At the end of 1835, Emperor Minh Mang ordered the casting of nine bronze cauldrons, and placed in front of the Temple of the Ancestors as a symbol of the Nguyen Dynasty's royal power. On the Du Cauldron, there is an image of Vinh Dien Canal. The one who made this decision has long passed, but the river, with a history spanning over 200 years, continues to flow persistently, serving as a witness to history, and marking countless ups and downs, and changes in the region of Quang Nam and Da Nang.

Vinh Dien River has long been like a red thread, connecting the history, culture, and life of people in Quang Nam - Da Nang region. Photo: T.Y.

A tale of the past

For many years, Vinh Dien River has served as a red thread, connecting the history, culture, and lives of people in Quang Nam - Da Nang region. The imperial records and historical writings about the river recount the decisions made during the Nguyen Dynasty to transform the narrow, shallow river into a gentle flow, linking prosperous regions such as Hoi An, Dien Ban, and Da Nang, and becoming a vital "southern waterway route" for transportation.

In ancient times, Vinh Dien River was known as “the blood vessel of the delta”. Stretching approximately 30 kilometers, with 10 kilometers running through Da Nang, it passes through areas like Qua Giang and Man Quang before merging with Cam Le and Han rivers and flowing into the sea. At that time, the effort to excavate the river was not merely about altering its natural flow but also represented an early form of "urban planning," laying a lasting economic foundation for the region. From then on, regular shipments of goods such as agarwood, cinnamon, fabrics, sugarcane, and silk from Quang Nam's mountainous districts and the craft villages along the Thu Bon and Vu Gia rivers steadily made their way downstream via the Vinh Dien River to Da Nang.

Looking at Vinh Dien River today, it is hard to imagine that this was a man-made waterway, meticulously excavated by the Nguyen dynasty's monarchs and soldiers in the 19^th century. Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi, a geographic record from the Nguyen era, describes it as follows: “Vinh Dien River is in the north of the district, its upper reaches connected to O Da and Thu Bon rivers. It flows northward to Hoa Khue Dong village, where it joins Cam Le River before and flowing to Da Nang estuary. Originally, this river served as a waterway, with many twists and turns that had been silted up over the years. In the third year of Minh Mang's reign (1822), the emperor instructed Cai Bo Le Dai Cuong to dredge the old route from Cau Nhi village to Cam Sa village, creating Vinh Dien River. The channel, spanning over 850 truong (approximately 3.5 kilometers), was narrow and shallow, allowing passage for only a single boat at a time.

In the seventh year of Minh Mang's reign (1826), the emperor once again commanded General Truong Van Minh to improve the river's course. The channel was shifted more than 40 truong (approximately 160 meters) downstream, and its mouth was widened to draw water from the larger river upstream. Using ropes to mark straight lines, labourers were mobilized to re-dredge the river, a process that took several months to complete. By the 17^th year of his reign (1836), when the Nine Cauldrons (Cuu Dinh) were cast, an image of Vinh Dien River was engraved onto Du Cauldron, alongside depictions of other significant rivers such as Vinh Te River in the south and Cuu An River in Hung Yen.”

These details are elaborately recorded in the Dai Nam Thuc Luc (The Veritable Records of Dai Nam). According to the text, Emperor Minh Mang ordered soldiers and civilians to dig a river measuring 1,647 truong, 7 thuoc, and 5 tac in length, with a specified width of 5 truong and depth of 8 thuoc. Cai Ba Le Dai Cuong was assigned to oversee the task alongside 3,000 local labourers. Workers were generously provided with financial and food supplies, receiving 3 quan of money and 1 phuong of rice per month. The project was completed in just over two months. Upon completion, the emperor named it Vinh Dien River and ordered the construction of a road along its banks, running from Dinh Thanh to the Dai Chiem estuary, spanning more than 2,380 truong. This road was reinforced during the summer of the 11^th year of Tu Duc's reign (1858), involving 600 local laborers who were paid 20 coins and given 1 bowl of rice each per day.

When French forces attacked Da Nang in November 1858, Emperor Tu Duc ordered Vinh Dien River to be blocked, redirecting the water flow toward Cua Dai estuary. This action lowered the river’s water level, preventing French ships from advancing to capture La Qua Citadel. The emperor also established a line of artillery defences along the river, remnants of which can still be found today in the villages of Tu Cau (Dien Ngoc) and Qua Giang (Hoa Phuoc).

In 1886, when Nguyen Duy Hieu chose Trung Loc (Nong Son) as the base for Tan Province, he strategically considered Vinh Dien River for both offensive and defensive manoeuvres. At Phuong Ranh, he established a fortified defensive position to block potential French and Nguyen Than forces advancing from Da Nang. Conversely, his insurgent forces could also use Vinh Dien River to launch attacks on Da Nang and its surrounding areas from Trung Loc.

Researcher Vo Van Thang emphasizes that historical records, as well as the inclusion of Vinh Dien River on the Nguyen Dynasty’s Nine Cauldrons, highlight the river's critical role in military operations, trade, and agriculture in the Quang Nam-Da Nang region during the 19^th century. Since its dredging, the fertile lands along its banks attracted settlers, leading to the establishment of new villages and hamlets.

Flowing toward Da Nang

More than 200 years since its creation, Vinh Dien River continues its ceaseless journey, reminding generations of the lessons in governance, harmony with nature, and the connection between past and present. Today, beyond supplying fertile silt, the flow system of Vinh Dien River aids in draining low-lying areas in Dien Ban, Duy Xuyen, and parts of southern Da Nang.

Not long ago, to safeguard this vital waterway, Da Nang decided to invest in constructing nearly 13 kilometers of emergency anti-erosion embankments at critical points along Yen River, Tuy Loan River, and Vinh Dien River. As part of this initiative, Vinh Dien River embankment stretches nearly 1.5 kilometers through Qua Giang Hamlet (Hoa Phuoc Commune, Hoa Vang District) and 397 meters through Thi An (Hoa Quy Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District). This effort is a key component of the city's strategy to protect the area from erosion and adapt to climate change.

Mr. Tran Bui Quoc Binh, Chairman of Hoa Phuoc Commune People’s Committee, stated that the river embankment system ensures the safety of residents living near the river while protecting agricultural land and facilitating farming activities. In the future, improving the waterway's flow will enable the locality to develop eco-tourism routes, foster community connections, and preserve the cultural identity of the riverside region.

Beyond constructing anti-erosion embankments, Da Nang City and Quang Nam Province have set their sights on sustainable development for this vital river. Environmental protection programs, landscape restoration efforts, tree planting along the riverbanks, and waste discharge control measures are being implemented in tandem. Notably, following extensive discussions and agreement between the two localities, Quang Nam Province erected a seasonal salinity prevention dam on Vinh Dien River in the Dien Ngoc Ward area of Dien Ban Town.

According to Da Nang's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the seasonal dam on Vinh Dien River ensures irrigation water for agricultural land in Hoa Phuoc Commune and Hoa Quy (Ngu Hanh Son District) and Hoa Xuan (Cam Le District) wards. In addition to stabilizing agricultural production, the dam helps control saltwater intrusion from the sea into the rivers, protecting the drinking water supply for thousands of households. This temporary structure stands as clear evidence of the effective cooperation between the two localities in addressing the impacts of climate change while safeguarding the region's precious water resources.

Through the twists and turns of history, Vinh Dien River now serves not only as a historical witness but also as a symbol of progress. Associate Professor Dr. Tran Tan Van, former Director of the Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, points out that due to sediment accumulation and riverbed siltation impeding the flow of Vu Gia and Vinh Dien Rivers, the seasonal saltwater prevention dam is merely a temporary solution. In the long term, Da Nang City and Quang Nam Province need to collaborate on dredging Vinh Dien River to sustainably share water resources from Thu Bon River with downstream areas in Da Nang. This effort could pave the way for a river tourism route, taking visitors from Da Nang to the My Son Sanctuary while immersing them in the river's rich historical narratives.

Reporting by TIEU YEN – Translating by HONG VAN