Da Bac (Phu Tho province) - a famous landmark associated with the most ferocious river in the Northwest mountainous region. Located about 110km northwest of Hanoi, Da Bac has a rugged hilly terrain, dense forests and is the ferocious Da River flowing through.
Amidst the vast wilderness like a sharp sword piercing the sky, the arrogant Da Giang River, not following the crowd of other rivers flowing eastward, but alone trudging north, creates a diverse and colorful Northwest cultural region of many ethnic groups living along the river flow.
However, 4 decades have passed, the fierce warhorse has become purebred, abandoning its roaring, violent personality to become a giant sapphire in the Northwest region with the majestic beauty of mountains and vast lakes, year-round a pale color thanks to an average depth of 40m, even hundreds of meters in many places.
The water of the Da River in the past was painted black because it was deeply located under ditches, covered by dense forests, rarely seen sunlight, thereby creating the great name Da, meaning Black. When the flow was blocked to build Hoa Binh hydropower plant, water from the deep ravines overflowed and swallowed the plains and low hills, turning wild mountains over 500 meters high into islands and archipelagos.
At this new altitude, the water's color is no longer black but has turned pale, green and creepy, no less than ocean water. Is that why people compare this to Ha Long Bay on land, the first in Vietnam, long before other Ha Long Bays on land such as: Na Hang Lake (Tuyen Quang), Ta Dung Lake (Lam Dong)...
Standing in Da Bac looking down at the lake feels strangely peaceful. The river throws white foam, smashing millions of mountain rocks into dust under the pen of Nguyen Tuan, now calm like a giant mirror in Hien Luong Bay, the name originates from the administrative name of former Hien Luong commune.
The Great Lake now seems calm and secluded of a person who has passed the immature age, eager about fame and career, concerned about wealth. The heart is no longer moving, the storms are natural. Only the lingering and indescribable beauty of mountains, lakes, clouds, and water remains, despite the passage of time.
At the end of spring, the sun is still low, and there is smoke and mist all over the great lake. Whether it's rising water vapor or the scent of clouds falling down, you don't need to know what to do. Drop a thin kayak like a willow leaf into the water and leisurely stir the paddle to speed away like a needle in the middle of the vastness.
Standing up high looking down is a different angle, sitting on the lake surface is another angle. Everything captured in sight is like watching the bonsai suddenly burst when approaching the lake. This boat is so small, we humans are so small, when the great lake turns into the ocean.
The lake water is freezing cold not because of the spring weather but because of the autumn cold in the mountain rocks that has been gradually released for the past 40 years. But that is the pure cold full of pleasure. At first, it tightens the pores and then slowly pumps each cell in the body.
This feeling is only available in the experience of bathing or soaking in cold water, after the initial fear and hesitation, the cold will disappear, returning alertness and refreshment throughout the body and mind.
When the banks and beaches are faded, the lake bed reveals its other beauties. In the blue water, countless red, green, brown, and yellow leaves flutter. Leaves fly from the trees down, forming mosaic mosaic mosaics for the eyes to see before transforming into fish food.
Fish in the Da River lake don't eat anything other than plankton, algae, algae and fallen leaves. Even the fish rafts here don't need to feed the fish, the lake itself has enough nutrients for its population. Fish is also a specialty of the lake, from small goby fish like a finger, to catfish, green fried fish weighing dozens of kilograms.
People often praise "Song Da water monster" referring to monster fish as big as people living in upstream areas. However, in this tens of meters deep water area, it certainly also nurtures many water monsters living hidden in the caves of flooded hills and mountains.
Thinking about the fish that made the name of the Da River made me revise a detail in the anecdote of Chieu Van Vuong Tran Nhat Duat coming here to recruit Da Dao Dao Lord Trinh Gioc Mat.
At that rib lift party, the prince held a grilled fried fish with his left hand instead of deer meat, and his right hand held half a jar of wine poured into his nose to drink. It must be grilled fried fish, but deer meat is too ordinary and popular, not worthy of the reputation of this "psychological battle" party.
The small boat just drifted like a leaf in the lake. The islands were behind, the fish rafts also gradually disappeared. Only the sound of the rowing boat touching the water and the gentle words of the wind on the skin remained, and then, the sunlight suddenly appeared after a whole day of absence.
The fire crow is engrossed in flying to the West, spreading late rays of sunlight onto the water, turning the great lake into a sparkling amber block. Waves continuously refract light as if thousands of lips are buzzing with farewell at sunset.
