The swaying Ma River

Passengers take a boat across the river.

I got off the ferry to go to Thiet Giang village when the villagers were already waiting in large numbers. For many people, this was the second ferry trip of the day. They said they went early to the shopping center to return home on time for work. For generations, the villagers of Thiet Giang village have been accustomed to taking a ferry across the river whenever they want to leave the village or when students go to school... In the dry season, it is bearable, but in the rainy season, the Ma River changes color, the water swirls red, the ferry stops operating, and the entire area on the left bank of the Ma River is isolated like an "oasis".

Ms. Bui Thi Tuyet, Party Secretary of Thiet Giang village, said: The village has 160 households and 780 people. In addition to taking a boat across the river to get to the commune center, people and students going to school... still have another option, which is to go around La Han bridge and then go back nearly 20km. The road is long, so most people choose to take the boat.

“Students are on summer vacation right now, but during the school year, early in the morning or at rush hour, the ferry is always crowded with people, and you have to wait in line for your turn,” said Ms. Tuyet.

In reality, people in Thiet Giang village mainly do agriculture , but the products are very difficult to sell because of the traffic barriers. In case there are traders to buy, people have to pay extra transportation costs, after deducting all investment costs, the profit is not much. Particularly for the construction of roads within the village or the people building houses, the problem of transporting construction materials is also very inconvenient.

To reduce the risk of insecurity and ensure safety for people crossing the Ma River by ferry, since 2015, Thiet Ong commune has established a model of "Safe Traffic Ferry" operated by the commune's youth volunteer team. Members propagate and remind people to wear life jackets, check passenger vehicles, control waterways, put up signs, and are on duty during high tide days. However, this is only a temporary solution.

According to the reporter's investigation, on the left side of the Ma River, in addition to Thiet Giang village, there are also Quyet Thang, Chun, and Chieng villages. The economic development of the people here is limited due to the lack of roads connecting to the commune and district centers. If investment is made to build a bridge connecting National Highway 217 to Thiet Giang village, it will serve the travel and trading needs of local people and neighboring communes.

In many meetings with voters, local people have proposed and expressed their desire to build a solid bridge. The good news is that the Dong Tam urban center bridge construction project, including a bridge connecting National Highway 217 to Thiet Giang village, has been included in the list of medium-term public investment plans for the 2026-2030 period with an estimated budget of 168 billion VND. If the bridge is built, it will not only be a traffic project, but also a "livelihood bridge" that opens the door to development for the entire region.

Before leaving the ferry terminal in Thiet Giang village, I met a 6th grader and asked him if he wished for a solid bridge. His answer left me speechless: “I wish for a new bridge so that my parents would not have to worry when I go to school. With a bridge, I will ride my bike to school.”

Article and photos: Dinh Giang

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/chong-chanh-ma-giang-253017.htm