The single-track suspension bridge is damaged
According to the reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper, the flood that occurred in late July and early August caused the suspension bridge in Bang Choc village (Na Son commune, Dien Bien province) to be severely damaged and tilted.
Accordingly, dozens of households living on the other side of the stream are unable to move by motor vehicles to the center of Na Son commune.
Talking to Lao Dong, Mr. Lo Van Huong - Head of Bang Choc village said that the village has 41 households with 150 people, mainly Thai ethnic people, living in clusters on both sides of Na Phat stream.
"This suspension bridge is the only route to connect the two sides of the village and from the village to the commune center. Since the bridge broke, people's travel has been very dangerous," said Mr. Huong.
According to Mr. Huong, not only the people of Bang Choc village, this is also a trade route for the people of neighboring villages. The bridge break has caused many difficulties for people's lives. All production and daily activities were disrupted.
"Motors cannot travel, so people have to leave their vehicles at both ends of the bridge and wade through the stream. People going to the production area or work as a hired gown do not have any other shortcut, they can only wade through the stream," Mr. Huong informed.
Hoping for a new bridge
The biggest concern at present is the children's education, at Bang Phoc School (under Na Phat Kindergarten) there are 15 students. The broken bridge also made the road to the school difficult.
"Children go to kindergarten, parents are forced to carry them across the stream. Now it is about to turn to winter, the weather is cold, and wading in the stream will be more difficult for both parents and students," said the Head of Bang Choc village.
Present at the bank of Na Phat stream, Mr. Lo Van Chien (Bang Choc village) said: "My family's favorite restaurant is on the other side of the stream. No bridge is too hard. We just hope that the state will soon build a bridge for people to cross."
Mr. Chien also said that there have been some cases of illness and childbirth that have to avoid the stream to get to the commune center.
Faced with the difficulties of the people, the representative of the Na Son commune leadership said that the Project Management and Land Fund Development Board of Region 2 has a plan to build a solid bridge to replace the damaged suspension bridge.
While waiting for a new bridge, the people of Bang Choc village still have to wade through Na Phat stream every day, hoping for a new bridge so that their lives can soon stabilize again.
According to statistics from the Department of Construction of Dien Bien province in May 2025, the whole province has 100 suspension bridges; of which 65 suspension bridges are damaged and minor, 7 bridges are still in use, 7 bridges are no longer in need of use and 1 bridge is unsafe. Faced with that reality, the specialized agency proposed solutions to repair 28 bridges, replace 20 bridges and handle the assets of 7 bridges.
