Ban Pha Chan, Ubon Ratchathani Province - a Lifestyle of Fishery along the Mekong River to sustain the Community
Discover the fishing lifestyle along the Mekong River at Ban Pha Chan, Ubon Ratchathani province. Observe the locals’ use of fishing nets and traps to catch fish and prawns. Visit many charming tourist attractions along the river.
Ban Pha Chan, Ubon Ratchathani province, is a community along the Mekong River practicing fishery as their primary source of income. The community also reflects the Thai-Lao friendship on both sides of the river. The Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Public Organization), or DASTA, delegated the Special Zone 2 Office to create plans for developing the Ban Pha Chan community. The objective of the development is to sustainably improve the people’s quality of living, without changing their traditional lifestyle to preserve their cultural heritage.
Ban Pha Chan – a Lifestyle intertwined with the Mekong River
These stone mountains and cliffs may have been in the area for millions of years, standing approximately 20-30 feet above the water level. It serves as a natural boundary between Thailand and Lao PDR, covering a distance of almost 10 kilometers. The geographical feature led to the name of a community nearby - Ban Pha Chan. Below the stone cliffs are fishing boats operated by locals. The Mekong River is teeming with life and a variety of marine species. The locals catch the fish for food, or sell them at the Baan Pha Chan Fish Fund. The center serves as the fish market of the Mekong River, gathering freshly caught marine life from Ban Pha Chan and neighboring communities. Large-sized, freshly-caught fish from the Mekong River draw many customers to the market. The fish are weighed on scales, with the merchants’ voices confirming the weights of the fish creating a vibrant atmosphere at the market. After purchasing the fish, customers travel home with smiles as they plan their next delicious menu to cook.
Many Tourist Activities provided at Ban Pha Chan
Besides its unique fishing lifestyle, Ban Pha Chan provides many activities for visitors to enjoy. Those who have visited the community agree that Ban Pha Chan has a high degree of happiness to offer. The following are some of the highlight activities:
- Rest at Homestays and enjoy the "Jaew Bong"
Rest, relax, and experience the local lifestyle of Ban Pha Chan in a homestay amidst an atmosphere of simplicity. Experience "Jaew Bong," a signature chili sauce of the community. The chili sauce is prepared with fish caught from the Mekong River. Another famous culinary delight is "Pla Ra," or pickled fish.
- Experience the Ban Pha Chan Local Lifestyle along the Mekong River
The fishing techniques of the locals are very simple. Locals search and reserve their "Luang," which is a local term for areas for catching fish on the Mekong River. Reserved areas are indicated with a symbolic mark representing a fish on the stone mountain’s surface. The locals install their fish traps overnight, which are simple tools such as fishing rods and nets. Each month requires different fishing techniques. During the months of July and August, most locals use nets and large fishing rods. On the other hand, locals search for fish along the riverbank during the month of September when the water level is high.
Photo: PixHound / Shutterstock.com
- Planting Vegetables along the Mekong River
During the months of November-January, the water level of the Mekong River decreases. The locals use this period to plant vegetables along the riverbank, such as peanuts, yams, corn, and long beans. The harvest season is during the end of January to February, when locals collect the crops to sell as an additional source of income.
- Almsgiving and the “Bai Sri Su Kwan” Welcome Ceremony
Visitors can participate in Buddhist almsgiving and the "Bai Sri Su Kwan" Welcome Ceremony at Ban Pha Chan. The Welcome Ceremony is an essential tradition reflecting the beliefs of the local community. According to these beliefs, each individual is born with a spiritual force known as the "Kwan," which accompanies and protects the individual throughout life. The "Bai Sri Su Kwan" ceremony is held to summon the "Kwan" back to its owner, empowering and blessing the individual.
- Visit Nature Trails, Thailand’s First Geopark, Giant Earth Pillars, Coffin Cave, and "E-Rang" Dikes
The first stop is at "Sao Chaleang Yai," a pair of large earth pillars supporting a stone tablet. Locals believe that these pillars provide protection over their community. Continue the journey by visiting "Tum Loang," or Coffin Cave, which contains ancient coffins with an age of over 2,000 prehistoric years. These coffins were made of a single piece of Meranti wood. Corpses are placed in these coffins, carrying the dead to the cremation ceremony before being reused. The ends of the coffins have handles designed similar to a buffalo’s horns, earning these ancient coffins the local nickname of "Buffalo Horn Coffin." Continue your journey by visiting the "E-Rang Dike," a local innovation to resolve droughts frequently experienced by the community. The dike collects water from the Phu Loang streams, which naturally flows into the Mekong River. The collected water is used for agriculture and supporting households in the community, distributed by a pipe system. The locals living north of the dike uses an "airware" motorized water pump invented by the community. From a community frequently experiencing droughts, the village is now lush due to consistent water supply.
- Cruise along the Mekong River, Visit Tourist Attractions
Do not miss taking a scenic cruise on the Mekong River. Starting at the Pha Chan pier, visitors will enjoy the view of the Mekong River surrounded by stone mountains and cliffs. When the water level is low, the intricate patterns on these mountains will be visible. There are many attractions along the way, such as the black plum forest along both sides of the river, and the "Pha Hua Nam" stone which stretches out from the cliff with a shape resembling an elephant’s head. Other attractions include "Pha Ma Woh," a cliff believed to be sacred by the locals, and the "Pha Muen Roo" – a cliff with many holes due to water erosion.
The fishing lifestyle along the Mekong River of Ban Pha Chan is charming and captivating. Fishing boats leave ripples on the river, which gently touch the cliffs to reflect the simple lifestyle of the community practiced over the course of history.
Sources:
Phachan_Fish
dmr.go.th
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