Quang Ngai people brave dangerous river crossing
More than 2,000 local people in Son Ba Commune in the central province of Quang Ngai's Son Ha District have to cross a large river by raft guided by rope.
A local man named Dinh Van La who has a hand-made raft said that the raft could not be used when the water lever is high.
"We have to use boat when the water rises," he said. "the fare is VND 2,000 per adult and VND 2,000 per motorbike, students are free.
Nguyen Thi Thu Trinh, 60, said that they used to have a wooden bridge but it was swept away in a strong flood.
Meanwhile, Commune Party Sectary Dinh Van Na said that the commune's budget was too limited so a bridge still remained a dream.
The commune, which is some 30 kilometres from the district's centre, has six villages isolated by the Re River. When it was calm, 629 families in the villages will cross the river either by hanging onto the rope or via rafts made from tires, but when the river floods, they are totally isolated from the outside world.
Students crossing the river to school
On a rainy day in mid-November, local people were found travelling across the river using a four-metre square raft, guided along with rope.
A rope fastened to a tree root
The six villages are home to 2,533
people, most of whom are from the H're ethnic minority group. 234
students have to cross the river everyday to their school.
According to Tran Duy Hung, headmaster of Son Ba Secondary School, after schooltime, his students have to walk 2 kilometres to the river bank before climbing along the rope.
"When it rains, we are all very worried about the student's safety," he said.
"Sometimes when a flood suddenly comes, the students have to stay overnight at school."
According to Tran Duy Hung, headmaster of Son Ba Secondary School, after schooltime, his students have to walk 2 kilometres to the river bank before climbing along the rope.
"When it rains, we are all very worried about the student's safety," he said.
"Sometimes when a flood suddenly comes, the students have to stay overnight at school."
Walking along the river, a DTInews reporter saw seven ropes of this kind fastened to tree roots or bamboo thickets.
A raft which helps carry goods on the river
A local man named Dinh Van La who has a hand-made raft said that the raft could not be used when the water lever is high.
"We have to use boat when the water rises," he said. "the fare is VND 2,000 per adult and VND 2,000 per motorbike, students are free.
Nguyen Thi Thu Trinh, 60, said that they used to have a wooden bridge but it was swept away in a strong flood.
Meanwhile, Commune Party Sectary Dinh Van Na said that the commune's budget was too limited so a bridge still remained a dream.
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