Project 47 | Ban Lat (formerly Sang Lay) Bridge

Ban Lat (formerly Sang Lay) Bridge

CHIENG PHUNG – SONG MA – SON LA – vietnam

“A Bridge to a Brighter Future!”

In impoverished rural regions, the need for bridges is crucial. Often lacking developed infrastructure, these areas face significant challenges in transportation due to natural barriers like rivers and steep terrain. The Lotus School Foundation is excited to announce our next significant initiative: the construction of Sang Lay Bridge in Chieng Phung commune, located in the Song Ma district of Son La province.

Situated 42 kilometers from the district center, Chieng Phung is home to 5,636 residents, primarily from the Thai and Hmong ethnic groups. This community has suffered greatly from typhoons, leading to flash floods and landslides that have destroyed three essential bridges. One of these was the original bridge in Sang Lay village, built by the villagers in 2001. Currently, the community relies on a precarious wooden bridge, which poses considerable risks, especially for students trying to safely reach their school. As a particularly disadvantaged commune, residents depend largely on agriculture and lack the resources needed to construct a secure and lasting bridge. LSF plans to build a 30-meter concrete bridge that is engineered to withstand the frequent storms and typhoons that impact the area.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our amazing sponsors: VNARP, THOME Construction, VBI Global, and Vietnam Airlines—for their generous contribution of $17,401 toward this meaningful project. The new bridge will significantly enhance the quality of life and economic development for many local communities, positively impacting thousands of lives in these underserved rural areas.

old Bridge Pictures:

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demo pictures of the new bridge

Progress Update

January 8, 2025

The groundbreaking ceremony took place on December 13th. Since then, the abutments of the bridge have been successfully completed. Additionally, the builder has successfully poured concrete into three of the bridge’s pillars. The next step involves the installation of the bridge deck, which is scheduled for mid-January. The grand opening ceremony for the bridge is anticipated to take place on February 15, 2025.

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Grand Opening Celebration of the New Ban Lat Bridge

As the Lunar New Year comes to a close, LSF is thrilled to celebrate the Grand Opening of Ban Lat Bridge (formerly known as Sang Lay Bridge). Despite the chilly temperatures, which dipped to just 7 degrees Celsius, our teams were delighted to connect with the villagers. This bridge will serve as a important link for four villages (Ban Lat, Sang Lay, Nong Xo, and Ban Pin) in the Song Ma district, making a significant economic and social impact for more than 5,636 lives in these underprivileged communities.

The bridge measures 29 meters (approximately 95 feet) in length and 6.5 feet in width, with a maximum capacity of 1.4 tons. This design ensures that it can support essential transportation needs for the local communities. During the ceremony, we brought joy to the children with candies, distributed 120 jackets to underprivileged families, and presented red envelopes containing 100,000 VND each to assist those in need. We are particularly thankful to Minh Thanh Tran Minh Thanh Tran, a representative of VNARP, for traveling all the way from the U.S to join us for this significant event.

This project was made possible thanks to the generous support of our amazing sponsors:
@VNARP Trinh Wong, VBI Global – Ket Noi Doanh Nhân Việt Toan Cau, @THOME Construction, and Vietnam Airlines. We sincerely appreciate your compassion and commitment to positively impacting the lives of thousands in Son Ma.