Free flying of Hau Giang’s starling flock

On the first of January, 2004, a new province was formed in the Mekong Delta. The name “Hau Giang” appeared right after the national liberation (1976) but at that time covered a vast area including today’s Soc Trang province, Can Tho City, Hau Giang province (even Con Dao island at a time). In many referenda before the provincial separation a number of revolutionary veterans and old geniuses showed their favor to this name: it reminds people of history and the land of rivers in Southern Vietnam.

Vi Thanh Town, the township of new Hau Giang province locates right between two sub-regions of Hau River’s West and Ca Mau peninsula, bordering rural districts of Can Tho, Soc Trang, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu provinces. Vi Thanh Town is also the junction of important sea and road traffic routes: highway 61, provincial road 933 leading to Giong Rieng in Go Quao district in Kien Giang province, provincial road 932 joining Vam Xang and Can Tho, provincial road 931 connecting Thanh Tri in Soc Trang province, Xa No channel – an easy way from Can Tho to Vi Thanh town, Rach Gia, Ha Tien, Ca Mau provinces … It is this special position that Chuong Thien province was decreed to be established (December 21st, 1961) with Vi Thanh as the township under the period of Ngo Dinh Diem government after some months they changed military-zone level to tactic-zone level. Vi Thanh was chosen as the provincial capital in order to control at any cost the communist army base on Ca Mau peninsula.

Vi Thanh town, as Chuong Thien township, was built in the 1960s according to Ngo Viet Thu architect’s design plan with features serving military purposes. After the liberation, many people felt pity for “a forgotten town”. From 1975 to 1999 after three-time separation and joining to change the provincial administrative border, the town’s development scale and speed were slowed down; the planning and building of the town were neglected; the town’s outlook got unpleasant. The bumpiness of provincial road 61 joining Cai Tac and Vi Thanh and the slowness of the ferry from Cai Tu to Kien Giang province at that time were the constant obsession because a revolutionary base in the past like Vi Thanh should be paid more attention to. Vi Thanh was re-upgraded to the township level on the first of July, 1999. With the efforts of local communist party, authorities, and people, for about only 5 years the urban features of Vi Thanh have quickly appeared. Rows of high-pressure lights on smooth asphalt roads right from the city gate passing the People’s Committee Office of the town (now provincial People’s Committee Office) is only one of the proofs to make anyone caring about Vi Thanh see this rapid change. However, there are a lot of infrastructural shortcomings in Vi Thanh in comparison to that of Soc Trang province separated in 1992. The reason may be that Soc Trang has had the “urban status” continuously for tens of years. It is mentioned to understand better the starting point of the new province and the way it has gone through.

Hau Giang was separated from Can Tho in order to be further invested and developed. The province’s development will serve as the stimulation for the whole rural region of Southwestern Vietnam to get up and shift in socio-economic structure, urbanization, industrialization and modernization. Today’s beginnings are the first steps in tomorrow’s changes, not only in Hau Giang.

New Hau Giang province’s area and population (160,772.49 ha, 766,105 people) are equivalent to those of other provinces in the region. Its population is as big as that of 24 provinces and cities nationwide. However, right at the separation, some social and economic indices should be encouraged: the province’s industrial production ranks 7th out of 13 provinces in the region (in 2003: VND 2,060 billion, in 2004: estimated to reach VND 2,320 million), surpassing even Vinh Long, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Bac Lieu provinces; its domestic trade reaches VND 7,000 billion; its export in 2004 is expected to reach USD 152 million ranking 5th out of 13 provinces only behind Can tho City, Long An, Soc Trang, Ca Mau provinces; 100% of its communes have electricity from the national grid (the ratio of household using electricity in 2003 is 86.2 %, in 2004 it is expected to be 90.3 %), 100% of its communes have post office … Production in key sectors such as rice production (930,000 tons), processed seafood of export (22,000 tons), sugar (112,000 tons in which 42,000 tons is raw sugar) is also a very positive beginning.

As a new province in the “beginning stage”, Hau Giang has faced a lot of difficulties. There are almost no facilities. It is difficult to give jobs and housing to nearly 2000 people flocking to the province while the real estate market soars by 50%. In addition more than VND 50 billion is needed merely to buy equipments for provincial sectors and branches to start working while the budget revenue is around VND 170 billion … At present many provincial sectors and branches are “jostling” in the office park 406.

Despite the fact that cadres are “eating at roadside shops, sleeping right at the office, working standing, working as running”, it takes only a short time to put government apparatuses into operation synchronously; social and economic activities in the provincial area have been directed and managed with great efforts. This shows the dynamic and responsibility of provincial communist party committee, the authorities, fatherland front, mass organizations in Hau Giang.

Member of the politburo of the party central committee, standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung gave a guidance opinion when he paid a working visit to Vi Thanh town at the end of 2003 (the year of Goat). When becoming a new capital town , Vi Thanh had to be planned as the center of the region and the connection between Hau River’s West and Ca Mau Peninsula. Vi Thanh in its new position will be expanded to have an inner city area of 3,000 ha (three times as big asit is now) and to 5,000 ha in the next phase of development. Traffic at city’s gates will be clearer as the central axis of Xa No Canal and highway 61 will be improved (Hau Giang will have two “fronts”: one is the Highway 61 being upgraded into lowland road type 3- bordering the Highway 1 and Ho Chi Minh Trail about 8 km away); and another road of 15m width along Xa No Channel shortening 20 km to Can Tho. Some provincial roads will be upgraded into highways. More residential and resettlement areas, office parks are planned. The town’s hospital with 250 sick-beds now will be upgraded into the provincial general hospital of 500 sick-beds. A new blood transfusion and haematology center, a center for testing will be built. Hau Giang Radio and Television station will be established. Community College, vocational school, ethnic minority boarding school will be founded. A waterworks plant 10,000 m3/day will be constructed. Hau Giang’s central spacious post office will be built and over VND 20 billion will be invested in developing and upgrading the telecommunication system … Vi Thanh will shoulder with 70 city members in the Vietnamese Urban Association with its own features of rivers flowing in the inner city together with orchards at the same time it is a green, clean, and beautiful urbanism in the direction of civilization and modernization.

“Separation of province with a remaining friendship”. More than 10 km of which along Hau river, the only rest part locates next to Cai Cui Seaport of Can Tho City, the biggest seaport in the Mekong Delta, will become one of the two new industrial parks ( Hau River and Cai Tac Industrial Parks, Vi Thanh Industrial Zone exclusive) as the most important position of Hau Giang. There are two great potentials in the new province: the land funds is still large and people are determined to make a new life. Tens of the Government’s delegations-from Ministries, central branches and a lot of investors came to the new province after two months of provincial separation. Town planning activities are being carried out rapidly. Mr. Vu Lien, over 70, who has lived next to Vi Thanh market since 1950s said excitedly: “The market before you used to be called Cai Nhum Market under the French ruling. Its two sides were full of mud and little improved under the American ruling. At present. it is built into two very wide and spacious markets streets. The market is said to be planned into a big provincial trade center or supermarket … The key to the development is still the “maths problem” of three “farms’ (agriculture- rural area- farmers) but the solution has been seen because the local authorities have aimed at a high quality agriculture and new life quality.

“Culture is the motivity for social development”: Mr. Trinh Quang Hung, Vice-Chairman of Hau Giang province said. Less than two months after the separation of the province, there are two cultural events that make the inhabitants exciting: Hau Giang – Can Tho live TV broadcasting at the New Year’s Eve and concert night at the Lotus Lake on February 12th, 2004 performed by Cai Luong folk singers and pop stars attracting tens of thousand of people. My Thanh Theater right in the city center in the past now is being upgraded together with a comprehensive program to provide information to the public. The first issue of Hau Giang newspaper was circulated on March 05th, 2004 with 5000 copies. Hau Giang has Ho Chi Minh Temple (in Luong Tam commune – Long My district), Vestige of Victory of 75 enemy battalions, Wild Ngoc Hoang swamp and there is even a lovableness and romance of the past  “ There’s no more fame and career to dream of/ Back to Long Phung Canal to creel to support you” (!) … Vinh Vien (Long My district), Phuong Binh (Phung Hiep district) rural revolutionary bases have changed a lot. The well-known bushy region of Vi Thanh – Hoa Luu is the “cultural commune” now.

On March 11th, 2004, Mr.Tran Thanh Lap, Director of the provincial Investment and Planning Department said to the press: “Hau Giang shall be remarkably changed 5 coming years”. Hau Giang is not “ A sub-Can Tho”. The fact that Hau Giang will step on its own way miraculously. Hau Giang’s flock of starlings have flown off.

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