#133- Tran Thi An Giang

[Tocxu]

Topic: Introduce your hometown to a friend or a foreiner who is visting Quang Binh
Contestant: Tran Thi An Giang, freshman of foreign trade department, Hanoi Foreign Trade University.

My Composition

A few days ago, Daisy, my long-known penfriend, visited Vietnam. She is from a remote country, The United States of America. Taking such a long trip to Vietnam, Daisy wants to see how this country is developing during the peacetime apart from keeping the promise to visit me. Her journey began in Quang Binh, my homeland, and I introduced her a lot about Quang Binh: nature, people and its present development. I brought her to different places: from the coastal area to the mountainous one, from the city to the countryside. Wherever we passed, we had unforgettable experiences and significant images.

The first destination I introduced to Daisy was Quang Binh’s beaches. Quang Binh has a long coastal line and is famous for many beautiful seas such as Nhat Le, Da Nhay, Bao Ninh,ect. which are the ideal places for a summer holiday. Reaching a fishermen’s village on an early morning, Daisy and I were attracted to the splendid scenery of the seaside. We stretched ourselves on the silky sands, enjoyed the fresh air and watched the sunrise in the east. Some cool winds blew by, bringing along the particular salty smell of the sea. The waves together rushed to the shore, leaving the white foam on the sands. We both played with waves, ran on the beach and shouted joyfully in the open air. In the distance, slowly came into view some fishing boats. A crowd of women were waiting for them on the shore in the hope of a full cabin of fish. Then, Daisy had a chance of seeing fishermen carry their products to the land. They worked properly, hurriedly and noisily. The boos, shouts and the sound of quarreling together livened up the quiet space of the seaside in the early morning. Daisy paid much attention to the manual labourers, feeling a bit confused. I somewhat understood her confusion. She might have never seen these sights in her country, where most of the production is automated. Leaving her free of thoughts and observation, I added that sea is the main source to provide the fishermen with food. Owe to the sea, successive fishermen generations have been bred, remained and developed. I also showed her the residents’ daily activities, told her how they have coped with the hard living conditions of the region in the tropical climate. The natural picture was fantastic because of its original beauty but the human beings’ sight was sad because of the abject poverty.

Our next destination was a peaceful village in the countryside. I thought Vietnamese rural area would give Daisy some interesting discoveries. Actually, she was extremely fond of wandering along the narrow path across the paddy field under the summer gentle sunshine. Blasts of Lao wind blew into our faces, giving Daisy an unpleasant feeling. I explained to her that Lao wind is a particular type of wind appearing in the mid-central Vietnam in summer. Quang Binh is one of the places where Lao wind blows most terribly. It comes from Indian Ocean, travels through the Asian countries and surpasses the Anamite range to Vietnam. After a long trip, it gradually loses moisture and becomes dry and hot. Therefore, this wind type is a threat to the living creature here, even the human beings. In spite of such serious conditions, everything develops strongly. I showed Daisy the green trees and cheerful labourers on the fields. It was at the beginning of the rice crop, farmers were busy cultivating the land and scattering the first seeds for growth. Being so curious with the farming process, Daisy could not help coming closer to see the view more clearly. Men were directing the buffaloes, ploughing furrows ready for planting. Women were sowing rice on the next fields. They totally dedicated themselves to their work. Beads of sweat dropped down fertilizing the land. Their bodies were covered with mud but they always gave happy smiles on their faces. Apparently, hard life does not matter with these indomitable people. They are determined to overcome all difficulties simply because they cannot tolerate the notion of defeat. It is Quang Binh people’s enormous strength growing in harsh times, both during and after the war.

Leaving the countryside, we continued our journey in some famous places in Quang Binh. I led Daisy to Dong Hoi city, the chief town of Quang Binh, located on the poetic Nhat Le river. Dong Hoi is on its way to development with a lot of construction plans and transportation systems. It has a proud history of establishment dating from the end of 19th century. Dong Hoi used to be considered to be a “small Paris” or “the town of roses” by a lot of Vietnamese and French reporters. Demolished seriously with tons of bomb during the war, the city now is really reviving, and even more developed than before. We visited other historical places in Quang Binh including The Thầy Rampart, The Gianh River, Mother Suot’s monument, ect. which symbolise Quang Binh people’s fighting for the national defense during hundreds of years. Each of them contains an interesting story about the past or commemorates the great Quang Binh men. Daisy was really moved at the story about Mother Suot, the Vietnamese heroic woman experiencing the Vietnam patriotic war (1954-1975). Then, Quang Binh was one of the places suffering the most intense bombardment of the enemy. Mother Suot didn’t care for the danger of massive bombs raining down, sailing the boat carrying soldiers on duty across the river. Nowadays, Mother Suot’s monument is the Quang Binh people’s recognition of her devotion and reminds younger generations to be grateful to the older ones who saved and built their hometown. I also showed Daisy the cultural and historical traditions which have been formed, developed and preserved by many generations. Our excursion was lastly finished at Phong Nha Caves, the symbol of Quang Binh’s tourism. Daisy was really overwhelmed at the dreamy beauty of the “number-one wonder Phong Nha”. After a day of visiting this fairy land, we came home with the pleasure of an exciting trip.

The tour around Quang Binh with Daisy ended. It was time for her to say goodbye to me and continue her discovery of other regions in Vietnam. She might have her own impressions, both positive and negative sides, on this land and its dauntless people. Seeing her off at the station, I wanted to tell her that “what I have introduced you is about an undeveloped Quang Binh, but the backwardness is only temporary. Please look at Quang Binh people and their potential strength, you will be optimistic about a future modern and prosperous province. ”.

The composition above is only my imagination about a trip around Quang Binh with a foreign friend. It is my great love for this land that has encouraged me to introduce about it. Quang Binh people with precious characteristics like diligence, resolution and perseverance are strong enough to overcome any difficulty and poverty to lead their province to a bright future. As a Quang Binh citizen, I am aware of my province’s situation and try my best to have much contribution to its development. My present main duty is to complete my study at school adequately to get an opportunity of higher education abroad. After that, I will return the hometown and make my dream come true: open a private tourism company to promote the potentiality of tourism of this land. I hope there will be more and more visitors to Quang Binh in several years because it is a famous place-name on the map then.

[Tocxu]

[Thiên Bình]

This one is contestant #133.

[Tocxu]

Thanks Thien Binh.

[Tocxu]

[Thiên Bình]

[Riêng]

Receiving the phone call from Rec this morning about An Giang and Thanh Binh - our two contestants, I did read An Giang's essay. For grammar, technically, I have no comments. however, about the content, I feel pity when she did not describe much about Phong Nha - considered to be Quang Binh's destination. If she wants to run a tourist company, then she must know how to use Phong Nha cave for her business.

[Tocxu]

...I feel pity when she did not describe much about Phong Nha - considered to be Quang Binh's destination. If she wants to run a tourist company, then she must know how to use Phong Nha cave for her business.

My point is different: I respect her courage not to mention Phong Nha-Ke Bang which all others did (but still made an interesting essay). I did mention this to Dr. Clark when talking about her essay.

[giangtran]

Thank Mr/Mrs Rieng very much for your opinions about my essay. The reason why I didn't focus on the overwhelming beauty of Phong Nha Cave is that: what I want to introduce about Quang Binh derives from my great passion for this land. They are simply the general sights and the people, which give me the endless inspiration to write this composition. For my future plan: opening a private tourism company, I think I also think it over before choosing a suitable and attractive type of tourism to provide for my customers. I will take advantage of various strengths of tourism in Quang Binh, not only Phong Nha Cave. Thank you for your comments anyway

[math0]

Thank Mr/Mrs Rieng very much for your opinions about my essay. The reason why I didn't focus on the overwhelming beauty of Phong Nha Cave is that: what I want to introduce about Quang Binh derives from my great passion for this land. They are simply the general sights and the people, which give me the endless inspiration to write this composition. For my future plan: opening a private tourism company, I think I also think it over before choosing a suitable and attractive type of tourism to provide for my customers. I will take advantage of various strengths of tourism in Quang Binh, not only Phong Nha Cave. Thank you for your comments anyway

Hi, may I jump in your talk?
Last time, I had a chance to discuss with a guider in Quang Tri Province about good tours in Quang Tri. He said that he wanted to organize the cultural and historical tours. I disagreed with him. My point of view is that this is not reality. The success of the kind of tour is not depended on one person or one company but on QT province. There are only little tourists who go there to see something strange. What they want is to enjoy the culture and the history of the place.
After a long discussion we could not get each others. But until now, his dream does still not come true.
What I want to say is that all the details you mentioned are only potential not the real attractiveness of QB