The phrase "thoughts along Han River once more time" refers to the fact that the author of this article once reflected on Han River in a memoir of the same name, published twenty years ago (Danang Publishing House, 2004). Moreover, the history of Da Nang always requires a fresh perspective and approach. In the past two decades, there have been so many new things to reconsider and rethink about Han River and the city beside it.

The dragon of Ly dynasty was used by sculptor Pham Van Hang as a symbol when designing the Dragon Bridge. Photo: TUAN LE.

Twenty years ago, there were four bridges crossing the Han River. When listing in order of time they reflected themselves in the Han River water, they were Tran Thi Ly Bridge, Nguyen Van Troi Bridge, Song Han Bridge, and Tuyen Son/Tien Son Bridge. Yet, these "four great beautiful bridges" were still not enough for Da Nang to be honored as the "City of Bridges".

Da Nang only affirmed its brand as the "City of Bridges", and the Han River became the river of bridges, when Thuan Phuoc Bridge was added, and especially with the inclusion of Dragon Bridge. It is said that "especially with the inclusion of Dragon Bridge" because only Dragon Bridge is designed in the shape of a dragon worldwide. As a result, it is the only bridge in the world capable of showcasing a unique performance of a dragon spitting water and fire as a one-of-a-kind tourist attraction.

Additionally, Han River Bridge also attracts many tourists who are willing to stay up late to witness the last rotating bridge in the country as it turns the middle section. Meanwhile, the performance of Ly dynasty dragon, designed by Da Nang sculptor Pham Van Hang to spout fire and water, was already a part of the concept envisioned by the designers of Dragon Bridge... And it is no coincidence that among the six bridges crossing the Han River, only Dragon Bridge has won multiple international awards.

Since 2008, Han River and its sky have been illuminated twelve times during Da Nang International Fireworks Festival, with many themes related to Han River such as: "Echoes of Han River" in 2009, "The Legend of Han River" in 2010, "Sparkling Han River" in 2011, "Love for Han River" in 2013... It can be said that this is one of the most memorable events on Han River in the past two decades.

Another memorable event, in accordance with the last wish of a beloved son of Da Nang, musician Phan Huynh Dieu, was for his remains to return to his hometown of Da Nang after his passing. On the morning of October 4, 2015, the ashes of the composer of the revolutionary song “The Liberation Army”, written in 1945 and considered Da Nang's first revolutionary song, were scattered into the waters of the Han River.

Another memorable event occurred on September 17, 2020, when many residents of Da Nang were surprised to witness the first-ever lifting of Nguyen Van Troi Bridge to allow ships to enter deeper into Han River, providing shelter from the storm.

In early January 2017, in a seminar on Solutions for planning the landscape of Han River in Da Nang organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper in collaboration with Novaland Group, the author of this article stated that the entire story of Han River essentially boils down to two issues: vision and flow. The planning of Han River landscape should ensure that the river running through the heart of the city is not obstructed in terms of vision or flow. Therefore, at the end of 2014, people in Da Nang firmly rejected the project proposed by DHC Investment Joint Stock Company to build the Marina Lighthouse Tower, combining a resort and commercial development. This tower may be on the east side of Dragon Bridge, located 30 meters from the riverbank, under Han River Bridge, with a height equivalent to a 25-story building and a base area of 400m². The successful prevention of this project, which was described by an architect as “a stake driven into the middle of the river”, became a highly significant event.

Han River has become a part of the artistic world for many poets and musicians, such as poet Tran Quy Cap, who expressed his sentiments in the poem Da Nang Hoai Cam: “An nang tai khoi Tran Hung Dao/ Cong van Dang Giang vi dai cong.” Lam Giang translated it as: “How can we call on Tran Hung Dao/ To reenact the great battle of Dang Giang.” Ultimately, there is no contradiction in the fact that a person like Tran Quy Cap, who advocated for nonviolent struggle and emphasized intellectual development and life-giving activities, would express such forceful imagery in his poetry when wishing for a legendary naval battle like the one at Dang Giang to be reenacted on the waters of Han River.

Poet Bui Cong Minh, in his poem Song Han Tuoi Muoi Tam (Han River at Eighteen), wrote: "I have a Han River at eighteen/ Like you this morning, graceful in your schoolgirl dress/ The river opens its doors, sending sails with the wind/ The waves carry the soul of the city to the distant shores," which was later set to music by composer Minh Khang. Similarly, the artwork Da Nang oi Mua Xuan (Da Nang, Spring) of poet Duong Huong Ly was turned into the song Song Han Vang Tieng Hat (Han River Echoes the Song): "Da Nang, Da Nang, how we love this life/ I take you through these sunny days/ A passionate kiss on the beloved land/ Listen, listen, Han River echoes our homeland song."

Poet Do Quy Doan, with his poem Huyen Dieu Song Han (The Mystical Han River), was later adapted into a song of the same name by composer Dinh Tham. Composer An Thuyen wrote the song Song Han Tinh Yeu Cua Toi (Han River, My Love), while composer Vu Duc Sao Bien created Song Han Yeu Thuong (Han River, Love). Composer Dinh Trung Can penned Toi Khat Khao Keo Song Han Dai Mai (I thirst to stretch Han River last forever), and composer Tran Tien composed Dong Song Tha Thu (The River of Forgiveness).

Da Nang is not only home to Han River, but no one refers to it as the city by Co Co River, the city by Yen River, the city by Cu De River, or the city by Cam Le River. In the end, it is always called the city by Han River. This article deliberately refrains from mentioning the sentence “standing here by Han River, looking over to Ha Than where the water is as green as banana leaves/ standing on this side of Ha Than, gazing at the bustling city on the other side of Han River,” from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In general, the writing intentionally avoids referring to what might seem like distant past events, and focuses instead on more recent occurrences along Han River in the first two decades of the new millennium. These events, when writing the chronicles of Da Nang, with the perspective that “a river’s life is but a few generations of people/ the river flows through the highs and lows of the city” (Bui Cong Minh, Song Han Tuoi Muoi Tam), are certainly crucial moments that the city’s historians will not overlook.

Reporting by BUI VAN TIENG – Translating by HONG VAN