Laos and Thailand are planning to build an additional bridge across the Mekong River, the sixth one connecting the two countries, contributing to reducing travel time from the La Lay international border gate of Vietnam to Thailand and vice versa.

Each bridge in Vietnam has its unique beauty. Tran Minh Luong, a young engineer residing in Can Tho city with a great passion for photography, makes these bridges more majestic and magical.

The southern province of Dong Nai has approved a plan develop three bridges linking it with neighboring Ho Chi Minh City to ease traffic pressure on the existing bridges in the area and promote local and regional socio-economic growth.

The Transport Department of Ho Chi Minh City has proposed building two more bridges to enhance transport connectivity between the southern economic hub and its neighbour Dong Nai province.

Among rivers in Vietnam, Han River in the central coastal city of Da Nang has the largest numbers of bridges over it. Each bridge has its own charm.

A dugout boat is made from a hollowed-out tree and is considered a symbol of strength and the culture of many ethnic minority groups in the Central Highlands.

Hanoi has become more modernized in recent years with an increasing number of bridges spanning Hong (Red) river, playing an important role in facilitating the city’s transport.

Floods triggered by torrential rain in the last two weeks have submerged homes, roads and bridges, caused landslides and forced more than 23,000 people to evacuate to shelters in northeastern Thailand.

A project to upgrade weak bridges and reinforce bridge pillars on the railway route connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will help increase their capacities and ensure safety for trains and passenger

Despite the increasing challenges facing land transport, Ho Chi Minh City has yet to use nearly 1,000km of rivers and canals for the purpose.

The southernmost province of Ca Mau will mobilise 50 billion VND (2.25 million USD) from local people as well as domestic and foreign investors for building new-style rural areas in 2016.

The Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau mobilised about 24 trillion VND (1.1 billion USD) for building new-style rural areas from 2011-2015.

Around 4,000 bridges will be built to facilitate the travel and livelihoods of ethnic minority groups across the country by 2020 as part of the second phase of a Government programme.

Nearly 500 bridges have been built across the Central Highlands, serving the travel of local ethnic minority groups, according to the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands Region.

Ho Chi Minh City authorities plan to complete construction of the rural transport network in five outlying districts by 2020.