'I go every day, it should be fine' - people 'bet' at the '3 no' ferry connecting Bich Hao and Xuan Lam communes
Phuong ferry connecting Bich Hao commune and Xuan Lam commune of Nghe An province has long been an important waterway serving the travel needs of people in the old Thanh Chuong district. However, there is a situation of "3 no's": not complying with the prescribed number of people, not strictly following the wearing of life jackets and not ensuring safety in the area where people get on and off the boat.
According to the reporter's records on August 5, at Phuong ferry terminal, the number of people taking the ferry is always crowded and bustling, after more than a week the ferry terminal had to stop operating due to the impact of floods.
Although Lam River has just experienced a historic flood at the end of July, the water is still muddy and the current is quite strong. However, compliance with waterway safety regulations has not been seriously implemented by passengers and boatmen.
One of the most noticeable points is the situation of people not complying with the requirement to wear life jackets when crossing the river. Although the boats are equipped with life jackets and there are mandatory signs at the docks, the reality shows that most people do not comply.
It is known that Phuong ferry is a place where all levels and sectors regularly distribute free life jackets, but many people still do not wear them because they think they are cumbersome and hot.
Mr. Phan Van Anh, Xuan Lam commune said: "Every day I take the boat to the other side of the river to work. I see many people not wearing life jackets so I don't wear one either. Each trip takes about 5 minutes, so it's probably fine..."
Not only is there a lack of seriousness in ensuring passenger safety, but the management of passenger numbers is also lax. According to regulations, each ferry can only carry a maximum of 12 people. However, records during peak hours in early August 2025 show that there were ferries carrying 30-40 people and many vehicles. People had to stand crowded together, sometimes right on the edge of the boat, an extremely dangerous situation if an accident occurred mid-stream.
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Ms. Tran Thi Yen, a ferry driver at this ferry station, explained: “During rush hours, there are many people waiting for the ferry, many people beg to take the boat early to be on time for work, so we have to take them, even though we know it is against the rules. Regarding wearing life jackets, we have reminded many times, but many people do not wear them, they are still very subjective.”
The infrastructure at Phuong ferry terminal is also a matter of concern. The boat's entrance and exit are just rough planks, temporarily tied with rope, and are always in a shaky state every time the boat docks. If the boat passengers do not maintain their balance, they can easily slip and fall into the river. Meanwhile, the boarding and disembarking area has absolutely no protective railings, no roof, no waiting area for passengers, the minimum conditions to ensure the safety of passersby, especially the elderly and children.
The riverbank erosion around the ferry terminal is also getting more and more serious. After the big flood at the end of July 2025, many layers of soil on both sides of the terminal were washed away, creating deep holes close to the water's edge, but there have been no effective solutions.
The road to the wharf in Xuan Lam commune is muddy during the rainy season, and has no lighting system, making it dangerous for people to cross the river at night. On the Bich Hao side, although the road has been upgraded, the steep slope always makes it slippery during the rainy season.
In fact, there was a tragic accident at Phuong ferry terminal. On November 19, 2020, Mr. TVK - a ferryman at this ferry terminal unfortunately fell into the Lam River and died while preparing to transport passengers. This is a serious warning about the potential danger if the current problems are not thoroughly handled.
Discussing this situation, Mr. Nguyen Khanh Thanh - Chairman of Bich Hao Commune People's Committee said: During the recent flood, the commune banned the ferry from operating, set up a barrier to block the road down to the ferry, and the ferry was reopened from the beginning of August 2025 when the floodwaters receded.
Regarding the issue of safety regulations violations, the commune has assigned the police force and the Economic Department to directly patrol and handle according to the provisions of the law. In the long term, the locality hopes that all levels and sectors can study and invest in building bridges and stop the ferry terminal's operations, because the ferry terminal's infrastructure has degraded and is often severely eroded every year, posing a risk to passenger safety.
