Opening the way for development for the middle islet of the Hau River
An Thanh and Cu Lao Dung communes (Can Tho City) were formerly Cu Lao Dung district of Soc Trang province, a large island located in the middle of the Hau River. This is an abundant agricultural material area with key products such as sugarcane, fruit trees and seafood, with a large supply capacity for processing and export markets. However, due to the remote terrain, although only 1.5 - 2km from the mainland, it is divided by a dense river and canal system. For many years, people's travel and trade almost completely depend on the Dai Ngai, Dai An - Long Phu and An Thanh Nam ferry systems.
Although the distance from the center of Soc Trang province (old) to Cu Lao Dung is only more than 20km, from Cu Lao Dung to Tra Vinh province (old) now Vinh Long province is only one Hau River away, the actual travel time takes from 1 - 1.5 hours, of which nearly half of the time is waiting and crossing the ferry. This obstacle increases logistics costs, agricultural products are difficult to ensure freshness, product value is reduced, causing the potential of Cu Lao land not to be properly exploited.
In October 2023, the Dai Ngai bridge construction investment project on National Highway 60, located in Tra Vinh and Soc Trang provinces (now Vinh Long province and Can Tho city), officially started construction. In which, Dai Ngai 2 bridge across the Hau River, connecting from the banks of Dai Ngai commune (formerly Long Duc commune, Long Phu district, Soc Trang province) to Cu Lao Dung, is gradually realizing the aspiration of "crossing the river without ferry" of the people of Cu Lao land.
Welcoming the key infrastructure project, Cu Lao Dung people proactively restructure production, develop clean agriculture, high-tech agriculture associated with experiential tourism.
Typically, San Tien Co., Ltd. with a 40ha organic agricultural model, the main product is San Tien pink plums combined with agricultural tourism. According to Mr. Tran Van Phuc, Director of the company, when there is no longer dependence on ferries, transportation time is shortened, agricultural products are fresher, more competitive and tourists can also easily come to Cu Lao.
Sharing the same expectation, Mr. Le Van Chieu - Director, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of An Phat Cooperative (An Thanh commune), said - The cooperative currently has about 40ha of fruit trees with 60 members, supplying about 600 tons of mangoes and nearly 20 tons of longans to the market each year. Many products have been exported to demanding markets such as Australia and the US. According to Mr. Chieu, when traffic is connected smoothly, the value of agricultural products of the cooperative in particular and the locality in general will continue to be increased.
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Dac, Vice Chairman of Cu Lao Dung Commune People's Committee (Can Tho City), the locality has more than 2,300ha of perennial trees, 3,400ha of aquaculture and coastal protection forests. "Dai Ngai 2 Bridge not only solves the traffic problem but is also an important driving force to promote agricultural economic development, attracting businesses to invest in high-tech agriculture and tourism," he said.
Creating jobs, spreading social benefits
Not only the people of Cu Lao Dung, but also the areas of Long Phu and Dai Ngai (Can Tho City) also place high expectations on the infrastructure boost from Dai Ngai 2 bridge. When traffic is cleared, businesses will boldly invest in industrial clusters and industrial parks, create more local jobs, and reduce the situation of workers having to leave their hometowns to work far away.
Ms. Le Thi Nhan, residing in Dai Ngai commune (Can Tho City), said that her family bought land near the foot of Dai Ngai 2 bridge after giving up land for the Long Phu 1 Thermal Power Plant project. "Now the house has become a facade, the roads are spacious. I plan to open a refreshment and food stall to serve customers when the bridge is opened to traffic," Ms. Nhan shared.
When Dai Ngai 2 bridge and Dai Ngai 1 bridge are completed, National Highway 60 connecting from Vinh Long to Can Tho City will form an axis along the eastern corridor of the Mekong Delta, shortening about 80km from Ho Chi Minh City to Ca Mau, and reducing the load on National Highway 1A.
A shrimp processing and exporting enterprise in Soc Trang believes that when transportation is connected continuously, reduced transportation costs will create motivation for businesses to invest more strongly in the Mekong Delta region, contributing to the consumption of agricultural and aquatic products and solving employment for local workers.
