It was really irrelevant. It was thought that the happy time together was not for issues of making ends meet, but the guy did provoke thoughts. The difference is that it was not a family problem, but the problem of our hometown.
The green space in the city center
I used to be upset when I was told: “Your Hue city is beautiful but poor!” It was when I just graduated from university, being full of energy and youth.
As I love Hue, I find it a bit disadvantaged, but it is not poor as my friend said. My friends in Hue have been strong, optimist and pleasant with their life. The friend’s straightforward statement hurt me and obsessed me during my youth.
But my hometown has always been sweet to me. The ancient gates along the streets in Kim Long and Vy Da always used to bring me a pleasant feeling. The sadness soon passed when I cycled in the afternoon, letting the wind play with my hair.
I was not well aware of the healing nature. Hue is a treasure of nature that can be found in every house, garden and street. Nature is even in the amiable eyes of the people.
I read somewhere an idea that it takes a hundred years to have a modern city, while it takes a thousand years to have a city of culture. It is culture that gives a country a worthy position.
Take the story of the Royal Music of the Nguyen Dynasty as an example. The image of Professor Tran Van Khe in Vietnamese traditional costume playing the traditional instruments has made traditional music of Vietnam as known as that of other Asian countries such as China, Japan and Korea. There are also many cultural anecdotes of this kind that are related to Hue.
The world, including developed countries, is trying to preserve the lost natural and cultural environments. The seas and forests, the atmosphere, the underground minerals and the lifestyle goodness have all been at risk.
Hue has accepted certain economic disadvantages for the sake of preserving environment. This is a smart choice and a wise decision. Hue is rich in what the whole world is lacking or has lost.
I remember a night phone call from a friend of mine: “Hey, I’ve heard that the provincial People’s Committee Chairman decided to reject the project of coal thermal power plant. Is it right? Bravo the chairman. How lucky Hue is!”
“Happiness and poverty run parallel,” I replied. My friend promptly responded: “It’s not worth trading off the environment for economic development. It’s better that Hue is rich in greenness and cleanness for our children and for the world.”
Hue is still fresh and green, quietly providing people with a balance between the inner feeling and the bustle life. The images of the young people singing and laughing merrily on the Ironwood Bridge or in the parks never get faded in my mind.
The public green space and the extraordinary beauty – as described by my friend from Hanoi while we took a fantasy “bush” walk in a path along the river.
And I proudly added: “Hue is going to have this walking path expanded to Thien Mu Pagoda and lined with green trees to create a bush within the city, having different kinds flowers and red-leaf trees (similar to European maple leaves), my friend said with surprise and admiration: “How elegant and civilized Hue is! What well-being!”
I found that I was really understood. I liked those comments because they reflected the status of Hue. Hue is richer than any other young cities in terms of cultural values, the holy land with extraordinary people.
One will feel the humane lifestyle of Hue people when they need a rain shelter. One of the purposes of the roofed front gates is for passers-by to stop in rain or rest under the burning sunshine if they are tired. One can also learn a variety of stories about the high-morality royal members if they happen to visit an ancient royal residence.
One will visit a world of tranquility once they enter a house in Hue whether it is that of an ordinary person or of a royal family. Hue used to have a heyday in governing the country and now the heyday is being preserved in tourist activities and in lifestyle. History has granted to Hue the cultural values that similar well-known tourist cities are carefully preserving.
In terms of business, Hue itself is a brand name. I wish Hue will be prosperous under this brand name.
Closed doors will prevent the air from supplying the growth of our open mind and the desire for progress – the qualities for creativity and personality. Hue has chosen to develop sustainably, that is, nourishing the nature to rely on nature.
Hue is small, but there is always a space for each person. An aged man can be seen sitting in the park next to his bike to read a paper and feel the slow flow of the river under Phu Xuan Bridge.
I was happy to see Ru Cha mangroves and Tam Giang lagoon grow greener, with various sea food species. I was glad to see the happiness of the residents in Rong village (in Thuan An) through the faces of Nguyen Nhan and Nguyen Su (in Quang Loi, Quang Dien) when they took me around Tam Giang lagoon, visiting Ngu My Thanh floating market. I also saw the happy tear in the eyes of the residents moving from the Imperial Wall tops to the resettlement areas.
Affluent life and fresh natural environment are probably the new living standards. The photos of Tam Giang lagoon beauty at dawn and at sunset in my camera are evident.
I have many promises to go and see how “wealthy” Hue is. These places include Mr. Tuu’s rape flower garden (the mustard yellow flowers). “I grow mustard to have yellow blossoms for the youth to check in. It is completely free of charge. I am happy if my Ha Cang village is beautiful.” The hard-working farmer smiled with the breeze of Ha Cang village field. Hue people is rich in their ways of living.
I thought that I would tell my friends when they return during Tet: “Hue is not poor. It is rich, in deed. Do you know it?” Fortunately, my friend has sent me a message: “We are happy to be born and live in Hue.”
Story: Dieu Ha
Photo: Chau Khue