Khe Ngau village looking forward to the bridge

(Baonghean) -Our Khe Ngau village (Xa Luong commune - Tuong Duong) has over a hundred households. Since the village was established, we have been friends with the ferry. Up to now, dozens of generations of people have been born and died, but it is still the same. Until the last decade, the government built a very sturdy concrete bridge. The people were happy to escape the ferry, and when the rainy season comes, they no longer have to worry about the ferry sinking.


The Khe Ngau villagers were happy for about 2 years, then a big flood came and swept away the bridge. This time, the people pooled their money to buy bamboo and cables to make a pontoon bridge, then in 2009 they built a bigger, more beautiful bridge. Then a very big flood, 2 years ago, destroyed the bridge again!

Back to the pontoon bridge. Every six months or after the flood, the people of Khe Ngau village have to worry about buying bamboo to rebuild the bridge, each time costing several million dong. In 2 years, the people have had to rebuild the bamboo bridge 4 times.

Children in the village only have school up to grade 4. If they want to continue their studies, they have to go to the main school on the other side of the river. So for the whole school year, the children have to go back and forth on a pontoon bridge to learn. When the water rises, the bridge seems to be about to float away. Parents are afraid to let their children go to school anymore.

When I asked, the district officials kept saying, “Don’t worry, the bridge is coming soon.” I’ve been waiting for almost 2 years, and still nothing?!
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(According to Village Chief Truong Van May and Khe Ngau villagers, Xa Luong commune - Tuong Duong)

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