Son Thuan bridge had been a dream for the people of Son Phu village until now. The precarious foot bridge, consisting of a small tree trunk, two long narrow planks and a thinner branch to hold on, was the only connection the people of Son Thuan hamlet had to the outside world. Children had to pass this bridge to school everyday, adults and especially the elderly had tremendous difficulties navigating this treacherous route. Many accidents with tragic consequences have resulted.
Today we announced the completion of the new Son Thuan bridge, bringing to an end the long suffering of Son Phu village. Son Thuan bridge has been completed with the help of Vietnam Foundation and a local charity group Dong Tam of Phap Van Temple. Total monetary cost was VND 170 million (approx AUD 7,100) with VND 110 million from Vietnam Foundation and the rest from funds raised from local public by Dong Tam charity.
The bridge building started on 15/07/2019 and finished on 17/08/2019. It was built in record time thanks to the contribution of local people and students from Phap Van Temple. At the opening ceremony, the gratitude from the overwhelmed local residents was a gentle reaffirmation of Vietnam Foundation effort.
Old Son Thuan Bridge
Son Thuan Bridge Construction
New Son Thuan Bridge
New road leading to Son Thuan bridge
Dear Friends & Supporters,
Vietnam Foundation’s Recycled Bicycles Program, which started in 2012, has three aims:
- to provide high-quality, recycled bicycles to poor and bright school children in Vietnam,
- to provide employment to local bicycle and recycling businesses and
- to promote environmental sustainability in Vietnam.
We thank you for your generous support in the past years to make this happen and to bring smiles and hope to poor school children in Vietnam. This year our target is to raise $20,000 to deliver 400 recycled bicycles (the cost is only AUD 50 for each refurbished bicycle).
The refurbishment will start in early June 2019 for distribution around the beginning of the school year in September 2019.
The good news for this year is that all your donations are now tax-deductible in Australia.
You can make a donation in one of the following ways, or visit the Donation Page on our Website.
- Direct Bank transfer to VNF Vietnam Relief Fund:
CBA Bank
BSB: 062 334
Account No. : 11559666
(Please note our new bank account details & quote your name for receipt) - PayPal Giving:
Click on the PayPal link below to go to the PayPal Giving Fund website:
PayPal Giving
(New free service from PayPal with no fee to VNF) - Paypal: Click on the PayPal link on our Donation Page
(PayPal will charge VNF a small fee) - Cheque: Please write cheque to “VNF Vietnam Relief Fund” & post to:
Vietnam Foundation: 137 Lancelot St, Blacktown, NSW 2148, Australia
We look forward to your support this year for this worthwhile ongoing program.
We have helped build another new bridge in Xà Phiên village, Long Mỹ district, Hậu Giang province. It is called ‘Kênh Cùng’ bridge, in hamlet 2, and is approximately 5 km from the ‘Đê Ngăn Mặn’ bridge that we helped rebuild previously.
The original old concrete bridge collapsed many years ago. The locals used bits of timber and bamboo trunks to construct a makeshift monkey bridge so that the children could go to the nearby schools.
Existing bridge
The new bridge, replacing the old bridge, is 30 m long, 3 m wide and with 5 Ton capacity. It was also designed by NEMO Construction Consultant in Vietnam, who has been providing us with pro bono bridge design services.
Design drawing for the new bridge
To allow easy passage of rice barges, the new bridge is a bit higher than the old bridge.
The total cost of the bridge was VND 158 million, of which Vietnam Foundation contributed VND 110 million (approximately AUD 6,600), the local authorities and people the remainder.
To allow proper alignment of the new bridge with the existing road, a local peasant donated some land for use in the approach to the bridge.
Construction work started straight after the ground-breaking ceremony on 17 November 2018.
Prof HC Hoài and Ms N N Mai at the ground-breaking ceremony
The new bridge under construction
The new bridge was completed and opened for traffic on 6 January 2019.
Present at the ceremony were many joyful locals, our representatives, Prof. Huỳnh Công Hoài and Ms Nguyễn Thị Huyền Trân, as well as Ms Nguyễn Ngọc Mai representing the Đồng Tâm Charity Group, which managed the bridge construction, and Mr Nguyễn Văn Vương, the engineer who designed the new bridge, representing NEMO Construction Consultant.
Many locals were so happy to have a new bridge that they brought along home-made food to celebrate the bridge opening and also approached our representatives to say thank you.
The new Kênh Cùng bridge
We helped build a new bridge to replace an old, rickety timber bridge in Hậu Giang province. Known by the locals as ‘Cầu Đê ngăn mặn’, it is located at Hamlet 7, Xà Phiên village, Long Mỹ district, 227 km from Saigon and 65 km from Cần Thơ.
Condition of the old bridge
Approaching road at one end of the bridge
The old bridge was in an appalling condition, presenting a huge danger to all users. In fact, it had caused many serious accidents for the locals, especially children going to the two nearby primary schools and a secondary school.
A very brave bridge user!
The new bridge is of concrete construction, 28m long, 3m wide and with 5 Ton capacity. Total cost amounted to VND 261 Million (about AUD 16,000), of which Vietnam Foundation contributed VND 140 Million, local people and authorities VN 80 Million and the Đồng Tâm Charity group, which managed the construction, VND 41 Million.
Design drawing of the new bridge
Ground breaking ceremony for the construction was held on 12 August 2018.
New bridge under construction
Bridge construction was completed in early October 2018.
The opening ceremony was held on 20 October 2018 with the presence of our representatives in Vietnam, Prof HC Hoài and Ms NT Huyền Trân, representatives of the Đồng Tâm Charity Group, the bridge design engineer and local people. Many local school children were presented with gifts of books and stationery on the occasion.
The new bridge at completion
First official walk across the new bridge. From Left to Right: Mr NV Vương, the bridge designer/engineer, Prof HC Hoài, VNF’s representative, Ms N Ngọc Mai, representative of the Đồng Tâm Charity Group and Ms NT Huyền Trân, VNF’s representative.
Local children, people and representatives of the groups which were involved in the bridge construction celebrating on the new bridge.
The plaque for the new bridge
Letter from Vietnam Foundation President Dr Nhan Ly
2nd of May, 2018
Dear friends,
Recycled Bicycles Project for 2018
Vietnam Foundation’s Recycled Bicycles Project commencing in 2012 has three aims: (i) to provide high-quality, used bicycles to poor and bright school children in Vietnam, (ii) to provide employment to local businesses and (iii) to promote environmental sustainability in Vietnam.
Last year we delivered a total of 400 recycled bicycles: 150 bicycles in Central Vietnam (Quảng Trị – 40 bicycles, Thừa Thiên – 70 bicycles, Quảng Ngải – 40 bicycles) and 250 bicycles in the delta region of southern Vietnam (Trà Vinh – 60 bicycles; Cà Mau – 40 bicycles; Đồng Tháp – 30 bicycles; Hậu Giang – 30 bicycles; An Giang – 30 bicycles; Bạc Liêu – 30 bicycles; Tiền Giang – 30 bicycles). This project has been managed by a former Scout leader in Hue and Nhom Hanh Trinh Yeu Thuong (Journey of Love Group) in Saigon, these volunteers receive no remuneration for their time and in some instances pay for their own expenses.
Our target this year is also to raise $18,000 to deliver 400 recycled bicycles ($45 for each refurbished bicycle) in central and southern Vietnam where the refurbishment will start in early June 2018 for distribution around the beginning of the school year in September 2018.
We sincerely thank you for your generous support in the past years to make this happening and to bring smiles and hopes to poor school children in Vietnam. We look forward to your support this year for this ongoing project.
Please send your donation to:
Cheque posted to: Vietnam Foundation: 137 Lancelot St, Blacktown, NSW
Bank transfer: Vietnam Foundation Account No. 900626631
ANZ Bank: BSB 012-226
(Please note new BSB number & quote your name or identification)
Overseas transfer: Use the SWIFT/BIC code ANZBAU3M
You are welcome to visit our up-to-date website for more information, including facility to make your donation via PayPal: www.vietnamfoundation.org.au .
Have a nice day and best regards,
Lý Gia Nhẫn,
President – Vietnam Foundation