Cry me a River

“Cry me a River” (2021 - 2023)  takes a closer look at how capitalism's intervention with ecological destruction impacts the Tà Làng villagers' traditional forms of livelihood and their ancestral land.

Situated eight kilometers from the 4C National Highway, the village of Tà Làng relies heavily on the Nho Quế River of Hà Giang province for its livelihood. Remote from major urban centers, Tà Làng is composed of 39 households from various minority groups. The community's livelihood is predominantly based on fisheries, an irrigation system, and agricultural land that are all sustained by the river.

In 2007, the Ministry of Industry in Hà Giang province entered into an agreement with the Bitexco group to construct a dam on the Nho Quế River,  bordering Vietnam and China at the base of Mã Pí Lèng pass, creating a reservoir. This development significantly disrupted the local community’s way of life. Investors in the dam have disrupted the local boat trade by taking control of ticket sales and forcing local businesses into a 'legal business' under dam management. Disputes over boat services on the Nho Quế River have arisen between Tà Làng villagers and the dam's operators since the dam's construction.

Hà Giang, with its breathtaking scenery, is set to significantly boost the province’s economy by 2025. Tourism is burgeoning as a key economic sector, hosting over two million visitors each year. The Nho Quế River has become a major attraction exploited by capitalism. This dynamic tension between development and traditional ways of life encapsulates a broader struggle over the future direction of Hà Giang.  

In Vietnam, tourist destinations are facing ecological devastation due to capitalist intervention or state negligence.