Both banks of Tam Giang, from Vinh Tu ferry - Con Toc

The ferry trips are bumpy.

At 4 a.m., in the chilly, drizzly weather due to the influence of storm No. 9, Ms. Le Thi Van (71 years old, Phuoc Thanh village, old Quang An commune - now Quang Dien commune) loaded her bicycle full of vegetables and hurriedly headed towards Con Toc ferry. She had to wake up early to catch the ferry across Tam Giang lagoon to bring vegetables to the old Quang Ngan market (now Phong Quang ward) to sell to customers.

Sitting on the swaying boat, the sound of the engine sputtering, looking at the shimmering water below her feet, Mrs. Van longed: "There must be a bridge across the lagoon so that our people can avoid having to cross the river, especially when the rainy and stormy season comes."

For generations, Tam Giang has not only been a vast body of water, but also a livelihood for tens of thousands of residents on both banks. From ferries carrying heavy loads of goods to ferries carrying students and officials back and forth between the two ferry piers: Vinh Tu - Con Toc.

Children from the communes of the old Quang Dien district (now Quang Dien and Dan Dien communes) also often take boats to cross the Tam Giang lagoon to the other side to participate in cultural, artistic, physical education and sports activities. Hard-working traders like Mrs. Van are also familiar with the scene of "crossing the river by boat".

Mr. Tran The Lu, Head of the ferry team of Con Toc - Vinh Tu recalls: “In the past, the team had 8 ferries, now there are only 4. Every day, the ferries take cadres, students, and people back and forth. Looking at the other side, it seems close, but taking the ferry feels vast and distant. The dream of having a bridge is very legitimate. When the bridge is built, the ferry team will disband, but I will not be sad but happy. I am happy because my hometown has a new bridge, happy because people can travel more conveniently and safely.”

Mr. Lu's words touched the hearts of many generations. For many families, the ferry trips were associated with memories of people missing their trips to the market, students arriving late to class because of the rain and wind, and even tragic accidents. Therefore, the desire for a bridge across Tam Giang lagoon is not simply for convenience in travel, but also a wish for a safer and more developed future.

From Con Toc ferry to Vinh Tu, teacher Tran Huu Tham, working at Quang Cong Primary School, shared: “Every rainy season, the travel of cadres from Quang Dien to Quang Cong, old Quang Ngan (now Phong Quang ward) is very inconvenient and dangerous. Not only teachers and cadres but also traders, everyone hopes to have a bridge.”

“There were days when the storms came, the water level on Tam Giang lagoon rose so high that teachers and students had to take a week off school because they couldn’t cross by ferry. There were also times when people had to go to the emergency room and had to go all the way to Highway 49 and back, wasting the “golden time” for treatment. Crossing the lagoon was like crossing two worlds ,” Mr. Tham pondered.

Tam Giang - Cau Hai is the largest lagoon system in Southeast Asia, where many rivers and estuaries meet. In the south, there are Tu Hien, Truong Ha, and Thuan An bridges; in the north, there is Tam Giang bridge. In the Con Toc - Vinh Tu area, there has not yet been a bridge built across the lagoon, and people are traveling by ferry, despite the constant danger.

Mr. Nguyen Van Loi, Party Cell Secretary, Head of Vinh Tu Residential Group (Phong Quang Ward) expressed: "Generations of students, cadres, and people have been attached to this ferry, witnessing many changes, joys and sorrows. Now everyone hopes to soon see the shape of the bridge across the lagoon. That is our biggest dream."

Con Toc - Vinh Tu ferry is a 2km long waterway connecting the two banks of Tam Giang lagoon, one side is Vinh Tu (Phong Quang ward) and the other side is Con Toc (Dan Dien commune).

Bridge of Desire

Not only is it a matter of transportation, Vinh Tu Bridge also has great significance for socio -economic development. This is an area of ​​agricultural production, fishing and aquaculture, so all agricultural products, seafood, supplies and materials need a smooth road for trade. When the bridge is completed, the distance from the fishing villages along the lagoon to the economic and cultural center of Hue City will be shortened.

Traffic experts say that Vinh Tu Bridge will be an important link to the connection system of National Highways 49A, 49B and Provincial Roads 4, 6, 11, 14, 15... forming a complete "fishbone" shape. The construction of the bridge will promote economic development, strengthen national defense and security along the coastal area of ​​more than 120km. During the rainy and stormy season, the bridge is also a safe escape route, helping to evacuate people inland, reducing the risk of natural disasters. For people in coastal areas, this is a solid support, ensuring the safety of life and property.

Mr. Ho Quang Minh, former Secretary of the District Party Committee, former Chairman of the People's Committee of the old Quang Dien district - who was always concerned with this dream, shared: "Generations of leaders and people have longed for a Vinh Tu bridge connecting to Con Toc wharf, but due to limited resources, they were powerless. Now that the homeland is growing, Hue has become a city directly under the Central Government, this is the ripe time to turn the dream into reality."

As expected, the policy of building Vinh Tu bridge has been officially put on the agenda. The Management Board of Hue City Traffic Construction Investment Project has submitted to the City People's Committee for approval of the investment policy and construction of Vinh Tu bridge.

Accordingly, Vinh Tu bridge is about 3,240m long; of which the main bridge is 2,360m long, the approach roads at both ends are about 880m long. The cross-section is 15.5m wide, with synchronous investment in sidewalks, trees, lighting, drainage and safety items. The total investment capital is expected to be more than 1,500 billion VND.

Mr. Nguyen Dang Truong, Director of the Hue City Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board, affirmed: “The need is clear, the policy is available, the investment proposal report has been completed, just waiting for approval from the City People's Committee. Once approved, this will be one of the key projects in the 2026 - 2030 period.”

Planners emphasize that Vinh Tu bridge not only serves Quang Dien or Phong Quang, but also connects the entire Ngu Dien area, creating a new coastal growth pole of Hue City.

People who want to go to the other side of Tam Giang lagoon have to rely on ferries.

"Today I take the ferry, tomorrow my children and grandchildren will walk on a sturdy bridge"

Vinh Tu Bridge, when completed, will not only be a traffic project, but also a symbol of faith and change. It will open up opportunities for people to develop eco-tourism, exploit the potential of the largest lagoon in Southeast Asia, and gradually escape poverty and become rich.

Above all, the bridge will put an end to the situation of “crossing the river by boat”, the worry of being tossed about in the vast waves on rainy and windy days. It is also a testament to the concern of the Party, the State, and authorities at all levels for the lives of people in coastal areas that are still facing many difficulties.

I suddenly remembered the words of Mrs. Le Thi Van at Vinh Tu ferry: "Today I still take the ferry, tomorrow my children and grandchildren will walk on the sturdy bridge. I just hope I am still healthy to see the bridge reaching out across Tam Giang lagoon."

Mr. Hoang Van Binh, Chairman of Phong Quang Ward People's Committee, expects: "The locality has coordinated with the Project Management Board of Traffic Construction Investment in Hue City to monitor the progress, and at the same time review and prepare for site clearance, including resettlement if any. When Vinh Tu Bridge is completed, it will create a strong driving force for development in Phong Quang area and Ngu Dien areas, forming a new growth pole in the coastal strip of Tam Giang lagoon."

Con Toc - Vinh Tu ferry has witnessed many stories of everyday life: Mothers struggling to make a living, children happily carrying their books to school, officials and civil servants overcoming storms to be on time for meetings and work... All have the same wish, one day they will walk on the new, spacious bridge connecting the two banks.

And when Vinh Tu bridge stretches out to connect the two banks of Tam Giang, it will be a bridge of happiness - connecting the present with the future, connecting faith with expectation, connecting the banks of joy of many generations of people of Quang Dien - Phong Quang and the coastal area of ​​Ngu Dien.

Article and photos: PHONG ANH

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/kinh-te/xay-dung-giao-thong/cau-vinh-tu-vuot-pha-tam-giang-khat-vong-bao-doi-sap-thanh-hien-thuc-158412.html