Planting trees, flowers and installing solar lights... are the projects being implemented by the Lao Cai Department of Transport, gradually turning National Highway 4D, from Lao Cai city to Sa Pa town, into a model road that is bright - green - clean - beautiful - safe for traffic.

Although they have only been planted for about 2 months, with suitable soil conditions and regular care by workers of Lao Cai Road Joint Stock Company, the bougainvillea trees along National Highway 4D, in Coc San commune (Lao Cai city) have grown lush.

Mr. Vu Manh Cuong, Deputy Director of Lao Cai Road Joint Stock Company, said: National Highway 4D is a vital route, with a large number of people and vehicles passing through every day. In order to gradually build the section connecting Lao Cai city to Sa Pa town on this national highway into a model, beautiful and impressive route in the eyes of tourists, the unit has organized grass cutting, garbage collection on both sides of the road (from Km126 - Km137) to plant more than 1,000 colorful bougainvillea trees.

According to the reporter’s observation, some bougainvillea trees have bloomed their first batch of flowers, with many eye-catching colors. In addition to the bougainvillea trees, Lao Cai Road Joint Stock Company also took advantage of the vacant land on both sides of the road to plant flower-bearing trees. When mature, the flower-bearing trees will create a cool green space along the route, and at the same time act as a “guardrail” to help drivers feel confident when climbing or descending slopes on National Highway 4D.

Driver Nguyen Dinh Hau in Vinh Phuc province said: National Highway 4D from Lao Cai city to Sa Pa town is very clean, beautiful and green, especially in the summer. Flower clusters of various colors dotted among the green patches of forest trees create a peaceful space, helping us feel relaxed and safe when driving through here.

Not only planting flowers and trees, the roadside of National Highway 4D has also been invested in building a lighting system, repainting road markings, adding speed bumps, a system of signs and rescue holes (used when the vehicle loses its brakes when going downhill).

Specifically, 40 lighting lamps with a capacity of 600W/lamp are installed evenly along a 1 km stretch of road, from Km125 to Km126, in Tong Sanh commune (Bat Xat district). When the pilot installation of 40 solar-powered lighting lamps is effective, the Department of Transport will coordinate with relevant agencies, units and localities to continue installing more on many other sections on National Highway 4D, meeting the travel needs of people and tourists, especially at night.

Mr. Luc Van Hoan, Vice Chairman of Coc San Commune People's Committee, said: The National Highway 4D section running through Coc San Commune has just been invested by Lao Cai City People's Committee with a lighting system using national grid electricity. When completed, combined with the solar lighting system in Tong Sanh Commune, it will contribute to creating a highlight on National Highway 4D, especially helping people and tourists to control their vehicles safely and conveniently.

It is known that Lao Cai Road Joint Stock Company is researching to plant more flower plants such as yellow trumpet vine, yellow trumpet vine, white trumpet vine, ten o'clock flower, star daisy, poppy... on National Highway 4D.

However, what Lao Cai Road Joint Stock Company is most concerned about is that the grazing of livestock by people along National Highway 4D more or less affects the growth and development of crops. In addition, there are some people lacking awareness who show signs of stealing or destroying plants.

Therefore, neighboring levels, sectors and localities need to strengthen propaganda and mobilize people to raise awareness of protecting crops, and at the same time not littering indiscriminately so that National Highway 4D from Lao Cai to Sa Pa soon becomes a model route, contributing to enhancing the image and position of Lao Cai in general, and Sa Pa National Tourist Area in particular, with domestic and international friends and tourists.