The boatman on the Thach Han river

Along the historic river, I had the chance to chat with Mr. Nguyen Thuan (63 years old), a charity worker at Long An Pagoda, Quang Tri, who has spent 30 years rowing a boat on Thach Han River to welcome groups of visitors and release flower lanterns to pay tribute to the martyrs.

At sunset, by the riverbank, he told me emotional and spiritual stories about this place - the river of memories, tears and restless souls.

Uncle Thuan said that every morning, people come here to release floating lanterns, regardless of the month or day. Some people come to pray for their loved ones whose remains have not been found, while others simply want to light a light to express their gratitude to the heroic martyrs.

During the months of July, more and more groups of visitors, especially lucky soldiers who survived the old battlefield, come here to pray for their comrades.

Lanterns on the sacred Thach Han River. Photo: Chau Linh.

Uncle Thuan recounted that a week ago, a group of veterans returned to the sacred Thach Han River. They got off the boat, into the middle of the river where their old comrades had lain. On the boat, they hugged each other and cried. One of them, when the boat stopped in the middle of the river, called out his comrade's name...

When asked why he chose this sacred work for three decades, Uncle Thuan simply said: “For the sake of virtue, for the souls of martyrs.” As a Buddhist, he considered this a way to do good deeds, to send off the souls that have not yet rested. “There is no sound of engines, no noise. It must be quiet to maintain sincerity,” he said.

The Thach Han River was once a fierce battlefield. During the war years, some soldiers had just set foot on the boat when the cannons exploded, not having time to turn back. Some people left and their bodies never returned... "This is a river that is never dredged, when you touch it, it is the soil and flesh, the blood of our soldiers," Uncle Thuan said with tears in his eyes.

Therefore, whoever comes here, stops, meditates and prays for the souls of martyrs to be liberated and return to Buddha's land. Therefore, the flower lanterns on the quiet river symbolize the light to illuminate the souls of martyrs, the light of gratitude, awakening and hope for the living.

He said more and more young people come here than before. That comforts him because memories are not forgotten, because the names of those who lie in this river are still mentioned, lit by small lamps.

The sky before releasing the flower lanterns. Photo: Chau Linh.

Quang Tri afternoon casts its shadow on the Thach Han River. The river surface is as calm as a mirror, reflecting the tiny lanterns, swaying in the slowly flowing water.

By the quiet river, Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa - lecturer at the University of Electricity - shared a touching story about his uncle who sacrificed his life in the war and is resting in the cemetery of Hai Lang district, Quang Tri province.

“My family searched for him for many years. He joined the army and died in 1972. His comrades who witnessed his sacrifice later fell one by one, making the search extremely difficult.

The family contacted his old unit and followed the information, finally finding the original burial place. However, the grave had been moved many times from the original burial place to the commune cemetery, and then gathered at the district cemetery," said Mr. Hoa.

Every year, Mr. Hoa returns to Thach Han at least once to release floating lanterns to pray for his uncle and his comrades. He goes every year, usually in June, before July 27, or on the eve of Tet.

Delegation of officials and lecturers from the University of Electricity released flower lanterns on the Thach Han River.

Students of the University of Electricity were also present here to pay tribute and commemorate the heroic martyrs.

People say that lanterns are the light of hope. But in Thach Han, that light takes the form of memories, memories that do not fade even though time has turned the graves and the green pine trees silver. Lanterns float on the river to remember the unfinished dreams of the twenties. The age when they did not have time to love, did not have time to live fully, they put their bodies into the bosom of Mother Earth. Today's young generation may not know where the trenches are, or witness the sound of bombs tearing the line between life and death. But just standing by the Thach Han River once, releasing the lanterns and watching the candle swaying, shimmering on the water, in the heart is enough to see one thing: Peace is so beautiful!

Source: https://tienphong.vn/nguoi-cheo-do-tren-dong-song-thach-han-post1763540.tpo