Pictures from the Thu Bon River

On the Thu Bon River

May 6, 2012

On its way to the sea, the Thu Bon River which begins in the Truong Son Mountain Range, not only carries lots of silt to make the rich and fertile land in Quang Nam Province, but also makes a contribution to creating many cultural places like My Son Sanctuary and Hoi An ancient town – two world cultural heritage sites.
The Thu Bon River originates from small springs running through forests of cinnamon-trees and a rare variety of Ngoc Linh ginseng at the peak of Ngoc Linh Mountain which is over 2,500m high. This mountain is in the Truong Son Mountain Range in Nam Tra My District, Quang Nam Province. In the districts of Tien Phuoc and Hiep Duc, the river is called Tranh, a very rustic name. However, when it runs through the districts of Que Son and Duy Xuyen and merges into the Vu Gia River, it takes the name of Thu Bon.
The basin of Thu Bon River is about 10.350km2. It is one of the largest domestic basins in Vietnam, which is a great potential for using hydro-electricity. According to plans, there are eight projects to use hydro-electricity in the system of the Vu Gia-Thu Bon Rivers.
In the past, the Cham people, an ethnic group of Vietnam, and their culture were greatly influenced by the Thu Bon River. One of the most glorious vestiges is My Son Sanctuary in Duy Xuyen District.
Visiting the sanctuary, one seems to be lost in the world of the Cham people with images depicting sacred ceremonies, parades of horses and elephants, shining palanquins and groups of Apsara girls in colourful dresses dancing at the foot of the ancient towers.
Before flowing into the sea, the river also helped create one of the oldest and most beautiful sea port in Vietnam, Hoi An. Hoi An, Tra Que Vegetable-Growing Village, Thanh Ha Pottery Village and Cua Dai have become a unique tourism complex along the river.
“Before flowing into the sea, the river also helped create one of the oldest and most beautiful sea port in Vietnam, Hoi An. Hoi An, Tra Que Vegetable-Growing Village, Thanh Ha Pottery Village and Cua Dai have become a unique tourism complex along the river.
During its trip to the sea, the river has created fertile fields and provided the villagers with an abundant source of aquatic products, such as shrimp and fish. In the 17th century, it helped people in Nong Son Incense Making Village, Tam Tang Cloth Weaving Village and Thanh Ha Pottery Village export their products to overseas markets from the sea port of Hoi An. For this reason, the villagers in the province always think of Thu Bon as the “Mother River”. Annually, in March, the villagers in Duy Xuyen jubilantly organize a festival dedicated to “Mother River”. During the festival, they go to the river and invite her to visit their families and bring them a bumper crop and happiness.

The river originates from many small streams on Ngoc Linh Mountain
 in Truong Son Mountain Range.
The Thu Bon River has a 10,000km2 basin, the largest basin in Quang Nam Province.


 A bamboo bridge crosses the Thu Bon River.

Hanging fishing nets at Cua Dai is a cultural feature of the people living
on the banks of the Thu Bon River.

A wedding on the Thu Bon River. Photo:

A boat-racing festival on the Thu Bon River.

Sunset over the Thu Bon River.

The Hoai River in Hoi An is a branch of the Thu Bon River.

VCW