Light brings people outdoors

The nature of her freelance work means that Vu Khanh Huyen, a resident of Tan Tien Village, often has to leave home early and return late. On days when her child attends extra classes in preparation for the 10th-grade entrance examination, her trips to and from school continue into the evening.

What concerned her most in the past were stretches of road with numerous bends but little lighting. At night, visibility was limited, while residents travelled by both motorbike and bicycle, making it more difficult to see and avoid one another. “Falls while travelling along those dark stretches of road could be described as quite common in the past,” Huyen recalled.

Vu Khanh Huyen, a resident of Tan Tien Village. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Since the solar-powered streetlights were installed, the first change Huyen noticed was that travelling had become less difficult. Taking her child to and from evening classes has also become more convenient.

But the lighting has also changed another habit among local residents. In the past, when darkness fell, particularly on rainy days, many people hardly wanted to venture outside. Huyen said jokingly that back then, it was often a case of “everyone staying at home and closing the door.” Children rarely went outside to play, while adults were also reluctant to visit one another.

With the lights in place, the village’s hours of activity have been extended. Children can go outside and play together without worrying as much about dark roads or snakes and other hazards, while adults are also more likely to visit one another and spend time chatting.

Solar-powered streetlights installed along both sides of the village roads. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Light helps keep the community safe

Luc Xuan Giang, head of Tan Tien Village, emphasised the value of the lighting system in maintaining security in the residential area. He referred to the streetlights as the village’s “security lights”. According to him, when the roads are illuminated at night, it becomes easier to observe and monitor the area. The lighting also helps reduce dark spots that could create opportunities for activities that threaten security and public order.

Luc Xuan Giang, head of Tan Tien Village. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

The streetlight system in the area where Giang lives extends for about 1.6 km, with 60 poles running from one end of the village area to the other. The system uses solar energy and operates automatically: the lights turn on when it gets dark and switch off at dawn.

According to Giang, residents were pleased as soon as they learned that the locality would receive support for the lighting system and were ready to contribute their labour during its installation. After the project was completed, the village management board took over the system and established a community self-management team, with residents participating in the protection and monitoring of the streetlights. After approximately six to seven months of operation, the system remains stable, with no significant problems reported to date.

The solar-powered lighting system is managed by the local community. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

For Giang, the more practical a project is, the more important it is for responsibility for maintaining it to be shared. When minor problems arise, villagers discuss them together, mobilise contributions and assign people to carry out repairs.

After three villages were merged into the new Tan Tien Village, which now has 227 households and a population of more than 1,000 - about three times the previous population size, some areas still lack street lighting. Giang and local residents hope that the lighting network will continue to be extended, so that the lights will not stop at roads that are already illuminated but reach other areas where they are still needed.

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