VietNamNet Bridge – To cross the Nam La River, people in U Ra village in Phong Tho district of the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau have to stand on a plank to slip over the river with a cable.

U Ra village is on the bank of Nam Na River, facing National Highway 100. The village has 61 households, totaling nearly 400 people. To go to the highway on the rainy season, villagers have to risk their lives by crossing the river on a plank, at a so-called “U Ra cable wharf.”

Local residents fasten their motorbikes to the plank and sit on the motorbike to cross the river.

Being afraid and feeling dizzy of the height, many women have to close their eyes to cross the river this way to go to the market.

Children also have to cross the river by cables to go to secondary and high schools. The road to the schools is too dangerous so only four children in this village still go to school. The village has only two persons who finished high school.

Ms. Tan Thi Ha said she was very scared at the beginning but she gradually got used to it with practice. “The river is deep and runs very fast so we cannot use boats,” she added.

Mr. Phan To Pao, who has managed the “U Ra cable wharf” for over three years, said that he served dozens of people each day and hundred people on market days.

Until a bridge is built on Nam Na River, hundreds of  people will have to risk their lives whenever they cross the river.

Compiled by Le Ha