In early June 2025, reporters from Lao Dong Newspaper were present at Bich Ha port area (Moi hamlet, Thung Nai commune, Cao Phong district, Hoa Binh) - which used to be a bustling unit of boats taking visitors to Coconut Island, Thac Bo pagoda - now immersed in a strange silence.
Dozens of travel ships lying close to the edge of the edge, many stranded completely on the stone mud. The bustling up and downs of the train are only cracked, dry, dry grounds in the sun. The water level of the lake drew deep, revealing each piece of dark black stone clinging to moss, changing the entire appearance here.
The floating boat stations and bridges were forced to be temporarily dismantled. Some ships tried to anchor far from shore, but access was extremely difficult due to the expanded alluvial plain and weak water.
Mr. Bui Van Tung (Noi hamlet, Thung Nai commune) - a resident living near the port - said: "I have lived here for nearly 20 years. The lake has also ran aground, but it has never been like this. The water receded more than 40 meters deep, the bottom of the lake was exposed to pieces, and boats had no way out. I have never seen the water drop so low.
Ms. Bui Thi Xuan - owner of a cruise ship at Bich Ha port - also said: "Every year at this level, the water is still level at the wharf, the ship runs normally. This year, the bottom is exposed, large ships cannot dock, small ships have to go around other routes, twice as far. Fuel costs increase but customers do not. Many train drivers had to quit their jobs or find other jobs to stay.
Not only the fleet is having difficulties, but auxiliary services such as food and accommodation are also seriously affected. Ms. Ha Thi Luyen - owner of a small restaurant along the harbor - shared: "Every year this season, there are many customers, the ships come and go busily. This year, there are almost no customers all month, the restaurant has to close, I can only hold on to it all day".
At the same time, the deep shallow lake situation is causing dozens of cage fish farming households in Thung Nai commune to fall into a difficult situation. The low water level forces people to move fish cages far from the shore - increasing the risk of drifting and breaking ropes. Turbid water and weak flow make fish develop slowly and susceptible to disease.
All costs are increasing from food, care to renting cages. Meanwhile, the output is stuck because the fishing boat cannot reach shore as before," said Mr. Quach Van Dung - a fish farmer in Thung Nai commune.
Many livestock farming households are facing the risk of heavy losses if the water level does not improve soon. Some households have had to remove cages and sell young fish to limit damage.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Bui Van Ky - Chairman of the People's Committee of Hien Luong commune, Da Bac district said: The water level of the lake has now decreased by more than 40 meters compared to the time the hydropower plant released floodwaters. This seriously affects people's lives and production.
Local authorities have advised people to proactively adapt, use water resources reasonably, and promote supporting economic activities such as growing vegetables in newly discovered areas and properly exploiting available resources.
According to Mr. Ky, when the lake water level drops, traveling by waterway, which is the main means of transport for many households along the lake, is also difficult, even in isolated areas. Some fish farms were also dry, causing exploitation output to decrease sharply.
