Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: The Beauty of Da River/Vietnam

Sunday, January 17, 2010

The Beauty of Da River/Vietnam

Shiny cliffs like giant mirrors, stone blocks in strange shapes and waterfalls with odd names are all part of the magic of Da River.

The Da River upstream belongs to the Ka Lang commune in the Muong Te district in the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau, and originates from the 1500m Weishan mountain in Yunnan province, China.

The Da River is 983km long, with 543km of it in Vietnam, including 232km in Lai Chau province. Of the 230km in Lai Chau, there are 170 waterfalls and 130 whirlpools.

With its long slope and powerful flow, experts list the Da River among the fiercest rivers in Indochina. However, this means the river has abundant hydro-power potential. The three largest power plants in Vietnam are based on this river: Hoa Binh, Son La (under construction) and Lai Chau (approved by the Congress recently).

Dan Tri introduces the unique, wild and gigantic beauty of the Da River.

VietNamNet/Dan Tri

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They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.