Groundbreaking ceremony for Hang Gang community bridge - For Vietnamese Stature Foundation in Lao Chai commune, Lao Cai province

The bridge is designed as an arch structure with solid stone embankments, measuring 16 meters in length and 4 meters in width, with a load capacity of 10 tons. The total investment for the project is VND 1.173 billion. Of this amount, VSF sponsored VND 780 million (of which VND 750 million was allocated for construction costs), while the remaining funds were contributed by the local authorities through counterpart funding, including the use of locally sourced construction materials as well as labor contributed by local residents and youth union members.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Sung A Lu, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Lao Chai Commune, expressed his sincere thanks to VSF, Tien Phong Newspaper, the Lao Cai Provincial Youth Union, and the organizations and individuals who supported and facilitated the project. He affirmed that the commune would closely coordinate with the sponsor, regularly update construction progress, and direct the contractor to ensure safety, quality, and on-time completion. The commune also committed to using the funds for the right purposes and mobilizing local residents to contribute labor to ensure the highest construction quality.

Hang Gang Village is located approximately 16 kilometers from the center of Mu Cang Chai Commune, with steep and winding roads that take nearly 50 minutes to travel. The village has 122 households with 576 residents, mostly from the Mong ethnic group, and the poverty rate remains above 33%. The access road to the village is intersected by a large stream, which currently has only a wooden bridge for motorcycles and pedestrians. Cars can only cross the stream during the dry season. During the rainy season, many people have slipped and fallen while riding motorcycles across the bridge. In 2018, the bridge was swept away by floods and later rebuilt by local residents using wooden planks, and has been used ever since.

“The wooden bridge has deteriorated and is very difficult to cross. The planks are old and unstable and are very slippery when it rains. Several people have fallen, so I am afraid to ride a motorbike across it during the rainy season. Cars cannot cross the bridge, leaving us no choice but to wade through the stream. On rainy days, transporting hawthorn fruit or cardamom to the town becomes even more dangerous. Hearing that a new, solid bridge will be built, everyone in the village is very happy,” shared Ms. Giang Thi Chu, a resident of Hang Gang Village.

Representing the sponsor, Mr. Vu Huy Hoang, Program Manager of VSF, stated: “The Hang Gang Bridge construction project is implemented with the aim of connecting Hang Gang Village with the center of Lao Chai Commune. Once completed, the bridge will help address seasonal isolation caused by floods, ensure safer access to school for children, and facilitate access to education, healthcare, and social services for residents of Hang Gang Village in particular and the Mu Cang Chai area in general.”

On this occasion, VSF also donated 240 glasses of TH true MILK to local residents at the event.

Mr. Hoang Manh Linh - Deputy Secretary of the Lao Cai Provincial Youth Union (left) and journalist Ho Sy Luc, Head of the Tien Phong Newspaper's Northwest Regional Representative Office (right), giving milk to the local people