According to the phonetics of the Rắc Lây ethnic group in the Phong Phú and Phan Dũng areas (Tuy Phong district), La Da La Bá means Snake Stream or the land of the divine snake. Over time, people have simply called it La Bá for brevity and named the area after it.
This area is not only beautiful in terms of natural landscapes with many landmarks such as Tan Cung, Tan Ron, Phum, and Bo waterfalls, but it was also a revolutionary base in Tuy Phong district during the two wars of national liberation. From a barren, water-scarce land, it is now lush and green thanks to irrigation projects, and the lives of the people are flourishing.
La Ba boasts numerous rivers, streams, and beautiful scenery. The most famous is Tan Cung Waterfall, a hidden waterfall flowing through the Long Song River. Tan Ron, a branch of the Long Song River, offers stunning natural beauty year-round. Towards the end of the year, visitors can admire the breathtaking colors of the flowering season, the vibrant pink wildflowers, and the clear, refreshing green of the small lakes.
During the two wars of resistance, La Bá served as a revolutionary base for the people and army of Tuy Phong district. The center of La Bá is the place known as the Ba Oil Tree. This is a picturesque area with rolling mountains, facing the Tân Lê River in front and the Tà Uông River behind – rivers sharing a common source with the Lòng Sông River. We sought out the elders in the Tuy Phong District Resistance Liaison Committee to learn more about the old La Bá region and the stories from the two wars. Following a winding road under the canopy of trees shedding their leaves, we arrived at another location within the La Bá war zone: Tà Uông. In the dry season, many leaves fall, leaving behind bare, leafless tree trunks. The mountains and forests are silent, waiting for the rain.
In the past, the Ta Uong region was not only famous for the saying: "La Ba rice, Ta Uong fish," but also for its beautiful scenery. Even now, Ta Uong remains beautiful, with its winding river flowing alongside the vast, verdant fields of the same name. The soldiers who once fought here can no longer recognize the place where they lived and fought, due to its current abundance.
This achievement is thanks to the Phan Dung reservoir irrigation project, a level III irrigation project invested in by the Tuy Phong District People's Committee and inaugurated more than 10 years ago. In the depths of the river, amidst the pristine mountains and forests, a 146-meter-long dam, over 208 meters high, stretches across two towering mountains, dominating a vast expanse of water as far as the eye can see, a truly majestic sight. While the Ta Uong River boasts a vibrant, expansive green, the surface of Phan Dung Lake is equally mystical and shimmering, hidden within the wildness of the mountains and forests. Nearly 500 hectares of agricultural land and rice paddies in fields such as Ta Uong, Ta Cang, Chu Ri, Phum, Dong Toa, Ta Hoang, Tan Le, and Tra Tan are always lush and fertile.
The former La Bá area, now comprising La Bá 1, La Bá 2 villages and Phan Dũng commune, has approximately 700 inhabitants, all of whom are Rắc Lây people. Previously, due to a lack of water for production, the people mainly practiced slash-and-burn agriculture and raised goats and cattle, leading to a life of hardship. However, since the introduction of water from the Phan Dũng reservoir irrigation project and significant government investment, the lives of the people have improved considerably. Roads have been paved with asphalt and concrete, houses are built with red tile roofs, and the lives of the people are becoming increasingly prosperous and comfortable…
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