Photo report: The return of the Gold Vault

In the spirit of mutual love, just a few days after the flood, the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) coordinated with local authorities to rebuild Kho Vang village, with the hope of easing the pain of families who lost their homes and lives and lighting up hope for many other households... Returning to Kho Vang this time, we felt that...

There were some sections of road where PetroTimes reporters could only stick to the walls, the road was slippery and steep for nearly ten kilometers.

Back to the old place

The road to the old Kho Vang village lies precariously along the Chay River, with dense cinnamon forests on both sides; if it had not been eroded, this road would have been as beautiful as the road from Ha Giang city to Dong Van town.

Landslides continuously appear on the road to the old Kho Vang village.

Village chief Ma Seo Chu took me to the old village by motorbike, but we only got about 2km before we had to leave the motorbike behind and walk. We climbed over landslides using only our toes, and one mistake could have resulted in us falling into the abyss.

But the most dangerous thing was the risk of landslides still hanging over our heads. Rocks as big as cars lay there, shining brightly under the midday sun, feeling like the slightest impact could cause them to fall at any moment.

The road along the Chay River is muddy and very difficult to travel.

Ma Seo Chu occasionally turned back and asked, “Can you walk?” Strangely enough, during the nearly ten-kilometer walk, the young village chief’s feet were almost completely free of mud! While looking back, he was covered in dirt from head to toe!

It is known that Kho Vang village was merged from Ban Vang village and Kho Lap village. The ethnic minorities here are mainly Dao and Mong people...

This is where we witness the courage, will and responsibility of the leader - village chief Ma Seo Chu. Recalling the time he led dozens of households to "escape the flood", Chu just smiled and said "it's nothing, I saw danger so I told the people, it also took a lot of persuasion because ethnic people have had a house, fields and gardens all their lives... now it's very difficult to tell people to leave and go."

Although the Upper Hamlet area of ​​Kho Vang village where we went did not suffer any significant damage to people or property, it was almost cut off from the outside world by large and small landslides along the way.

The old access road, about 3.5 meters wide and nearly ten kilometers long, was completed just over a year ago and has been almost completely destroyed. Repairing it is not easy and will take a lot of time.

Ma Seo Chu, like many people in Kho Vang village, is still shocked and heartbroken after that landslide. "There are still people down there who can't find you!" Ma Seo Chu choked up and pointed down to the muddy Chay River.

The landslide swept away almost the entire house of Ms. Truong Thi Hoa and her husband has not been found to this day. The house can be rebuilt but the pain will probably take a long time to heal.

The children who remain in the old Kho Vang village with their families will soon be able to move to a new house in a resettlement area jointly built by Petrovietnam and Lao Cai provincial authorities; more spacious, cleaner and above all, safer.

Light up new hope

Not far from the old village, the new resettlement site for more than 40 households of the old Kho Vang village is located on two hills with a total area of ​​more than 2.5 hectares, closer to the traffic road, closer to the kindergarten and the headquarters of the People's Committee of Coc Lau commune than before.

Before our eyes is a "big construction site" with many workers and vehicles working day and night with the spirit of "overcoming the sun and rain", working until the end of the shift, determined to speed up the progress according to the direction of Lao Cai Provincial Party Committee and the wishes of Petrovietnam so that people can have new accommodation by the end of December.

Talking to PetroTimes , Mr. Do Thanh Luan, an officer in charge of the field of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Coc Lau commune, said that currently, the road, electricity and water systems here are still difficult due to the mountainous terrain, many steep slopes and especially the unfavorable weather, heavy rain causing difficulties. However, with a high spirit of determination, the workers still take advantage of every hour, every minute to transport materials and carry out the construction of the items.

The road to the new resettlement area of ​​Kho Vang village is steep and slippery. Currently, the completion of the electricity, road and water systems and other items are being done in parallel, leaving no time to spare during the day.

To live at the construction site, workers must directly pull electricity and water lines from the mountain and the nearest houses to the shack.

The only source of water for the workers here is drawn from a stream about 1km away.

Mr. Do Thanh Luan said that the construction here is not easy, especially the foundation because the soil here is soft. Once the foundation is completed, it only takes 10 to 15 days to complete the house frame. The entire cost of rebuilding the residential area of ​​Kho Vang village comes from the social security fund, the Oil and Gas workers voluntarily contribute and work on Saturdays.

Materials are transported by truck or motorbike, and workers have to carry them on the parts that vehicles cannot go. Only then can we know and understand how difficult and arduous it is to build a house in the highlands. Each block of sand and each bag of cement is the sweat and even blood of each worker.

Currently, about 115 people from Kho Vang village are arranged to live in the area behind Coc Lau Commune People's Committee until the new resettlement area is completed. Accordingly, each apartment will be about 200 square meters wide with many auxiliary works to serve the people's lives.

Saying goodbye to us, village chief Ma Seo Chu was extremely moved and on behalf of the villagers, deeply thanked the people of the whole country, the authorities at all levels and Petrovietnam for their care and enthusiastic support over the past time.

The young village chief also affirmed his determination to restore production and life in the shortest time possible, and to live confidently in the new village.

Article and photos: Phong Son

Source: https://www.pvn.vn/chuyen-muc/tap-doan/tin/38612ace-30e6-4720-b976-0cef8fe1a0c2