Ferryman job at Yen Hoa wharf

(Baonghean) - Bridges are being built every day, instead of a profession that has long been familiar to the local people - ferry driving is gradually disappearing.

There are only a few ferry piers left in Con Cuong district. On the muddy river at the ferry pier in Yen Hoa village (Lang Khe commune, Con Cuong), Quang Van Hai tried his best to push the boat and then jumped into the engine compartment to start it.

Far from the imagination of many people about the ferryman profession, in mountainous districts such as Anh Son, Con Cuong, Tuong Duong… this is not a simple job, always fraught with great risks.

Push the boat away from the dock.

The boat was full of people and vehicles.

Help customers uphill.

Ferryman's cooking utensils right at the dock.

There is no day off, whenever there is a customer, Mr. Hai takes them across the river. He is off at night, however, in special cases such as illness requiring hospitalization, or urgent need to cross the river, he is always willing to serve.

The ferry terminal that Mr. Hai is currently "driving" is the new ferry terminal, while the old Yen Hoa ferry terminal is located below, nearly 1km away (the old ferry terminal has been eroded, and is located on a part of the road that is not convenient for local people to travel)...

Each flood season, each water level on the river is a situation to handle. Mr. Hai said, there were mornings when there were many students going to school, the boat engine stopped in the middle of the stream, the students panicked. At times like that, he had to quickly go to the front, hold the oars with his hands, push the oars with all his might to adjust the direction to bring the boat to shore. During the storm season, the river was raging like it was angry, as if it wanted to drown the boat in the sea of ​​water. At times like that, Mr. Hai had to "run" the boat along the shore, more than 100m from the dock before daring to "steer" to the other side.

Currently, the boat is equipped with life buoys such as life jackets, etc. However, there are days when the water is too high, Mr. Hai has to stop driving the boat, and the whole Yen Hoa village has to stop crossing the river!

Ho Phuong