Bridge of love on Tao Nguon canal

The bridge is 25m long, 3.5m wide, with a total cost of 340 million VND, sponsored by nun Dieu Hoa - Abbot of Ky Quang Pagoda ( Ho Chi Minh City) and the volunteer group Tu Bi Co Bay. This is one of the key projects in the series of military-civilian Tet activities launched by the Provincial Steering Committee, with the meaning of connecting the two banks, opening the way for people in rural areas.

Colonel Cao Minh Tam - Deputy Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Organizing Committee for the 2026 Provincial Military-Civilian Tet activities shared: "Despite the large workload, when assigned the task of constructing a bridge to serve the people, the officers and soldiers were very enthusiastic. Each person considered this an honor, a way to demonstrate the spirit of serving the people in peacetime."

The bridge gradually formed from the strength of military-civilian solidarity. Photo: HUU DANG

Early in the morning, at the construction site, soldiers in green shirts, along with union members, youths, militiamen and local people started working. Some mixed concrete, some carried iron, some poured sand, some poured rocks… everyone worked urgently and rhythmically. Sweat soaked their shirts, but joy still shone in every smile. That joy came from sharing, from the thought that today’s efforts would help people in the future travel more conveniently and safely.

Soldier Nguyen Hoang Khoi, Defense Command of Region 3 - Kien Luong confided: "We are happy to contribute to building the bridge, doing something useful for the people, for the homeland. Each brick, each bag of cement carries the sentiments of Uncle Ho's soldiers in peacetime". Not only the soldiers, but also the local people enthusiastically contributed. Some households cooked rice, some brought water, some contributed extra work as construction workers. Mr. Le Minh Tuan, resident of Tan Dien hamlet happily said: "Seeing the soldiers come to build the bridge, everyone was excited. In a few weeks, the bridge will connect the two banks, bringing joy and confidence to the people in my village". It was the unanimity that breathed life into the project, turning the inanimate concrete blocks into a symbol of the close relationship between the army and the people.

The military-civilian Tet has become a beautiful tradition of the provincial armed forces. Every "Tet" season, dozens of practical works and projects are deployed in remote, isolated, and border areas where people's lives are still difficult. These are bridges, roads, houses of love, and gifts to share to make people feel warmer. According to Colonel Cao Minh Tam, the military-civilian Tet is not only an occasion for officers and soldiers to show gratitude to the people - those who always love and protect the army, but also an opportunity for the armed forces to contribute with the locality to take care of people's lives, strengthening people's trust in the Party, the State and the army.

Not only the Kenh Tao Nguon Bridge, on this occasion, many other civil works such as Kenh Chin Bridge, Kenh Tu Bridge... were also started and inaugurated, with a total construction cost of billions of VND from socialized sources, contributed by businesses, volunteer groups and the people. Each completed project is a joy, a new belief multiplied. Mr. Nguyen Van Cop - Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Association commented: "The works in the military-civilian Tet program have both material value and profound political and social significance. This is a testament to the policy of people knowing, people discussing, people doing, people checking, people enjoying, and is the result of the spirit of consensus and solidarity among the people".

From those projects and tasks, hundreds of poor households were supported to repair their houses, create livelihoods, and thousands of gifts were given to people in border areas. That is the "Tet" of affection - where the relationship between the army and the people is nurtured through concrete actions and sincere sharing. As the years pass, each Tet season between the army and the people leaves its own mark, but the common point is still the heart and spirit of dedication of soldiers in peacetime. From the hands covered with lime and mortar, from the drops of sweat, the image of the An Giang soldiers becomes more familiar and close.

The small bridge in the middle of Hoa Dien countryside will forever be a true “source channel” - creating strength, faith, and inspiration for the local revolutionary movement. Each bridge span, each road connecting the two banks, connecting the hearts of soldiers and people, adds energy for An Giang to firmly step on the journey of building new rural areas, firmly maintaining the Fatherland's borders.

GIA KHANH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/nhip-cau-nghia-tinh-tren-kenh-tao-nguon-a466256.html