VietNamNet Bridge – The Gop Nga protective forests in Son Trung commune, Khanh Son district, Khanh Hoa province has been desolated after thousands of people flocked to this area to find aloes.

People flock to this area because they heard rumors that someone found aloes wood here, earning more than VND50 billion ($2.5 million).

This rumor urged thousands of people from the central provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Phu Yen, and Khanh Hoa to come here to dig the forest, expecting to change their life.

From September 18 to 22, about 1,000 people were here to find aloes.

At first, they excavated in the range of several hundred square meters but it has spread to about 2.000m2.

"I have nothing to do at home. I heard that somebody got rich thanks to aloes wood so I come here to try my luck," said Mr. Binh from Dai Loc district.

While they are trying to find aloes in vain, they have to pay highly for food. A pack of instant noodles is over VND10,000 ($0.5), a bread is priced VND20,000 ($1), a tonic water bottle is up to VND50,000 ($2.5). A motorcycle taxi ride from here to the town center is VND100,000 ($5) for 7km.

The forest is ravaged because of the desire to find aloes to change life of aloes finders.

Aloes finders chopped down many ancient trees. Senior Lieutenant Colonel Pham Hong Son, deputy head of the Khanh Son district police agency, said that the authorities are very concerned about the risk of insecurity in this area. The police have coordinated with other agencies to check and disperse aloes finders.

These people also damaged crops of ethnic minorities and polluted the environment.

Mr. Tran Manh Dung, Chairman of Khanh Son district, said the district has blocked the road and told people to not believe in rumors to search for aloes. The district government is also willing to help people to return home.

At present, about one hundred people are still there while the rest had left with nothing. But there are still many people waiting for loopholes to find their way into this area to try their luck.


















Translated by M. Lan
Photo: VNE