A new life along Ben Hai

For decades, Hien Luong Bridge and the Ben Hai River symbolized division, resilience, and the pursuit of peace. Fifty years after reunification, this historic land is transforming, with vibrant signs of renewal seen in its homes, fields, and roads, reflecting the enduring spirit of a nation healed and rebuilt.

Under the 1954 Geneva Accords, the Ben Hai River at the 17th parallel became the temporary border between North and South Vietnam. On the northern bank of the river, Vinh Linh aligned with the North in its pursuit of socialism and reunification. Meanwhile, southern Quang Tri and the rest of the South came under a US-backed regime, transforming the region into a new form of colonial dependency.

For more than two decades, the Ben Hai River silently bore witness to the sorrow of a divided Vietnam. With patriotism and steadfast determination, soldiers and civilians on both sides fought bravely to defend their homeland. Their sacrifices laid the groundwork for the victory of Spring 1975. Today, the Hien Luong Bridge and the Ben Hai River stand as enduring symbols of Vietnam’s revolutionary spirit and its unwavering pursuit of national unity.

Hien Luong Bridge connects the two banks of the Ben Hai River – Photo: Hoang Tao.

Throughout her life, my grandmother often shared the story of a woman whose husband died fighting the French, and whose only son crossed the Ben Hai River to join the revolution in the North. That woman was herself. My grandfather and his three younger brothers all perished in the anti-colonial struggle. Devastated by their loss, her sixteen-year-old son quietly left home and slipped across the river, driven by grief and a deep sense of patriotic duty.

From that day on, every afternoon, my grandmother would walk to the southern bank of Hien Luong Bridge, her eyes fixed on the northern horizon, longing for a glimpse of her son. She became a living symbol of both the heartache of a divided country and the quiet resilience of Vietnamese women. Like many mothers along the Ben Hai River, she set aside her personal sorrow to support the revolution, offering refuge to cadres, enduring hardship, and dedicating her strength to the cause of national reunification.

Trung Hai Commune, situated just south of the Ben Hai River, was home to many of my grandmother’s relatives who lived under the oppressive rule of the US-backed Saigon regime. The area, heavily fortified at the time, became a stronghold for enemy forces, who concentrated their troops to suppress revolutionary activities and launch assaults on the North. Despite the relentless repression, the people and soldiers of Trung Hai remained resolute, their unwavering faith in the Party’s leadership and the dream of national reunification driving their courage.

Tiger shrimp farming in Vinh Son Commune, Vinh Linh District. Photo: N.K.

It must be said that during the resistance war against the United States, life for the people on both sides of the Ben Hai River was not only marked by severe material hardship but also constant exposure to the enemy’s cunning tactics. Yet today, more than fifty years after national reunification, the once war-torn banks of the Ben Hai have come back to life. Prosperous and bustling villages now line the river, bearing witness to a remarkable recovery. In recent years, localities along both sides of the river, particularly in Vinh Linh and Gio Linh districts, have received increased attention and investment for development.

Among the most notable achievements is the improvement of infrastructure, especially the construction of roads and irrigation systems that support the expansion of agriculture and aquaculture. In communes like Vinh Son in Vinh Linh District and Trung Hai in Gio Linh District, investments in black tiger shrimp and brackish-water fish farming have generated annual revenues in the tens of billions of dong.

Le Van Son, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Trung Hai Commune, reports that the commune’s total cultivated area spans over 1,600 hectares, with 785 hectares devoted to rice, yielding an average of 6 tons per hectare and an annual output of 47,100 tons. The remaining land supports crops like corn, cassava, peanuts, vegetables, rubber, and pepper, along with aquaculture. These sectors provide steady income, raising living standards. The commune’s 2025-2035 development plan sets a clear path toward advanced rural status.

On the northern bank of the Ben Hai River, Hien Thanh Commune in Vinh Linh District remained steadfast and courageous throughout the resistance war against foreign invaders. After the country was reunified and the nation became whole again, the people of Hien Thanh found renewed motivation to engage in production and labor.

Today, alongside the expansion of key agricultural crops such as rice, peanuts, corn, sweet potatoes, taro, and shallots, the commune has achieved notable progress in aquaculture, cultivating up to 110 hectares annually. This includes nearly 40 hectares for freshwater fish, 21 hectares for white-leg shrimp, and close to 50 hectares for black tiger shrimp. In addition, local farmers have developed over 180 hectares of pepper plantations and nearly 350 hectares of rubber trees, with yields reaching 3 tons and 5.5 tons per hectare, respectively.

Thanks to diversified agricultural and aquacultural development, household incomes have remained high and stable, significantly improving the quality of life for local residents in recent years.

With economic growth, living conditions along both banks of the Ben Hai River have improved remarkably. Solid, well-built houses now line village roads that have been upgraded and paved. Public facilities, such as parks and community spaces, have been established through social mobilization, helping shape a modern, civilized rural landscape. These are the visible fruits of five decades of rebuilding and renewal in a once-divided land.

Ho Nguyen Kha - Tung Lam