The road connecting Lam Thuong commune with Tan Phuong commune (formerly part of Luc Yen district, Yen Bai province), now Lam Thuong commune, Lao Cai province, was a nightmare for residents many years ago due to its narrow width, dilapidated condition, and numerous potholes. After the historic Yagi typhoon and flood, many sections suffered even more severe landslides, the roadbed peeled off, and the drainage culverts were damaged. In some places, one side was a deep ravine, the other a cracked embankment, making it impossible for motorbikes to be pushed, cars to pass, agricultural products difficult to sell, and the lives of the people severely affected.
Residents voluntarily demolished hundreds of meters of fences and 12 sturdy house gates to make way for road widening.
Following the storms and floods, local authorities have implemented temporary repairs to ensure essential transportation remains operational. However, due to limited resources and the complex terrain, residents still hope for a new road to facilitate travel and trade.
And then, that aspiration became a reality when the State decided to invest in the emergency repair project for the Mai Son – Lam Thuong – Tan Phuong road, now located in Lam Thuong commune, Lao Cai province. The project has a total investment of 35 billion VND, commenced at the end of August 2025, and focuses on repairing the roadbed, surface, and drainage system damaged by storms and traffic. A special feature of the project is that no land acquisition costs were allocated, as approximately 40 households directly affected readily donated a portion of their land, trees, and auxiliary structures for the common good of the community.
Residents of Lam Thuong commune living along the road voluntarily donated land and cut down more than 2,500 trees to facilitate the rapid implementation of the road repair and upgrade project.
The family of Ms. Trieu Thi Luu, residing in Khe Phao village, Lam Thuong commune, has donated a significant area of land and approximately 600 four-year-old cinnamon trees to expand and straighten the road.
"My husband and I thought that if we wanted a wide, beautiful road through our village to make travel and business easier, we should donate the land we owned along the road to the government. Now we have a beautiful, good road, and traveling and celebrating Tet will be safer," shared Ms. Trieu Thi Luu.
Ms. Trieu Thi Luu said that her family owns land along the road, and they will donate as much as the government takes to build a beautiful road.
Mr. Trieu Van Tho, from Khieng Khun village (formerly part of Tan Phuong commune), was also greatly affected, having to fill in part of his pond, cut down more than 300 cinnamon trees, and give up about 350 square meters of land along the road to expand the route.
"We have little arable land, and building roads takes up a lot of it, which is heartbreaking. But for the common good of the village, my family doesn't mind donating land to the State for expansion. Now that we have a beautiful road just before the New Year, it's convenient for students and adults to travel, and everyone is happy, so I'm very happy too," Mr. Tho said.
Mr. Trieu Van Tho's cinnamon plantation land in Khieng Khun village was partially ceded for road expansion.
Sharing the same joy, Ms. Ban Thi Men, a resident of Bo Mi village, Lam Thuong commune, said: "Before, this road was very narrow and in poor condition, with collapsed culverts, dusty in the sun, and muddy in the rain, making travel very difficult. Now that the government is building a new, wider road, my family voluntarily dismantled our fence and filled in our rice fields to donate land for the project to be completed quickly. Now we have a wide, beautiful road to celebrate Tet, and all of us are very happy."
The emergency road repair project on Mai Son Road focuses on repairing the roadbed, surface, and drainage system damaged by storms and traffic.
Mr. Au Van Tinh, Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee of Lam Thuong commune, said that from the very beginning of the project, propaganda and mobilization efforts were prioritized. As a result, people voluntarily demolished hundreds of meters of fences, 12 sturdy house gates, cut down nearly 2,500 trees of various sizes, and donated more than 5,100 square meters of land to widen the road, with some sections exceeding 8 meters in width.
During the construction process, the local authorities also closely coordinated with the investor to supervise and ensure the progress and quality of the project.
A unique aspect of the project is that no land acquisition costs were allocated, as approximately 40 households directly affected were willing to donate a portion of their land, trees, and auxiliary structures for the common good of the community.
"To achieve that consensus, the Fatherland Front regularly takes the initiative, closely monitors the people's thoughts and aspirations, and motivates them. We focus on disseminating information to households affected by the project so they understand the benefits upon completion; at the same time, we mobilize members to support families in cutting down trees and dismantling fences to promptly hand over the land to the construction unit, and promptly reward exemplary households," Mr. Au Van Tinh added.
The close coordination between the people, local authorities, and the investor has created a synergistic strength, helping to quickly resolve obstacles, especially at locations where roadbed widening, curve cutting, and culvert replacement are technical bottlenecks of the project.
In the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), the construction site remains bustling with the sounds of machinery and workers, striving to complete all items before the holiday.
Amidst the chilly weather of the highlands in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), the construction site remains bustling with the sound of machinery. Mr. Le Xuan Vinh, Deputy Director of Cuong Thinh Company – one of the two construction units on the route – said that despite the tight deadline, unfavorable weather, and difficult construction conditions, the company has mobilized maximum manpower, machinery, and equipment to ensure quality, safety, and progress, determined to complete the project before this year's Lunar New Year.
"The contractor proposed a solution to switch to smaller-capacity vehicles and increase the number of vehicles to speed up the material delivery process. During construction, we divided the work into smaller items, increased the density of teams, added more workers, and selected teams with good expertise and technical skills. Fortunately, throughout the implementation process, the local people enthusiastically responded and supported us," said Mr. Le Xuan Vinh.
The road, completed just before the New Year, has brought joy and excitement to the people of Lam Thuong as they celebrate Tet and enjoy the spring festivities.
On the last afternoon of the year, trucks loaded with kumquats, peach blossoms, and other Tet (Lunar New Year) goods lined up to enter the village. The sounds of laughter and conversation mingled with the roar of engines, creating a warm springtime scene in the highlands. The new road now not only connects the villages but also opens up new opportunities, linking the hopes and dreams of a more prosperous and fulfilling life for the people of Lam Thuong highlands.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/tuyen-duong-noi-nhung-uoc-mo-post894057.html
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