Introduction of Xa No canal - The rice way in Hau Giang’s region

“The region of Hau Giang” is an important geographical one in the Mekong Delta. It is a vast plain on the right bank of Hau River. Under the French ruling, the French called it L’Extreeme – Ouest, Transbassac. The region’s population in this period is about 1,000,000 people, its area is about 20,000 km². The Hau Giang region now consists of provinces: An Giang, Kien Giang, Hau Giang, Can Tho City, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, and Ca Mau. The population is about 9,265,800; the social and economic development has gone up and up with a lot of advantages and potentials. The total annual rice production is about 11,250,000 tons gaining 60% of the whole Mekong Delta yield’s.

It was recorded that in the period of French ruling, the French found that it was neccessary to build the transportation system toward the west of the South in order to exploit the region. After seizing three provinces in the East, since 1866 the French had two barges to dredge Ben Luc canal and Bao Dinh River (in My Tho province), Xa No Canal (1901 – 1903), Lai Hieu Canal, Thot Not Canal, Rach Gia – Ha Tien Canal, and Canals joined to form Nga Nam, Nga Bay region (1906 – 1908), …

Xa No Canal with 40 km in length starts from Xa No Hamlet - “Srock Snor” in Khmer language means a hamlet full of cork-trees (former Can Tho) –through Cai Tu River (in Hau Giang and Kien Giang provinces). Governor general De Lanessan called for tender and Montvenoux company won the bids at F 0.35/ m3. The works was started in 1901 and finished in the middle of 1903. The canal’s width was 60m. The expenses was F 36,800,000. On December 11th, 1903 the French finished the land registration documents of this canal and June 29th, 1904 Governor Rodier approved the documents to put Xa No Canal into operation.

Besides helpful for irrigation of about 40,000 ha in Hau Giang region, people’s reclaimation, cultivation and daily activities, Xa No Canal is also a very important route to ship rice in the region. In the past, rice was exported by sea through Rach Gia and Ha Tien border gates. When Xa No Canal came into operation linking the West Sea and Hau River, most rice was collected at Cai Rang market through this Xa No Canal and along the route, a number of large “rice store” appeared. According to 1899’s figures, the south of Vietnam exported 500,000 tons of rice. The number was increased to 1,300 000 tons after Xa No Canal was available. Can Tho exported 116,000 tons annually at the first rank at that time. Xa No Canal can obviously be compared as “the rice way” in the region.

Today Xa No Canal is listed by the government as national waterway connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Ca Mau province and trade in the region is more busy. Hau Giang has beautified it with an embankment of 25 km at the expenses of VND 1,200 billion. This is one of the works to commemorate 1000 years of Thang Long in coming days.

At the end of November, 2009 with the approval of the government and the support from ministries, central branches, and friend provinces, Hau Giang is the host for the first Vietnam National Rice Festival to honour Vietnam’s rice. There is a very important seminar “ Xa No Canal – Rice way of Hau Giang region” among the festival’s activities. It is believed and hoped that a number of historians, scientists, enthusiasts will make speech about this topic, provide more interesting facts on the “Canal civilization”, the unique one of the South of Vietnam.

October 2009
Chin Dong – Hau Giang