To harvest forest products, people in Son Dien commune have to cross the Luong River to the other side, which is both dangerous and increases transportation costs.
Crossing the river with faith and luck.
Without a bridge, the people of Son Dien commune rely mainly on rafts and makeshift cable cars to cross the Luong River. According to village elders, many households used to live on the other side of the river, an area suitable for rice cultivation, bamboo and cassava farming, and livestock breeding. However, due to the difficult transportation, children had to cross the river by raft to get to school, posing many dangers, so families were forced to move to the other bank. This resulted in residential areas on one side and agricultural land, cemeteries, and other facilities on the other. Every day, going to the fields or into the forest, the people begin by "gambling" with danger as they cross the Luong River.
Mr. Lo Van Tinh, residing in Ngam village, said: "My family has 4 sao (approximately 0.4 hectares) of rice paddies, over 1 hectare of bamboo plantation, and a livestock breeding system, all located on the other side of the Luong River. Every harvest season is a worry. Agricultural products transported across the river are swept away by the water, which happens all the time, especially during the rainy season. But the most frightening thing is still the loss of human lives. Slipping and falling into the river is not uncommon."
In Tan Son village, Mr. Vi Van Phuc shares the same concerns. His family owns 5 sao (approximately 0.5 hectares) of rice paddies, over 3 hectares of land planted with bamboo and rattan, and livestock pens, all located on the other side of the river. During harvest season, transporting agricultural products is extremely difficult. Some people have even been involved in accidents crossing the river by raft. During the rainy season and floods, even a slight misstep can be life-threatening. Significantly, this is the end of the year, the peak season for harvesting bamboo. However, to harvest and transport the bamboo out of the forest, villagers are forced to cross the river by raft because the entire bamboo-growing area is on the other side. According to the locals, if there were a solid bridge, trucks could reach the bamboo collection point. The lack of a bridge drives up costs, further eroding the already low profits from bamboo cultivation.
Along the Luong River section flowing through Son Dien commune, it's easy to spot numerous makeshift river crossings built by local residents. In Ngam village alone, there are four such small crossings, serving the transportation and production needs of the people. These crossings share a common characteristic: rudimentary vessels, a lack of safety measures or warning signs, and crossing the river relies solely on experience. Transporting agricultural products, construction materials, and even livestock across the river poses significant risks.
We need a "key" to unlock development.
The lack of a bridge across the Luong River not only affects daily life but also hinders the long-term development of the locality. Agricultural and forestry production areas and cemeteries of the villages are all located on the other side of the river, while the residential clusters are concentrated on the opposite bank. This division creates many obstacles in planning, expanding production space, arranging residential areas, and developing infrastructure for the commune.
According to the land use plan until 2030, Son Dien commune is considering relocating residents to the other side of the Luong River to stabilize the population and expand residential and agricultural land. In particular, the cemeteries and production areas in Ngam, Tan Son, and Nhai villages are located on the other side of the Luong River. Currently, Ngam village is being developed for community tourism , but the limited residential land is a major bottleneck.
The request for investment in a sturdy bridge across the Luong River has been repeatedly raised by voters in Son Dien commune at voter outreach meetings. This request has been officially considered and responded to by the Ministry of Construction . In Document No. 15284/BXD-KHTC dated December 16, 2025, sent to the Thanh Hoa Provincial National Assembly Delegation, the Ministry of Construction stated that it had received the request from voters in Son Dien commune regarding the investment in the construction of a sturdy bridge across the Luong River, along with a 7km long local road along the riverbank. The proposal includes a bridge with a roadbed width of 6.5m, a cement concrete deck, and aims to serve transportation, production, and the construction of a multi-level boarding school for the area. After study, the Ministry of Construction affirmed that investing in a sturdy bridge across the Luong River is necessary, meeting the needs for transportation, socio-economic development, and population stability for the villages of Tan Son, Nhai, Na Nghiu, Na Loc, and Ngam. However, according to the Road Law, this road and bridge are under the management of the local road system. The Ministry of Construction requests the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province to direct relevant units to conduct a thorough study and assessment, and proactively allocate local budget resources to implement the project.
Previously, the former Quan Son district had proposed replacing two suspension bridges in Bon village (Muong Min commune) and Loi village (Trung Ha commune) with reinforced concrete bridges. If this plan were implemented, these suspension bridges would be relocated to Son Dien commune. However, to date, the plan remains only a proposal.
According to Pham Van Tinh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Son Dien commune: "Investing in a sturdy bridge across the Luong River is extremely urgent, not only to ensure traffic safety but also to serve production development, land planning, attract investment in forest product processing, and promote community tourism. If there is a bridge connecting to National Highway 217, the travel time to the Ngam village community tourism destination will be significantly shortened, creating momentum for the development of the entire area."
Text and photos: Dinh Giang
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/chong-chenh-qua-song-luong-276454.htm
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