The Beach I Learned to See Differently
Scroll to read the story ↓Nguyen Ngoc Han, 15, lives just a few minutes from Tam Thanh Beach in Tam Ky, now part of Da Nang. Since its beginning, she has been involved in Green citizens – Healthy cities project work to promote meaningful adolescent and youth participation in local development, particularly around green and community tourism in Tam Thanh Mural Village. This has included sharing their perspectives through co-design workshops on sustainable local tourism development, developing communication and tourism products for the area, as well as training and practising as a “junior guide”.
The sea has been part of her everyday life since childhood – from afternoon swims with her grandmother to early-morning walks along the shore. More recently, getting to know the people whose lives depend on the sea has changed the way she sees her hometown.
The beach I learned to see differently
My house is about a three- or four-minute walk from Tam Thanh Beach. Since I was little, the beach has been part of my everyday life. I would wake up and see the sea, look forward to the afternoon when my grandmother would take me there to swim, and come back in the evening to play.
Now, I still often go there at around 5 a.m. I like walking along the shore, listening to the waves and watching the sky brighten. I have seen countless sunrises here, but I have never grown tired of them. When I am tired or have a lot on my mind, I come here and sit for a while. I like Tam Thanh Beach because it is close to home and peaceful.
Because the beach is so familiar, there were times when I thought of it as just an ordinary part of my life. About a year ago, I started talking to local people and learning more about the sea.
I remember Mr Hien telling me that he and his wife wake up at two or three in the morning to prepare for fishing. He returns at around 9 a.m. and takes a nap before going to sea again that evening, while his wife sells the fish. Since then, I have looked at the fishermen’s catches differently.
“The beach has taught me to look more closely at my hometown and love it for the people and stories behind its beauty.”
A space waiting to come alive
I took part in the Fishing Village Cultural Space’s first event, where local residents and tourism workers shared ideas about the area’s potential, local products and community-based tourism.
I thought it would become a useful community space, but after nearly two years, most products are still there and only a few community meetings take place there.
I feel it is sad that such a spacious and promising place is not fully used. I hope the authorities can do something to bring life to it: local people could share the fishing village’s stories, visitors could learn about the area, and young people could organise activities and share ideas there.
I wish adults and decision-makers knew that…
Young people have our own thoughts, ideas and ways of seeing where we live.
“We may not do big things yet, but through small actions, creativity and love for our hometown, we want to make our city more welcoming to young people.”
We also want to be trusted to try, contribute and make a difference in our own way.