Phú Thọ orders new road to end hazardous boat commutes for students

Authorities in Phú Thọ Province have ordered the construction of a new road to replace the hazardous boat commutes used by more than 60 students in Ngòi Hoa Village. For generations, students in the village have had to travel nearly 1 km across the Ngòi Hoa bay of the Hòa Bình Lake by boat to reach their primary and secondary schools.

While motorboats have replaced manual rowing, the journey remains dangerous during storms and heavy rain, often forcing families to keep children home for safety. The commute also imposes additional time and fuel costs on parents.

In response to reports regarding these conditions, Trần Duy Đông, Chairman of the Phú Thọ Provincial People's Committee, directed Mường Hoa Commune to urgently allocate budgets to build a 5.5 km rural road connecting Ngòi Hoa to Phú Vinh village. The project, which involves traversing hilly terrain, is expected to cost approximately 75 billion VND. Once completed, the road will provide a safer 7-8 km route to school, eliminating the need for boat travel.