17/12/2024
A viewpoint along the Ma Pi Leng Pass overlooking the Sông Nho Quế (or Nho Quế river), a 192 km long river that runs mostly parallel to the Vietnam - China border.
There is a story in Vietnamese culture to explain the origin of the river:
There used to be a huge mountain in Ha Giang province that blocked the river effort from spreading life to the barren land on the other side, which was completely arrid. The River God tried to negotiate with the Mountain God and asked him to move aside for the river to flow through.
However, the Mountain God pretended to be deaf and stayed still for years. Knowing that history, the King of Heaven ordered the Thunder God to settle the situation.
One day, the sky was scattered with deafening thunderbolts. The Thunder God swung down his sword onto the mountain, causing an explosion that severed the mountain in two! The stream of water then rushed into the newly created valley and brought forth life to the barren lands 🌱