Thoai Ha Canal - Opening the flow, opening up prosperity

According to “Thoai Son Stele”, in the spring of Mau Dan year (1818), the canal was dug. Thoai Ngoc Hau mobilized about 1,500 militiamen to cut trees and dredge mud. Food and provisions for the people during the canal digging period were funded by the State. The canal followed the old water channel, so it was quite convenient. The work took more than a month to complete. The canal connected Long Xuyen - Rach Gia (the beginning of the canal was at Ba Ban, in Vinh Trach commune today), with a length of 12,410 meters (over 31km). Dong Xuyen - Rach Gia canal was the earliest canal dug in the South. Since then, boats from the Hau River region to the west of Rach Gia, Ha Tien became more convenient, no longer having to go around to the sea. Thoai Ha canal also had the effect of removing acidity and washing away alum to begin the process of exploiting this land.

In 1822, to mark the project and open up new land, Thoại Ngọc Hầu erected a stele and established Thoại Sơn village (changed to a village in 1876). The name Thoại Sơn is not only a place name, but also a deep gratitude to the pioneer. The great contributions of Thoại Ngọc Hầu and the militiamen who participated in digging the canal were remembered and honored by later generations. In the work “Nam Kỳ phong tức nhon vật dien ca” (1909) by Nguyễn Liên Phong, the image of Thoại Hà canal is vividly depicted through the following verses: “Gia Long’s 17th year/ The Protector Thoại was ordered by the imperial edict/ To dig the very long Lạc Dục canal/ Across Sap mountain for internal and external communication/ Then after a month of labor/ The border to Rach Gia was filled with merchants and farmers”.

Thoai Ha Channel still retains its value and importance.

“Throughout the ups and downs of history, Thoai Ha canal still maintains its role and importance. According to local people, although Thoai Son has developed into a bustling urban area, the value of this “Mother River” canal has not diminished, but on the contrary, has increased over time. Thoai Ngoc Hau’s strategic vision has laid a solid foundation for the future development of Thoai Son. Successive generations of leaders have inherited and promoted those precious legacies. By human and mechanical power, a dense system of canals has been dug and built, bringing water to the fields, turning the land that mainly produces one rice crop into an intensive two-crop area (1988-1990), then three crops (in the 2000s), contributing to the development of agriculture and people’s lives” - Head of the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department of Thoai Son District Party Committee Nguyen Quoc Khanh shared.

Nowadays, the Traditional Cultural Festival organized annually by Thoai Son district (March 10th of the lunar calendar) is not only an opportunity to preserve and promote the cultural beauty of the nation, but also practically honors the merits of the famous god Thoai Ngoc Hau and the ancestors who had the merit of opening up. Today's generation of Thoai Son people is always proud of the heroic tradition of their ancestors, following the example of the indomitable spirit, overcoming all difficulties to build the homeland more and more prosperous.

Inheriting the invaluable heritage in the work of reclaiming and protecting the homeland, Thoai Son people have gone through two long resistance wars and the war to protect the southwestern border with a steadfast will, solidarity, and many glorious feats of arms. After the country's reunification, especially in the nearly 46 years since the re-establishment of the district (August 23, 1979 - August 23, 2025), despite the low starting point and suffering many consequences of war, the Party Committee, government and people of Thoai Son have united, made creative efforts, dared to think, dared to do to find their own way.

With bold policies and breakthrough solutions over time, Thoai Son has achieved proud achievements in all areas of economy , culture, social security and national defense - security. These historical milestones are evidence of the spirit of inheriting and promoting the pioneering tradition of our ancestors, originating from the spring of Mau Dan in the past, when Thoai Ha canal was cleared, opening a new page of history for this heroic land.

PHUONG LAN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/kenh-thoai-ha-khoi-dong-chay-mo-coi-phon-vinh-a419014.html