40 Years Waiting: Vietnam Villagers Still Wade Through Mud for Basic Road Access

For over four decades, more than 80 households in Khanh Hung commune, Ca Mau province, have lived with the daily reality of navigating muddy paths, desperately awaiting the construction of a concrete road along the East Bank of the De canal.

Many residents arrived in the area in the 1980s as part of a new economic zone development. Now, their children and grandchildren have grown up, but the fundamental need for a proper road remains unfulfilled. The 3.3-kilometer stretch is the primary access route for these families, yet it has yet to see any investment in paving.

During the rainy season, the journey becomes particularly arduous. One resident, Nguyen Thi Thu Ba, recounted an incident where she had to be carried home by relatives in a hammock after being discharged from the hospital due to severe leg injuries, as vehicles could not reach her home. "Since before, there has been no decent road here. Seeing other places with clean roads, while here we just wade through mud and dirt, makes us very sad," she said.

Despite residents contributing funds and labor to create a temporary dirt road in early 2024, heavy rains have already caused significant erosion and degradation. The lack of a stable road impacts daily life severely: students struggle to get to school, emergency vehicles cannot reach the sick, and farmers face difficulties selling their produce as buyers' vehicles cannot access their fields, leading to price exploitation.

Local authorities acknowledge the necessity of the project and have included the road in the 2026 public investment plan, with an estimated cost of 9 billion VND. However, limited allocated funds present a significant hurdle. The commune leadership confirmed that the road's absence causes substantial disruption, especially during the annual high-water season in September and October, affecting both travel and goods transportation. They have appealed to higher authorities for the necessary funding to proceed.

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Since before, there has been no decent road here. Seeing other places with clean roads, while here we just wade through mud and dirt, makes us very sad.