Remembering the creator of the picturesque lake in Ninh Giang

"If you want to eat white rice and silver fish/Marry a man from Boi village to be near Hom market". I followed those two still-circulated verses to Boi village (now in Tan Huong commune, Ninh Giang), when the opening day of Dinh Ca festival (November 5th of the lunar calendar) was approaching.

In the story of the villagers, descendants from all over the country come to attend the festival, besides remembering the 7 village guardian spirits who have contributed to helping the people and the country and are being worshiped at Dinh Ca, they also mention Mr. Dao Van Nhac, who is considered a village guardian spirit in the new era.

Standing on the top of a tall tree, he directed the digging of a lake and the clearing of a path.

Mr. Dao Van Nhac (born in 1914, died in 1984), was the first Party Secretary of Tan Huong commune. According to Mr. Dao Van Viet (72 years old, Mr. Nhac's grandson), after participating in the revolution, although he was encouraged and retained to work as a cadre in many places, he refused and chose to return to his hometown.

According to information from the book History of Tan Huong Commune Party Committee, the old Boi village was very poor, with many thatched houses and mud walls, and muddy, winding roads. The Commune Party Committee determined that in order to create a new rural appearance and help people live a prosperous life, it was necessary to have a landscape and convenient transportation. The initiative to dig a lake and open a road was proposed by Mr. Dao Van Nhac, and he also directly directed and implemented it.

The idea of ​​digging a large lake right in the center of the commune with major roads radiating in four directions was considered a bold, groundbreaking, far-sighted decision that until now the successive generations of leaders of Tan Huong commune as well as the people still remember and admire.

Tan Huong Lake was planned and built in 1960. After nearly 3 years of hard work mobilizing people to migrate, the lake was dug in 1963 and completed after 2 years. Because at that time cement for the lake shore was scarce, it was not until 1965-1970 that the lake continued to be completed.

"Mr. Nhac is remembered as a person with a breakthrough mindset, helping this land change its skin and flesh. At that time, when mentioning Boi village, almost everyone knew Mr. Nhac," said Mr. Nguyen Van Tuoi (59 years old), Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Tan Huong commune.

In Mr. Dao Van Viet's memories, the image of his grandfather standing on the tallest banyan tree in the village, using bamboo poles to plant flags and shoot darts to direct the digging of the lake and the opening of four large roads around it never fades.

“Back then, I also carried soil to make the lake. My grandfather was very dedicated to this project. There were days when he only pocketed some popcorn to eat, and often slept outside the hall to facilitate the direction of the lake digging,” Mr. Viet said.

Having worked in the commune's cultural and information work for many years, and being a maternal cousin of Mr. Nhac, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Quy (70 years old) was also very excited to share memories related to Tan Huong Lake.

“Back then, convincing people to leave their place of residence to move to a new location was not easy. With sincerity, thoughtfulness, perseverance, prestige and dedication, Mr. Nhac moved and persuaded households to move for the common good,” Mr. Quy recalled.

According to Mr. Quy, while the US was bombing the North, people were both working and supporting the battlefield in the South, so building such a large public project was not easy. "I used to work in the road traffic industry, and I went to many places, but to find a place with a circular lake in the center with four major roads radiating to the communes like this is really rare," Mr. Quy said.

Where love connects

Whether looking at a satellite map or visiting, anyone can recognize the highlight of Tan Huong commune as the lake that Mr. Nhac and the villagers dug long ago.

The lake is located in the center of the commune. From the lake, 4 main roads radiate to the east - west - south - north. The lake is also the meeting place of 5 inter-village roads.

Many local elders recognize Tan Huong Lake as having many values. The lake creates a landscape for the commune, is a meeting place for entertainment, connection, attracting tourism, and rural trade. The lake also helps regulate the environment because of its many trees, along with the water surface regulating the air for the countryside. The traffic system with 4 large branches radiating from the lake with the idea of ​​making 6m of road surface, 1m corridor on each side, totaling 8m, at that time was a bold, groundbreaking idea. Because the roads at that time were only about 1-2m wide, winding like worms. So the idea of ​​expanding like that was different. And until now, more than 60 years later, it is still suitable.

Walking around the lake, we felt like we came across a miniature Hoan Kiem Lake of Hanoi in Hai Duong. In the middle of the lake is a small island with 4 loudspeakers.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy, who has been selling water by the lake for 22 years, shared: “Tan Huong Lake is associated with the childhood of our 7X generation. On the occasion of National Day on September 2 or holidays, young people in the commune often organize camping around the lake, playing capture the flag or catching ducks. This place is not only a green lung but also a place to connect village and neighborhood sentiments.”

Because it is closely associated with cultural life and has entered the consciousness of people through many generations, the Party Committee and government of Tan Huong commune have chosen the image of Tan Huong lake to print on tea sets and other souvenirs given to delegates at special local events.