10:08:28 AM | 10/20/2020
Quietly lying along the border line of Vietnam and Cambodia, Vinh Te Canal, a token of trade, water transport, security and national defense, plays a significant role in economic, political and social development of the country, from the last feudal dynasty till today.
Historical sovereignty milestones
After the end of the Trinh-Nguyen civil war, General Nguyen Van Thoai or Marquis Thoai (1761-1829) was sent by Emperor Nguyen Anh to defend Vinh Thanh in the Southwest. In 1817, when reclaiming land and establishing his own realm, he realized the special role of a river - developing production and trade as well as protecting the border line and establishing national sovereignty. Thus, he proposed the Nguyen Court to dig a river stretching from the Chau Doc River to the Gulf of Thailand.
At that time, given limited technical skills and resources, it was never easy to dig a 91-km straight canal with a 25-m width and a 3-m depth through frontier green fields. Workers used fire poles (poles with a fire torch on top) to form a straightly roped line from which diggers used to measure day and night work. Therefore, Vinh Te Canal is straight.
Vinh Te Canal stretches along the Southwest border to protect the national boundary
Strategic vision of a great statesman
Among man-made canals in Vietnam, only Vinh Te Canal was honored to be carved on Cao Dinh (one of Nine Tripod Cauldrons in Hue Royal Palace) under the edict of Emperor Minh Mang in 1835 to recognize the importance of this irrigation system.
Vinh Te Canal, Ha Tien Sea,
Where boats bustlingly sail, trade is busy
In national defense, Vinh Te Canal is like a giant military trench on the southwestern national border. Under the reign of Emperor Minh Mang, the canal, nearly 91km, shielded against Siamese invasions. During the southwestern border war (1975-1979), the canal became an important defense system, preventing and repelling all enemy troops to the other side of the border, preserving every inch of sacred fatherland. Vinh Te Canal plays a particularly important role in national defense strategy, a main factor for a victorious nation.
The irrigation work built by the last feudal dynasty of Vietnam is still watering 144,000 ha of agricultural land in An Giang and providing abundant alluvium for farming people during high water days. In addition, Vinh Te Canal is also one of the first watersheds of the Mekong River in Vietnam.
Needless to say, the nation-guarding canal in the southwest is a proud achievement of legendary Marquis Thoai, demonstrating his mastermind talent to determine long-term economic and military strategic vision.
Tra Su Dam at the southeast border gate, photo taken by tourists
Connecting the past, the present and the future
Whenever we join source-exploring journeys along the border line on the Vinh Te Canal, we will feel hardships of local people in digging the canal, understand clearly why they frankly called it “Vinh Biet” (Goodbye forever) Canal.
Today, with amazing economic growth in the southwest border region, many urban areas and cities have sprung up along the flow of water and the flow of time, as busy and bustling as it has been. The scenery on the banks of Vinh Te Canal wears the deep green of life and growth as proof of the potential vitality which is intensely rising after the wartime.
Vinh Te Canal, the last point of a land reclamation itinerary, has now opened up an incredible poetic sky and water.
The excursion trip from Tra Su tourist area to Vinh Te Canal will take you back to the past and take you to the future of development.
Source: Vietnam Business Forum