Connecting the bridge of joy

Inauguration of Na Muoi Bridge, Hoi Hoan Commune

Unblocking the "blood vessels"

Just a few years ago, transportation for people in many communes in other particularly disadvantaged areas of the province was still a major concern. Every rainy season, the once gentle streams would become raging, cutting off villages and blocking the path to school for children or the routes used by people to sell their agricultural products.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Cuong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Chi Lang commune, shared: "The commune has a complex hilly terrain and is located at the headwaters of the Thuong River with many streams. During the rainy season, many villages are frequently cut off due to rapidly rising floodwaters. Given the unique natural terrain and the aspirations of the people, in the period 2021-2025, the commune mobilized resources to build sturdy concrete bridges to eliminate traffic congestion in the area. As a result, from 2021 to the end of 2025, the commune has reinforced 8 stream-crossing bridges with reinforced concrete structures at a total cost of over 5 billion VND, of which the people's land donations, labor contributions, and cash accounted for 30% of the project value."

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Dong, Director of Duc Tin Hung Loc Binh Private Enterprise

"Contributing a part of the company's strength"
to connect shores of joy

During the period 2021-2025, the company participated in the construction of 7 bridges and culverts throughout the province, using local budget funds combined with socialized capital (4 bridges to be completed in 2025). Of these, 6 projects were sponsored by Hoang Mai Star Primary, Secondary, and High School in Hanoi, with a total cost of nearly 10 billion VND, and 1 project was sponsored by us with 500 million VND. Given the high demand for rural transportation bridges in the province but limited state budget resources, we carefully calculated and reduced unnecessary costs while still ensuring the quality of the construction according to the design. Each completed bridge brings hope and a brighter future for the people in disadvantaged areas. At the same time, we also hope to contribute our part to the development of transportation in the province, creating a new look for the rural areas of Lang Son province as it joins the rest of the country in entering a new era.

In the early days of the new year, standing on the newly built bridge, Ms. Nguyen Thanh Le, a resident of Lang Ngua village, Chi Lang commune, recalled: "Previously, people wanting to travel from National Highway 1 to the old National Highway 1A had to cross a temporary bridge, which was very unsafe. To improve transportation conditions, the villagers contributed labor and resources to build a new bridge, but it was only large enough for motorbikes, making the trade of goods very inconvenient. In 2025, the government invested in building a new Lang Ngua bridge with a reinforced concrete structure, large enough for 5-ton trucks to cross. We, the people, are extremely happy and grateful to the Party and the State for their attention in resolving the traffic bottleneck in our village."

Meanwhile, in Thai Binh commune, the Doan Ket bridge project has helped 27 households in Pac Lan hamlet, Doan Ket village, to travel more conveniently and safely. Mr. Do Huu Thuy, a resident of Doan Ket village, shared: "The project not only facilitates transportation but also promotes the economic development of the hill and forest areas in the region, covering over 200 hectares, and creates favorable conditions for the safe operation of the Pac Lang irrigation reservoir during the rainy season."

Not only the two villages of Lang Ngua and Doan Ket, but also hundreds of villages and hamlets throughout the province have had their traffic congestion eliminated thanks to rural bridge projects funded by a combination of various sources of capital during the 2021-2025 period.

The power of unity

During the period 2021-2025, a strong "revolution" in rural transportation infrastructure took place. Communes focused on mobilizing resources and integrating various funding sources to build rural bridges. As a result, nearly 100 bridges were upgraded, replacing bamboo bridges, temporary bridges, and dangerous stream crossings, with a total cost of approximately 100 billion VND from both the state budget and social contributions.

A highlight in the rural bridge construction project is the approach of "State support, people's contributions, and joint efforts from businesses and organizations." According to statistics from 2021-2025, in the former Chi Lang district alone, 33 bridges have been paved with a total construction cost of over 20 billion VND through a socialized approach combined with district budget support. Of this, nearly 10 billion VND came from contributions from the people and organizations/businesses, with the remainder being state support in the form of cement and steel. Simultaneously, the province is also implementing a rural bridge construction project for the period 2024-2030, with 20 projects to be built in 2024 and 2025 with a total cost of over 40 billion VND.

Venerable Thich Ban Chung, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee and Head of the Social Charity Committee, Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Association of Lang Son Province.

"Working alongside the province to build bridges for the people"

During the period 2021-2025, the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Association of Lang Son province supported the construction of 22 bridges throughout the province with a total cost of over 3 billion VND. In the period 2026-2030, to effectively implement Resolution No. 44 dated December 10, 2025, of the Provincial People's Council on the Project for the Development of Rural Transportation in Lang Son province, the Executive Board will continue to mobilize monks, nuns, Buddhists inside and outside the province, and businesses, striving to support at least two bridges for the people each year, with each bridge receiving 100 million VND in support.

The positive impact of bridges built through the joint efforts of the State and the community has instilled in the people unwavering confidence in the Party's policies and the State's guidelines. From the bags of cement provided by the State to the cubic meters of stone transported by the people themselves, everything has culminated in sturdy bridge spans.

Ms. To Thi Ngan, from Hoa Lac village, Hoi Hoan commune, happily walked across the Na Vai bridge on its inauguration day: "To facilitate the project's timely implementation, my family donated 40 square meters of land to build the access road to the bridge."

This spring, the journey to the villages in Lang Son seems shorter. On the newly built bridges, the red of the Party flag and the national flag flutters, mingling with the white and pink of peach and plum blossoms. Trucks loaded with agricultural products can now travel directly from the orchards to the town. The laughter and chatter of students going to school on the smooth concrete bridge echoes through the forest, heralding a brighter future.

Mr. Hoang Van Pit, residing in Na Soong neighborhood, Dong Kinh ward (formerly Yen Trach commune), happily said: "In the past, I never dreamed there would be such a big and beautiful bridge to safely cross the stream, but thanks to the attention of the Party and the State, this Tet holiday, my children and grandchildren returning home no longer have to worry about crossing the unsafe temporary bridge."

As Spring 2026 approaches, walking across the new bridges amidst the vast forests of Lang Son, we are filled with emotion and a clear sense of new vitality and momentum. It is a symphony of the people's hearts and the Party's will, a bridge guiding Lang Son to rise strongly in the new year.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/bai-xuan-nhung-cay-cau-mang-mua-xuan-den-vung-kho-5072078.html