland.

Le Nhu Tam

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/gui-noi-nho-ve-mien-song-nuoc-192721.htm