Unfinished tribute to Vietnam
June 2006
Halong Bay is one of the world heritage sites designated by UNESCO in 1999. It is located in the Northern part of Vietnam and within the vicinity of Hanoi. It covers, and hosts some caves, some as large as a small village.
It was only a few days ago that I visited this marvelous and peaceful site for the first time. It seemed a perfect day for such a memorable visit. The divine rays of sun picking through patches of playful white clouds reflecting on the velvety surface of the Bay created a mysterious picture. The majestic picks popping up here and there- in no specific order- created a feeling of privacy, a feeling of security for all those lonely fishermen who were silently melting in the mist of the distant picks waiting patiently for their catch. We were told it was one of these lonely fishermen who in stormy autumn day fleeing to the security of one of these picks, found the greatest hidden mystery of the Bay, the largest cave that he decided to name “snow white”. Visiting the cave, we could not agree more with him in choosing such name. A vast and deep space with hundreds of stalactite and stalagmites – all in white marbleize forms giving way to generous pathways for the passage of those who were encourage to ponder on the natural carving of dragons and birds and others At a time it appeared as if they were purposely designed to reflect what existed beyond them and our imaginations. The locals believed that two dragons that landed on earth and mountains as legend had it created Halong Bay.
The roaring of the engine of our small motorboat was the only sound breaking the silence of our surroundings. It was passing through an immense number of picks; each with their own possessed unique beauty. before it stop at a small complex of flouting wooden houses created as a community center for the fishermen and their families. The most impressive among the planned activities was a classroom housing some 20 kids who enthusiastically were engaged in learning. We were told that the French government financed the schoolhouse. Due to its limited capacity, the Vietnamese authorities decided to permanently station two-three teachers who were responsible for three school shifts of teaching. The school was offering 5 years of primary teachings to youngsters of the fishermen community and one year of adult education for those parents who are unable to read and write. With obligations assumed by the Vietnamese to safeguard the beauty and integrity of the site, three lectures a months is being held for the children and their parents on the sustainability of the environment and the importance of proper preservation of their heritage. An added element for promoting and facilitating such understanding among the community member, was also creation of a collection agents who as part of their job, attending to collecting disposable goods and materials and cleaning up the Bay.