Though Vietnam's northern and southern hubs are each getting a fancy new subway system, and high-speed roads now connect several of the country's other major cities, many rural areas still lack vital infrastructure.
As a result, countryside residents are left to their own devices when it comes to crossing Vietnam's many waterways. While this may breed ingenuity, many of the methods adopted carry significant risks, perhaps the most glaring of which was seen in Dien Bien province in 2014 when school children made their way through raging flood waters by placing plastic bags over their heads. Quang Tri province’s Cu Pua village also faced a similarly perilous dilemma, employing two cables in place of a bridge.
After the latter town received media attention for its cable crossings, however, an anonymous man from Saigon showed up at the home of village head Ho Van Phoi with VND30 million to build a bridge, reports Tuoi Tre.
According to Phoi, the anonymous man – who preferred to be known only as Teo – told him:
“I’m not rich. I will buy cement and steel with the money, and the villagers will lend a hand with the construction. Our cooperation will produce a concrete bridge over the stream and ensure greater safety for residents.”
After navigating the bureaucracy of various government offices and ministries, the project received approval and Teo showed up soon after with two friends – a civil engineer and a mechanical engineer – who, along with villagers, completed the 10-meter-long concrete structure.
As for the name of the bridge, Phoi told Tuoi Tre: “Saigonese perform charitable deeds with their whole hearts, not with their names. We named the bridge ‘Anh Teo Sai Gon’ after him in recognition of his contribution.”
