Xeo Quyt

Xeo Quyt reminds visitors of the former vast cajuput forests in the Plains of Reeds and U Minh areas. Although being heavily devastated during the war, in 1975 by the end of the war, more than 100,000 ha of submerged forests remained, covering parts of Long An, An Giang, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau provinces and producing a wonderful ecological system of the alluvial land at the Mekong River's estuary. The cajuput forests work as a great water reservoir to fight against salt water and acidity and regulate the humidity during the dry season.

During the war, they were ideal destinations for the liberation army men. The crisscrossing canals, built in the early 20th century, became transportation routes and enabled the local people to reclaim land, develop forestry and prevent fire. At the time, the so-called "socio-cultural and economic cajuput forest development" was encouraged and it is linked with the national history of land reclaiming and defense.

The cajuput forests, submerged in the red brown water, are an ideal habitation for numerous kinds of birds, fish and wild animals, typical for the tropical region. The cajuput timber, due to its flexibility and resistance to rotting, are often used in house building and basement floors. This makes cajuput timber a valuable item and can cause wanton exploitation in the present market economy if managed poorly. Furthermore, in the dry season, cajuput trees are flammable, usually causing big fires. For example, a fire in 1984 destroyed several thousands of hectares of cajuput forests and badly affected the local eco-system. This requires a national strategy to protect the ecological environment, in the context of the current socio-economic development.

Xeo Quyt, a small part in the vast cajuput forests, was a successful undertaking to restore and preserve the cajuput forests to their original historical and ecological background. Further preservation will be considered and implemented. But more importantly, effort should be made by everyone to protect the unique ecological system of the entire submerged area, whose history has developed along with land reclaiming and defending of the fertile southern region.