Thuong Nhat Bridge - A gift from formerPresident Tran Duc Luong in Nam Dong (now Phu Loc)

In 2003, during a visit and work trip to Thua Thien Hue (now Hue City), former President Tran Duc Luong took time to visit two mountainous districts of A Luoi and Nam Dong (now Phu Loc district).

Former Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee (now the City Party Committee) Ho Xuan Man recalled that that evening I directly told former President Tran Duc Luong that he had just inspected the Ho Chi Minh trail and visited the people of A Luoi. Knowing the news, the Party Committee and the people of the mountainous district really wanted him to visit. This was our first mountainous district to receive the title of Hero in the renovation period. What did you think?

Hearing my suggestion, he agreed.

So the next morning, April 27, 2003, former President Tran Duc Luong visited Nam Dong (now Phu Loc). Accompanying him was former Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Xuan Gia.

After listening to the then Secretary of the Nam Dong District Party Committee, Mr. Ho Tui, report on the socio-economic situation of the district as well as the solidarity and mutual assistance between the Kinh people who had gone to the new economic zone and the Co Tu ethnic group, former President Tran Duc Luong asked: "So does the district have any suggestions?"

The Deputy Secretary of Nam Dong District Party Committee at that time - Mr. Ho Trong Kinh then said: Report to the President, although the district was awarded the title of Hero in the renovation period, the infrastructure of the district has not been invested synchronously. Currently, in Thuong Nhat commune - where the Co Tu people live, they are practicing wet rice cultivation, but due to the remote traffic, traveling is still difficult. The wish of the Party Committee and the people of Thuong Nhat is only to ask the President for a bridge.

The meeting ended and as requested, the leaders of Nam Dong district directly brought the former President to inspect. Seeing him appear, the people of Thuong Nhat rushed to welcome him.

Seeing that the people were still suffering, the former President concluded: "This is a legitimate aspiration, so I propose that the bridge work be given to Mr. Ho Xuan Man; and the capital be given to Mr. Tran Xuan Gia."

Because the traffic project was not large, after only half a year of construction, Thuong Nhat Bridge was completed. The Co Tu people here were very happy and named it “Tran Duc Luong Bridge.”

Pham Huu Thu

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-tri-xa-hoi/theo-dong-thoi-su/mon-qua-nguyen-chu-tich-nuoc-tran-duc-luong-tang-nhan-dan-thuong-nhat-153951.html