Dai Ngai 2 Bridge - a source of joy and hope for a breakthrough in the "pearl island" region.

STO - To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and the reunification of the country (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), the Dai Ngai 2 bridge is expected to open to traffic (technical opening). This is a long-awaited event, a source of immense joy and happiness for many, especially the people of Cu Lao Dung (Soc Trang province), the "pearl island" of Vietnam. The bridge represents a breakthrough, paving the way for the future and promising remarkable development in this potential area, home to the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Temple.

A long-held dream of the people of Cu Lao Dung.

Unable to hide his joy, Mr. Do Hoang Thoai, residing in Cho Hamlet, Cu Lao Dung Town, Cu Lao Dung District, expressed: “This April 30th, we, the people of Cu Lao Dung, are receiving three great joys: the opening of Dai Ngai 2 Bridge; the opportunity to consult on the merger of the province and become citizens of Can Tho City (a centrally-governed city); and the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the reunification of the country . Regarding the opening of Dai Ngai 2 Bridge across Cu Lao Dung, we are as happy as if we had won the lottery! Because there will be so many benefits for us.”

As a long-time resident of the area, in his twilight years, Mr. Thoai has witnessed countless hardships and deprivations faced by the people, the most significant being the inconvenience of transportation. “People waste a lot of time waiting for ferries, and in cases of serious illness, their lives are in danger. The high ferry fees and difficulties in transporting goods often lead to unfair pricing of agricultural products… But with the Dai Ngai bridge, that will no longer be the case. Currently, Cu Lao Dung is developing rapidly and will develop even more thanks to this Dai Ngai bridge. I'm so excited and looking forward to the bridge opening! As soon as vehicles can pass, I'll definitely rush to see it; I've heard it's very large-scale and beautiful,” Mr. Thoai thought to himself.

The Dai Ngai 2 bridge is about to open to traffic, a long-awaited dream for the people of Cu Lao Dung ( Soc Trang ).

Dai Ngai 2 Bridge is part of the Dai Ngai Bridge Construction Investment Project on National Highway 60 in Soc Trang and Tra Vinh provinces, with a total investment of nearly 8,000 billion VND. This project consists of two construction packages, of which package 11-XL (construction of Dai Ngai 2 Bridge and the road section) commenced in October 2023, and package 15-XL (Dai Ngai 1 Bridge) began construction in December 2024. Dai Ngai 2 Bridge and the 5km approach road on the Soc Trang side connect Cu Lao Dung district with Long Phu district ; the bridge section is over 862m long, 17.5m wide, with 13 spans (the main span is 330m long).

The bridge spanning the Hau River, connecting the two banks, is a source of joy and excitement for many. Mr. Doan Van Tam, residing in An Phu A hamlet, An Thanh Tay commune, Cu Lao Dung district, shared: “My house is nearby, and I keep coming out to see how far the Dai Ngai 2 bridge construction has progressed. We people are very excited; the bridge will ease some of the burden of ferry costs, and our income will increase. After the reunification of the country in 1950, Cu Lao Dung has experienced remarkable economic development, and living standards have improved. The Dai Ngai bridge will be a breakthrough for Cu Lao Dung in its future economic development.” Looking towards the bridge, which is about to open to traffic, and thinking about his ^10,000m² garden, Mr. Tam secretly rejoiced about a prosperous and happy life in the future.

The Dai Ngai Bridge project, once completed and connecting the entire National Highway 60, will enhance transportation capacity for the Mekong Delta region . This will create convenient transportation links between the southern coastal provinces and with Ho Chi Minh City . Specifically, it will shorten travel time, reduce transportation costs, expand trade, and eliminate the monopoly of National Highway 1A, shortening the distance by approximately 80km compared to National Highway 1A when traveling from Ca Mau, Soc Trang, and Bac Lieu to Ho Chi Minh City.

Cu Lao Dung Island is poised for future growth.

The Dai Ngai Bridge has had a significant impact on the strategic planning for the development of Cu Lao Dung district until 2040, with a vision to 2050. According to Mr. Tran Van Nguyen, Chairman of the People's Committee of Cu Lao Dung district, the plan aims to build the district into a livable place with a distinctive image that attracts tourists and investors, associated with a "green, ecological, and landscape-conserving brand, promoting cultural identity, ensuring national defense and security, and adapting to climate change." Cu Lao Dung town will be the core urban area, expanding to neighboring communes, serving as a foundation to accelerate urbanization and future development. The plan also focuses on building and developing smart cities and rural settlements that integrate with the riverine landscape, are environmentally friendly throughout the district, and improve the quality of life for residents while preserving local identity.

Regarding regional spatial development orientation, the entire district is divided into 3 sub-regions: Sub-region 1 for urban development - trade and services; Sub-region 2 for agricultural development combined with eco-tourism in orchards; and Sub-region 3 for the development of marine eco-tourism and trade services. The district will focus on attracting investment in several large-scale tourism development projects, such as: coastal resort areas bordering mangrove forests with a scale of 1,800 hectares; eco-tourism projects exploiting mangrove forests with a scale of 1,700 hectares and alluvial plains of approximately 16,000 hectares; the "Window to the Mekong Delta" tourist area with a scale of 200-250 hectares; the Vam Ho oasis tourist area with a scale of 250-300 hectares; the Monkey Island tourist area with a scale of 19-25 hectares; and the Long An village tourist area with a scale of 150-200 hectares. San Tien tourist area covers an area of ​​10-15 hectares...

With its immense potential and advantages, Cu Lao Dung has great potential for developing ecotourism. Upon completion of the Dai Ngai Bridge project, Cu Lao Dung district will be fully prepared to accelerate its socio-economic development, especially in tourism, and become a desirable place to live for both locals and tourists from within and outside the province, thanks to improved transportation infrastructure. Furthermore, with the merger aimed at streamlining the administrative apparatus and improving the efficiency of state management, the Cu Lao Dung area, which is expected to have two communes under the jurisdiction of Can Tho City (a centrally-governed city), promises many opportunities for development and breakthroughs. According to relevant authorities, due to current circumstances, the opening of the bridge (technical opening) is expected to take place in June 2025.

MORNING

Source: https://baosoctrang.org.vn/xa-hoi/202505/cau-dai-ngai-2-niem-vui-va-ky-vong-but-pha-vung-dao-ngoc-7f624b4/