Connecting shores of joy

(Baonghean) - For the people of the remote villages in Con Cuong district, the joy is doubled because the suspension bridges built across rivers and streams have just been completed and put into use, fulfilling a long-held dream…

Con Cuong is a mountainous border district, home to the Thai (the majority), Dan Lai, and Kinh ethnic groups. Due to its mountainous terrain and numerous rivers and streams, particularly the Lam River, Giang River, Thoi Stream, Choang Stream, Moi Stream, and Xi Vang Stream, transportation is extremely difficult for the local population. During the rainy season, many villages in the communes of Chau Khe, Mon Son, Luc Da, Thach Ngan, Don Phuc, Cam Lam, Lang Khe, and Binh Chuan are isolated by rising water levels and landslides, posing a threat to people's lives. In 2014, good news came to the people of Con Cuong when the General Department of Roads (under the Ministry of Transport) implemented a project to invest in the construction of pedestrian bridges to ensure traffic safety in ethnic minority areas. Accordingly, the number of bridges supported for construction nationwide is 186, with Nghe An province having 12. Con Cuong district alone received priority support for 6 suspension bridges in 6 villages: Diem village, Xat village (Chau Khe), Xang village (Luc Da), Cai village (Cam Lam), Thai Son village and Lang Yen village (Mon Son). These bridges are designed for pedestrians, motorbikes, bicycles, and other rudimentary vehicles, meeting the daily transportation needs of the local people. The bridges are made of steel, with a textured steel surface, and are 2 meters wide. The investment in building these bridges demonstrates the State's concern for people in remote areas, reducing safety risks during the rainy season and floods, ensuring people's livelihoods, and contributing to promoting socio-economic development and exchange in the locality.

The suspension bridge in Xang village (Luc Da commune - Con Cuong district) has been put into use, replacing the precarious temporary bridge.

The March rains and muddy, slippery roads couldn't deter us from reaching the villages of Xat and Diem, in the border commune of Chau Khe. These two villages are located at the headwaters of the Choang stream, a stream that is clear and peaceful during the dry season, but when the rainy season arrives, its water becomes muddy and turbulent, cutting off the villages and making travel extremely difficult and complicated. Our first stop was Xat village, where not long ago the villagers rejoiced at the completion of a suspension bridge. This bridge spans the Choang stream, connecting the village to the right bank, where rice paddies and upland fields are planned. Previously, during harvest season, transporting agricultural products to the village was extremely difficult, often requiring rafts to cross the stream or carrying them on foot. This was truly dangerous, threatening the lives of farmers, not to mention the fact that agricultural products often fell or soaked through when crossing the stream. With the sturdy iron suspension bridge built, travel and transportation of agricultural products during the harvest season have become more convenient and easier, helping villagers shorten transportation time and, more importantly, ensuring safety. Speaking with us, Village Head Kha Trong Binh shared: “Since this suspension bridge was built, the people of Xat village have been much happier. They no longer have to wade through streams or build rafts to bring rice, corn, and cassava home. Soon, the commune will relocate more than 10 households in the village to the right bank; with the bridge, no one will hesitate to move to the other side.”

Leaving Xat village, we continued our journey to Diem village. Here, the suspension bridge across the Choang stream was completed a few months ago. Unlike Xat village, Diem village has 15 households (over 50 people) who have settled on the right bank, so before the suspension bridge was built, crossing the river was very difficult. During the rainy season and floods, the 15 households on the right bank were often isolated, sometimes for a whole week. Even a few years ago, due to prolonged isolation by floodwaters and running out of food, a man trying to cross the Choang stream to find food was swept away by the water! During the dry season, the villagers often built temporary bridges, but they were always apprehensive whenever they crossed. Since the suspension bridge, built with government support, was put into use, the lives of the Thai ethnic people in Diem village have truly changed. Crossing the river, going to the fields, and children going to school have become easier. The rainy season and floods are no longer a worry, and the 15 households on the other side are no longer isolated when the water rises. Agricultural products like corn, rice, and cassava fetch higher prices, and there's no longer any worry about traders forcing down prices. Mr. Vi Van Dong, the village head, said: “Thanks to the government's investment in building this sturdy suspension bridge, the people of Diem village have fulfilled a long-held dream. The happiest are probably the students, because from now on they will no longer have to wade through streams or cross temporary bridges to get to class.”

We continued south towards Luc Da commune, reaching Xang village, one of the villages located at the headwaters of the Moi stream. From afar, the bridge at the beginning of the village looked like a giant, imposing arm spanning the winding Moi stream amidst the mountains. The bridge had just been put into use a few days before the Lunar New Year of the Goat. Talking with the village head, Lo Van Phuc, we learned that Xang village currently has 168 households (728 inhabitants), whose main source of income is rice cultivation, forestry, and livestock farming. Compared to other villages in the commune, the income and living standards of Xang village are not inferior; the only disadvantage is its remote location and poor transportation infrastructure. Previously, to reach Xang village, one had to follow the Moi stream, a path only passable on dry days. After major floods, this road was eroded, making travel even more difficult. Later, thanks to the upgraded road to Moi village, the people of Xang village faced fewer hardships.

However, the strong flow and considerable width of the Moi stream always posed significant obstacles for the villagers' movement. Years ago, the village management board agreed to allow one household to build a wooden bridge across the stream, charging 5,000 VND per motorbike. For the farmers, this was a considerable sum, especially for those who crossed the stream multiple times daily, but at that time, there was no other option. A few days before the Lunar New Year, the people of Xang village were overjoyed and excited when the suspension bridge across the Moi stream was completed, the simple, rickety wooden bridge becoming a memory. From then on, the villagers no longer worried about being isolated by floods, and children no longer had to worry about missing school during heavy rains.

Xat village suspension bridge (Chau Khe commune - Con Cuong district)

Sharing the joy with the people of Xat, Diem, and Xang villages, the people of Kai village (Cam Lam commune) are also extremely excited as the suspension bridge across the Xi Vang stream has been completed. The bridge, now in use, meets the transportation needs and ensures safety for the people of Kai and Cam villages, two remote villages in Cam Lam. In the near future, the people of Mon Son commune will also receive the joy of the completion and commissioning of the Thai Son and Lang Yen suspension bridges. These two bridges are being constructed urgently and are striving to be completed before the rainy season. People from Nam Son, Thai Hoa, and Lang Yen villages will no longer have to worry about crossing the precarious wooden bridge or the rickety rafts across the Giang River when going to the commune center, and students will no longer have to worry about crossing the river…

Speaking with us, Ms. Kha Thi Tim, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Con Cuong district, said: "Of the six suspension bridges supported by the General Department of Roads in the area, four have been completed and put into use, and the remaining two are under construction and will be completed soon. This truly brings joy to the people of Con Cuong, contributing to socio-economic development and ensuring safety, reducing risks during the rainy season and floods."

Hopefully, in the not-too-distant future, many more villages in Con Cuong will have the opportunity to receive this joy!

Cong Kien