Removing navigation posts, toll stations are deserted

On May 4, after the navigation station that only allowed cars to turn left into the toll station of the Sam Mountain National Tourist Area in Chau Doc City, An Giang Province, was dismantled, traffic on Tan Lo Kieu Luong Street was clear, and the toll station on Le Dai Cuong Street was also quieter than usual.

According to Tuoi Tre Online 's research, Sam Mountain National Tourist Area has 3 toll stations located at both ends of Le Dai Cuong Street, adjacent to Chau Doc - Tinh Bien bypass; Le Dai Cuong intersection with Tan Lo Kieu Luong Street and 1 station located at Sam Mountain roundabout.

Recently, Vice Chairwoman of An Giang Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy has issued a document responding to the proposal of MGA Vietnam Joint Stock Company regarding the placement of a left turn navigation station into the toll station from Tan Lo Kieu Luong, causing many difficulties for this enterprise.

The Provincial People's Committee requested the Department of Construction to preside over and coordinate with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Provincial Police, the Management Board of the Sam Mountain National Tourist Area, and the Chau Doc City People's Committee to urgently remove inappropriate traffic signs and traffic guidance boards at the intersection of Tan Lo Kieu Luong Street and Le Dai Cuong Street. At the same time, install new traffic guidance and direction boards that are scientific and in accordance with current legal regulations.

"The Management Board of Sam Mountain National Tourist Area coordinates with relevant sectors and units to research and apply information technology, refer to management models of other provinces, and advise the Provincial People's Committee on a scientific and effective fee collection plan that does not cause traffic congestion," the document stated.

The leader of Chau Doc City Party Committee said that the management board of Sam Mountain National Tourist Area is coordinating with relevant departments and Chau Doc City People's Committee to calculate the fee collection plan and submit it to An Giang Provincial People's Committee for decision. There is currently no specific plan.

"The City Party Committee will listen to the opinions of people inside and outside the province before proposing the optimal solution because the management board of Sam Mountain National Tourist Area is under the Provincial People's Committee, not under Chau Doc City," said the leader of Chau Doc City Party Committee.

If no investment, should toll stations be abandoned?

Speaking with Tuoi Tre Online , Dr. Ngo Quang Lang - Vice President of the An Giang Province Historical Science Association - said he held the position of Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of An Giang Province from 2003-2013.

At that time, Chau Doc had not yet set up a toll station. Toll collection began in 2014. After that, he transferred to another unit.

Since the toll collection, there have been many angry opinions from people inside and outside the province. In particular, in 2014, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism included the Ba Chua Xu Festival in Sam Mountain into the list of national intangible cultural heritage, so the government started to set up toll stations.

Mr. Lang requested clarification on the use of fees collected at Sam Mountain station: how has this source of funding been used to restore and embellish the Sam Mountain relic? Has there been any call for investment or implementation of any projects to improve the landscape and environment? Have any new projects been built?

“Collecting fees without building new projects or contributing to the public should be stopped. Where does the fee money go? If it comes from another source, it should be stopped immediately,” said Mr. Lang.

Regarding this, a leader of the An Giang Provincial People's Committee affirmed: "The An Giang Provincial People's Committee will meet to listen to reports and propose a fee collection plan at Sam Mountain Tourist Area to ensure compliance with the law, suitability with reality and serve the province's tourism development strategy."