(CLO) When mentioning Ha Long Bay, many people immediately think of the limestone mountains rising from the emerald green water, recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage. However, few people know that in the heart of this majestic bay, there is a hidden "cultural gem" - Cua Van fishing village - an eco-tourism destination that offers visitors wonderful experiences.
Simple life in the midst of majestic nature
Nestled peacefully between steep limestone mountains and clear blue water, Cua Van fishing village creates a peaceful and poetic landscape painting.
Nestled peacefully between steep limestone mountains and clear blue water, Cua Van fishing village creates a peaceful and poetic landscape painting.
About 20km from Ha Long tourist boat dock, this fishing village belongs to Hung Thang commune, Ha Long city, Quang Ninh province, located in Thien Duong Bay area - a peaceful space surrounded by majestic mountains.
Established long ago, Cua Van fishing village was once home to hundreds of fishing families. They lived on simple but clean and spacious floating houses, fishing and harvesting seafood every day to feed their families.
With more than 300 households currently living here, Cua Van is not only the largest fishing village but also considered a “rich” place thanks to its abundant seafood resources. What is more special is that, despite living in the middle of the vast ocean, the residents here still maintain a simple and peaceful lifestyle. The favorable geographical location also helps this fishing village become an ideal place for fishermen to anchor their boats and avoid storms, creating more safety for their lives.
Small wooden boats, sun-dried nets and fishing boats in the morning and evening are familiar images that visitors can easily see when coming here. Regardless of the passage of time or the development of modern society, Cua Van fishermen still maintain the long-standing traditions of fishing, creating a unique cultural picture amidst majestic nature.
Unique cultural features of Cua Van fishermen
What makes Cua Van fishing village so irresistible is its unique fishing culture that has been passed down through many generations. The culture here is not only closely linked to the life of making a living at sea but is also deeply reflected in the spiritual rituals and lifestyle of the people.
Children at Cua Van play carefree.
Cua Van fishermen always believe that the sea is a sacred source of life, they organize ceremonies to worship the sea god to pray for favorable weather and a bountiful fishing season. Traditional customs such as the fishing ceremony and typical folk festivals are also opportunities for the local community to connect and honor long-standing cultural values.
Mr. Le Van Hung, a veteran fisherman of the fishing village, confided: “The sea is not only our source of life, but also our soul. On every occasion of the fishing festival, the whole village sings and worships the sea god to pray for peace and bountiful fishing seasons. The sea songs and rowing songs are not only for entertainment, but also a way for us to remember our ancestors, who have been attached to the sea for generations. Preserving these songs is our great pride, because they carry the soul of the ocean and the simple love of fishermen. We want to pass on these legacies to our children and grandchildren, so that they will always remember their roots and the culture that our ancestors have built for generations.”
The culture of Cua Van fishermen does not stop at rituals but also permeates daily life. The people live close, simple lives, always cherishing every gift from nature. The way they communicate and welcome visitors also exudes sincerity and hospitality, making anyone who comes here feel warm and comfortable.
What is special is that, although life today has changed a lot, intangible cultural features such as folk songs and sea songs are still preserved completely. The folk songs and rowing songs are often sung by fishermen in the vast space of the ocean, creating a vivid cultural picture.
These melodies not only reflect the life of fishermen but also carry within them the soul of the sea and the love of coastal people. The sound of these folk melodies resonates gently but deeply, evoking in the hearts of visitors feelings of peace and connection with nature and the sea.
Not only that, Cua Van fishing village also preserves many other traditional cultural values such as fishing techniques using ancient tools, the handicraft art of making nets, and building boats. These skills are passed down from generation to generation, keeping fishermen not only living by their profession but also living with pride in the culture of the sea. These values make Cua Van not only a fishing village but also a living museum, where the culture of fishermen is preserved and developed sustainably.
Challenges and future of sustainable development
Despite its rich cultural and natural heritage, Cua Van fishing village is facing many challenges in its development. One of the biggest problems is climate change, with rising sea levels and increasingly harsh weather conditions making life and livelihoods of fishermen difficult. Many households are at risk of losing their homes and livelihoods as the storm season approaches.
Cua Van fishermen with simple boats.
In addition, rapid tourism development also puts pressure on the natural environment and traditional fishing activities. Fishermen sometimes compete with tourists for marine resources, leading to overexploitation. Growth in tourism can also change the lifestyle of local people, putting them at risk of losing their unique cultural values.
To ensure sustainable development, the Cua Van fishing village community needs synchronous solutions. Mr. Vu Kien Cuong, Head of the Ha Long Bay Management Board, said: “Currently, the Ha Long Bay Management Board is actively coordinating with the Ha Long City People's Committee and relevant functional agencies to implement the project of repairing and restoring the preserved raft houses as soon as possible, with the aim of preserving the cultural space of the ancient fishing village and developing tourism products in the future”. This will ensure that the cultural value of the fishing village is not lost in the context of tourism development.
At the same time, Mr. Cuong added: "We will classify the works, develop a plan to repair and restore architectural works related to the cultural value of the fishing village. Works that are no longer usable will be removed, to be restored, on the basis of preserving the original architecture, as well as the form of the old architectural works, but the safety must be higher, weather resistant, especially resistant to the erosion of sea water and sea wind".
In the long term, the Ha Long Bay Management Board will advise the Provincial People's Committee to implement the Ha Long Bay Conservation and Restoration Plan. This plan is an important orientation for implementing investment projects, developing tourism products and especially the legal basis to call on businesses and communities to invest in tourism development in accordance with the provisions of law. From there, attracting more tourists to Ha Long Bay and having more unique products to serve tourists.
By combining traditional cultural preservation and sustainable tourism development, Cua Van fishing village can grow stronger in the future, while preserving its unique cultural and natural beauty for future generations.
Cua Van fishing village is not only an interesting tourist destination with beautiful natural scenery, but also a land of culture, history and life closely linked to the sea. With efforts to preserve and develop sustainable tourism, Cua Van promises to continue to be a precious gem of Ha Long Bay, bringing visitors not only new experiences but also valuable lessons about the connection between people and nature.
Thanh Thao
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/kham-pha-lang-chai-co-giua-long-di-san-vinh-ha-long-post317963.html
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