(Baonghean.vn) - Every flood season, firewood and timber from upstream flows downstream along the Lam River. This is also the occasion for people in Thanh Chi and Thanh An communes (Thanh Chuong) to brave the danger to collect firewood floating on the river.
 |
| The Lam River in Quanh Valley (Kim Thuong Hamlet, Thanh Chi Commune) often flows in circles, so firewood from upstream often drifts here. Every year, local people wait for the "hoi" day - the high tide in the Lam River - to collect firewood. Photo: Huy Thu |
 |
| They often use basket boats - small boats woven from bamboo - to row out into the middle of the river, steering along the current while picking up firewood from the rubbish. Photo: Huy Thu |
 |
| Rowing a bamboo boat is difficult, picking up firewood in the middle of a fast-flowing river is even more difficult. According to the locals, this year's flood season has more firewood than last year. In less than an hour, two people were able to pick up a bamboo boat full of firewood. Photo: Huy Thu |
 |
| Those without boats stood on the shore, immersed in the water and used poles to pick up firewood. They mainly collected small pieces of firewood. Photo: Huy Thu |
 |
| To find big trees, wood gatherers must have a boat, be brave and dare to take risks. Photo: Huy Thu |
 |
| When encountering large logs, many people have to work together to bring the wood to shore. Photo: Huy Thu |
 |
| On days of heavy rain, people here are prepared to collect flooded firewood. Photo: Huy Thu |
 |
| Ben Quanh was littered with firewood and timber during the flood. Several days later, it still hasn't been moved. Photo: Huy Thu |
 |
| Many large tree trunks have been salvaged, but have not been brought to shore yet. People have had to use ropes to tie them together to prevent them from drifting away. Photo: Huy Thu |
 |
| Some people bring hand saws, and if they find a long tree, they will cut it right there to make it easier to load onto the truck. Photo: Huy Thu |
 |
| Many families mobilized all their forces to collect firewood on the river, some salvaged it, some transported it. A resident of Thanh An commune said: If you work hard to collect flood firewood, you won't have to go to the forest, and you won't have to spend money buying firewood. During this flood, each household here can collect several carloads of firewood, enough to burn for the whole year. Photo: Huy Thu |
 |
| Buffalo carts carrying flooded firewood pass through muddy roads to get home. Photo: Huy Thu |
Huy Thu
