On the evening of July 26, after receiving the permission of the leaders of Deo Ca Group, the Executive Board of Deo Ca Transport Infrastructure Investment Company (DII) has coordinated with Da Nang city government carried out the transshipment of the repatriation people from the southern epidemic areas passing through Hai Van tunnel.

The decision was soon made even though the return of Covid-19 epidemic a few weeks earlier has caused difficulties for Da Nang. All forces urgently joined in to support the exhausted exiles out there on their arduous journey home. Most of them are labor workers coming back to Central Vietnam from Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai…

With fully equipped protective equipment, more than 20 people of Hai Van Tunnel Operation Enterprise restarted work after a period of shutdown at the request of authorities to strengthen anti-epidemic. They entered the most special job ever.

General Director Nguyen Quang Huy: “Hai Van tunnel transshipment enterprise are cooperating with Da Nang city police and the Steering Committee for Disease Prevention and Control of Lien Chieu district to deploy forces to support people tonight”.

8 passenger cars with 29 seats (only carrying 15 people to ensure the safe distance) and 10 trucks each carrying 15 motorbikes started running through Hai Van tunnel. Unlike initial expectations, the number of people increased sharply day by day:

July 26: 78 people, 41 motorbikes

July 27: 393 people, 199 motorbikes

July 28: 454 people, 252 motorbikes

July 29: 806 people, 433 motorbikes

July 30: 4,500 people, 2,500 motorbikes Mr Pham Hoang An, Director of Hai Van Tunnel Transhipment Operation Station, said that on July 30, the drivers of the transit station has ran 227 turns of passenger cars and turn of 237 trucks to tranship people and their vehicles through the tunnel. The disinfecting team of the stations are always ready to work after each bus takes passengers through the tunnel. The team of drivers, arranging motorbike and guiding passengers are operating at full capacity in the condition that they both transport people through the tunnel while ensuring epidemic prevention. Like that. From one bus to the next.

“The force worked so hard and the risk of infection is high, they remind each other to follow the epidemic prevention regulations, perhaps the desire to support people in the long journey makes everyone work harder than usual. More than 10,000 people with more than 7,000 motorbikes passed through the tunnel in a short time. The number that no one thought of at first”, said the director of the Hai Van tunnel transit station.

On the morning of July 31, the stream of repatriates poured into the south transit station of Hai Van tunnel. Mr. Vo Ngoc Trung, Deputy General Director of DII said: “Thousands of people. The option of transiting through the tunnel is no longer feasible.”

In that short time, the local authority was confused about the reception of people. The transfer station is partially congested. DII hold the second quick meeting, saying that the large number of motorbikes and people with goods and waste at the station will lead to the risk of becoming a epidemic tipping point and spreading the disease. If the station continues to operate without the close coordination with the competent forces, especially the local epidemic prevention and control steering committee, the consequences will be unpredictable.

Quickly, the management unit agreed with the locality to temporarily stop transporting passengers and motorbikes through the tunnel. Instead, it is necessary to arrange human resources to coordinate with security forces, traffic police, and ward police to escort and guide the motorbike convoy moving slowly through the pass route.

At the rest stops, the tunnel operator divided intos groups. The groups will be isolated in Hue to go separately, the groups will move to the next provinces to go separately. When moving through the pass, their luggage does not need to be dismantled, reducing concentration, ensuring the distance.

The order was issued, guiding the people to move seamlessly through the pass, without having to wait at the station due to traffic jam, “create a sense of comfort for people”.

During the move, DII has arranged dedicated cars with the priority lights come on. The vehicle is equipped with fuel, repair and patch tools to promptly handle situations if a motorcycle breaks down while traveling.

At the beginning and along the pass route, DII officals has arranged water supply points for people. Especially in some empty spaces on both sides of the road, local people have prepared bread, sticky rice, water,…

Together with the tunnel operator, functional forces and Da Nang people has stayed all night to support the repatriation stream. There are hot soups for sisters, milk for children. Energy drinks for drivers, “stay strong to reunite with your families, guys”, Da Nang people said.

In difficulties and dangers, people want to return. The line of motorbikes rushes into long trails on the pass and is escorted, and provided food and drink by people on both sides of the road. Maybe that’s why thousands of people have more strength to go such a long way.

DII is still trying to work with the authorities of Da Nang city to find the best plan to support people to cross Hai Van.

At the time a new day coming, the number of people heading to Hai Van did not stop. General Director of DII messaged on the deployment team: “Please contact the city (Da Nang) for the latest instructions, ready to coordinate implementation. Perhaps the number of people returning will be very large”.

T.T