Proposal to soon put Con Khuong ferry back into operation

For nearly 5 years, Con Khuong ferry terminal (in Cai Khe ward, Can Tho city) connecting with Thanh Loi ferry terminal (in Tan Quoi commune, Vinh Long province) has stopped operating. This has not only caused great disruption to people's travel and daily life but also put dozens of members of Thanh Loi Transport Cooperative in a difficult situation.

Con Khuong ferry terminal has stopped operating and is only a parking lot for residents.

Previously, Con Khuong ferry helped people and vehicles travel quickly between Can Tho and Vinh Long. Therefore, when the ferry suddenly stopped operating, people, especially workers and small traders, were forced to go around Can Tho bridge. This route is 10-15km further, extending travel time by about 40 minutes each way. Mr. Nguyen Van Tinh, a resident of Tan Quoi commune, Vinh Long province, complained: "The ferry stopped operating, making it extremely difficult for us to travel. I work in the center of Can Tho city, and it used to take only about 15 minutes to cross the river. Now, it takes me more than half an hour to ride a motorbike around Can Tho bridge to get to the city center."

Mr. Nguyen Van Vu, also from Tan Quoi commune, said: “I make a living by selling vegetables. I often transport vegetables to wholesale markets in the center of Can Tho city. For the past few years, the ferry has stopped operating, I have to drive around the Can Tho bridge, which is quite far, costing more money and time. I recommend that relevant agencies and sectors consider and soon put the Con Khuong ferry back into operation so that people can travel and trade more conveniently.”

Mr. Thai Cong Danh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Thanh Loi Transport Cooperative, Tan Quoi Commune, said that the unit is in correspondence with Con Khuong ferry terminal. In 2018, the People's Committee of Ninh Kieu District (old) organized an auction of Con Khuong ferry terminal for a period of 3 years (2018-2021). At that time, the winning unit of the auction of the ferry terminal on Con Khuong side and Thanh Loi Transport Cooperative signed a correspondence agreement, each side operating 15 days per month. However, the winning bidder for Con Khuong ferry terminal only operated for more than 1 year and then stopped in July 2020. Mr. Thai Cong Danh informed: "When the winning bidder for Con Khuong ferry terminal stopped operating, we contacted the People's Committee of Ninh Kieu District and were allowed to operate in correspondence with the form of running days and days off. In 2021, due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, we were forced to stop completely and the district informed us that it would re-organize the auction".

According to Mr. Danh, up to now, the Con Khuong ferry has not been auctioned to resume operations. Therefore, since 2021, the lives of 28 members of the cooperative have faced many difficulties due to lack of income. "In addition, when the ferry is not operating, the cooperative has to rent a mooring area and hire ferry watchmen at a cost of about 6 million VND per month. We also have to spend more on regular maintenance to avoid damage. The cooperative had to sell one of the three ferries to get money to repair the remaining two. We really hope to participate in the auction to bring the ferry back into operation" - Mr. Danh shared.

Talking to us, Mr. Bui Van Kiet, Chairman of Cai Khe Ward People's Committee, Can Tho City, said: "Previously, Con Khuong - Thanh Loi ferry terminal was managed and operated by Ninh Kieu District People's Committee and had invested in technical infrastructure. However, the re-bidding process after 2020 encountered difficulties due to changes in legal bases, especially in the consulting and determining starting prices. According to Decree No. 140/2025/ND-CP of the Government on decentralization of management, the responsibility for managing and operating Con Khuong ferry terminal has been transferred to Cai Khe Ward People's Committee. We will soon work with the price appraisal consultancy unit to determine the starting price. After that, the ward will establish a council to give opinions and then submit it to the City People's Committee for consideration...".

People hope that the authorities will soon consider and remove related difficulties and problems so that Con Khuong ferry can be exploited again soon, facilitating trade between the two localities.

Article and photos: TT

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/kien-nghi-som-dua-ben-pha-con-khuong-hoat-dong-tro-lai-a192413.html