“In Ban Lim, there is Mr. Ha Van Thanh, known for his exceptional swimming and diving skills, as well as his bravery and willingness to sacrifice himself to save others. Locals compare him to an otter,” said Mr. Vi Van Thanh, Deputy Chairman of the People’s Committee of Chau Phong Commune, Quy Chau District, Nghe An Province. Following this introduction, we visited Ban Lim to meet Mr. Ha Van Thanh (born in 1975), who is known by the nickname “Thanh the Otter.”
Introduction
Mr. Thanh’s house sits halfway up a hill, overlooking the clear and serene Lim stream. Mr. Lu Van Tuong, Head of Ban Lim, shared, “The Lim stream may seem calm, but during the rainy season, it becomes extremely dangerous. Just two hours of rain can cause the water to rise and flood the bridge, flowing violently. After the rain stops, it takes 3-4 hours for the water to recede. If the rain lasts for a few days, the water can rise more than 5 meters above the bridge, isolating the entire village—’no one can enter or leave.'”
Dangerous area at the Lim stream’s overflow bridge during floods (Photo: Hoang Lam)
In the past, villagers from Ban Lim, Ban Lau, and Chau Hoan Commune had to wade through the stream to reach the commune center or go to the district. During floods, people would build bamboo rafts and tie ropes to cross the stream, leading to many dangerous situations.
In 2000, an overflow bridge was built over the Lim stream, providing better access for the villagers. However, it remains a “black spot” for safety during the rainy season.
Main Content
A Man Who Often “Stole the Rice of Ha Ba”
In times of crisis, Mr. Ha Van Thanh always arrives promptly to save people. When asked how many people he has saved over the past 30 years, he chuckled modestly, “I don’t remember. It’s just a normal thing. Anyone in danger, I help. Once they’re safe, that’s it. Plus, most of those in danger are strangers passing through when the water rises, while locals know the stream well and avoid crossing during floods.”
Mr. Thanh recounted a memorable incident in 2002 when his wife’s tears almost stopped him from saving someone. On that rainy day, the water in the Lim stream surged violently. Hearing cries for help, Mr. Thanh ran to the bridge with a 20-liter plastic can, plunging into the raging waters to rescue a man clinging to a tree. After several minutes of struggling against the flood, he managed to bring the man to shore with the help of bystanders. Five minutes later, the tree the man had been holding onto was swept away by the flood.
Mr. Ha Van Thanh recounts rescuing a man trapped in the floodwaters (Photo: Hoang Lam)
As he ran down the bridge with the can, he saw his wife and children waiting. Seeing him and the surging floodwaters, she cried but did not dare stop him, knowing her efforts would be futile. At that moment, he only thought about saving the person, nothing else.
Acts of Kindness
Considering rescue work as a natural duty, Mr. Thanh never expected any gratitude. However, the story of a young couple who pleaded with him to accept 20,000 Vietnamese Dong as a token of appreciation stands out as a cherished memory. One evening in 2005, after heavy rains, the water level in the Lim stream rose above the bridge by 30-40 cm. Despite warnings, a man and a woman tried to cross on their motorbike, getting stuck mid-bridge as the water rapidly rose.
Seeing the dangerous situation, Mr. Thanh quickly rushed through the flood to assist them. With the help of his son, he safely brought the couple to higher ground. The man, still trembling with fear, fumbled for his wallet and offered 20,000 Dong, saying it was like a “toast of thanks.” Mr. Thanh firmly declined, stating that he saved people not for rewards.
Skills and Rescue Spirit
Explaining his willingness to risk his life to save others, Mr. Thanh laughed and said he trusted his skills, experience, and physical health. From a young age, he accompanied his parents fishing in the Lim stream, gradually developing his swimming and diving abilities. He can dive up to 5 meters deep for about 1 minute and 30 seconds. With such exceptional abilities, he felt it was his duty to use them to save people trapped in floods or drowning.
Mr. Ha Van Thanh: “Saving people brings me joy…”.
Mr. Lu Van Tuong, Head of Ban Lim, noted that Mr. Thanh had been saving lives even before the establishment of the village rescue team. Since joining the team, he has become even more dedicated and responsible in helping villagers in peril.
Conclusion
“The six members of the rescue team are all healthy and skilled swimmers, but Mr. Thanh is the best diver. Over the years, he has saved many villagers in danger while crossing the bridge during floods. Throughout his time with the team, Mr. Thanh has demonstrated courage and selflessness, especially under conditions where there were limited rescue equipment and safety measures,” said Mr. Tuong.
Listening to the village head, Mr. Thanh smiled and waved off the praise, saying, “I just want to save people. Their survival makes me happy.”
Mr. Thanh (second from the left) with leaders from Chau Phong Commune and Ban Lim officials at the bridge, a site of many dangerous incidents during floods (Photo: Hoang Lam).
In mid-2024, a concrete bridge was constructed over the Lim stream, located more than 2 km upstream from the village’s overflow bridge. During floods, authorities set up checkpoints at both ends of the overflow bridge to prevent villagers from crossing and instead direct them to use the new bridge via Chau Hoan Commune.
“With the new bridge, things are safer. While our rescue team is always prepared and committed, additional rescue equipment would certainly improve our operations,” Mr. Thanh shared.
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