Boatman on the lake
(Baonghean) -In the districts of Ky Son, Tuong Duong, Con Cuong…, water transport has existed for a long time. Since the Ban Ve Hydropower Plant (Yen Na commune, Tuong Duong district) was built, this profession has become bustling.
Currently, on the Ban Ve Hydroelectric Reservoir, there are about 200 boats, large and small. Some boats can only carry 3 or 4 people, while others can carry 30 or 40 tons. Most are medium-sized boats, equipped with roofs, used to carry people and small, light materials.
Most of the workers working on the lake are from communes around the lake such as Nhon Mai, Mai Son, Yen Na... who are granted professional certificates for operating inland waterway vehicles. Every year, the boats are inspected. Currently, on the lake, boats and rafts serve the transportation of goods and people for the communes: My Ly (Ky Son), Nhon Mai, Mai Son, Huu Khuong, Luong Minh, Yen Na (Tuong Duong). Mr. Vi Van Tam, a boat driver, confided that the hardest days are when there are storms. The lake is quite wide, and the waves and wind are also very strong. Recently, the roads in Ky Son district have been upgraded, the number of passengers by water has decreased. There were many trips that Mr. Tam had to stop running because there were no passengers...
Boatman on the lake.
Cargo boat.
Transporting motorbikes onto boats.
Large boat, carrying 30, 40 tons of goods.
The boat is fully equipped with life preservers.
Photo series: Ho Phuong
