For the first time in history, our Khmer’s sacred ‘Ok Om Bok’ festival will be held in this pagoda,” Most Venerable Son Thi told us when we attended the opening of the Ta Quyt bridge. He presides over the Ta Quyt Moi Pagoda

The bridge, linking the two parts of Ho Dac Kien commune of Chau Thanh District in southern Soc Trang province allows over 700 households to access the main road in less than 100 meters. Before, they had to travel 3 kilometers.

Built under the Results-Based Operation for Local Bridge Construction and Road Asset Management Project (LRAMP), the bridge’s special design – characterized by the Khmer’s lotus symbol–- makes it a part of the pagoda and the cultural life of the locals, rather than another piece of concrete.

A cultural symbol has been embedded since the first bridge was built in Tan Tay village in Nam Phuoc township of the Duy Xuyen District in Quang Nam central province. As one of the first bridges built under LRAMP, crossing the Ba Ren river, it helps farmers bring their produce home in just a few minutes by bicycle instead of hours. And it resembles the architecture of My Son holy land, a source of cultural pride for the Cham ethnic group.

Vietnam is home to 53 ethnic minority groups, each characterized by a distinct culture and symbol. The LRAMP project aims to improve connectivity and reduce the cost of travel for ethnic minorities by building bridges in the rural remote areas they call home. Incorporating local ethnic minority cultural elements in the technical design honors the indigenous culture, enhances the ownership of local people, and makes the infrastructure stand out from similar works. With strong ownership and cultural familiarity, local people consider it their own, and are committed to maintaining the public infrastructure. Tiếp tục đọc “Tôn vinh văn hóa địa phương – một cách mới để nâng cấp cơ sở hạ tầng / Honoring local culture – a new way to sustain infrastructure” →