In early December, reporters traveled along a more than 16-kilometer stretch of road from the center of Muong Xen commune to the border villages. Throughout the journey, dozens of landslides of varying sizes were observed. Many sections of the embankment were deeply eroded, with rocks and soil from the mountains collapsing onto the road, creating large mounds that blocked the passage. The already narrow road was now reduced to a small passage barely wide enough for motorbikes to squeeze through. This damage, which has persisted for many years without thorough repairs, has severely impacted the lives of the local people.
Ms. Lau Y My, from Hoa Son village, Muong Xen commune, said that whenever it rains, water from the mountains overflows onto the road, and heavy rain causes landslides to occur constantly. “There are large landslides where motorbikes and cars have to stop and wait for each other to pass. It takes us hours to get through just a few hundred meters of road. If a truck passes, pedestrians have to hug the embankment, which is very dangerous because the road is so narrow. Traveling on this road is like gambling with luck,” Ms. My shared.
Following the heavy rains and floods of 2025, the erosion situation worsened significantly. Many sections of asphalt have peeled off, exposing the muddy red soil underneath. Some sections have been deeply eroded, creating "death traps" that pose a constant risk of accidents. Whenever it rains, the road is almost completely paralyzed. Not only does this make travel difficult, but the deteriorated road also disrupts trade, as it is the only route for transporting agricultural products from the highland villages of Na Ngoi and Muong Xen to the (former) district center or down to the lowlands.
Mr. Vu No Bi, from Huoi Giang 3 village, Muong Xen commune, said that during each harvest season, villagers have to transport corn, rice, and vegetables to the commune center to sell. However, the damaged road makes it easy for motorbikes carrying goods to slip and fall, while trucks cannot get through. Many shipments have to turn back, resulting in damaged agricultural products and reduced value. Traveling by motorbike is difficult, and walking is also difficult. The villagers hope that the authorities will soon repair the road to make travel more convenient.
According to our research, the old Muong Xen – Tay Son road was constructed starting in 2009 with a total investment of approximately 60 billion VND. This is a vital transportation route, serving the needs of travel and goods transport, connecting border villages with the commune center and surrounding areas. However, after more than 15 years of use and enduring the harsh effects of natural disasters, the road has seriously deteriorated. Although the local authorities have repeatedly mobilized forces for temporary repairs, due to limited funds, the repairs have only been patchwork and do not guarantee long-term safety.
Mr. Lo Dinh Thu, Chairman of the People's Committee of Muong Xen commune, said that continuous storms and natural disasters have severely damaged the road. The authorities have tried to repair it, but resources are too limited, so only temporary repairs can be done. “Before the merger of the two levels of government, a project to renovate this road was planned, but due to funding issues, it has not been implemented to date. To ensure the safety of the people and promote economic development, we request that the higher authorities allocate funds for repairs as soon as possible,” Mr. Thu said.
The prolonged deterioration of the road is becoming the biggest bottleneck in the socio-economic development of the western border region of Nghe An province. Investing in upgrading the road is not only an urgent requirement to ensure traffic safety, but also an important driving force to help people stabilize their lives, develop production, and connect trade.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/xa-hoi/nghe-an-hang-nghin-nguoi-dan-vung-bien-khon-kho-vi-tuyen-duong-doc-dao-xuong-cap-nghiem-trong-20251212135342514.htm
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