Recently, along the section of the Ho Chi Minh Trail where it intersects with National Highway 48 in Nghia Dan District, Nghe An Province, some households have turned the road into an open-air coffee drying yard.
On a sunny day, we witnessed dozens of sacks of coffee beans being hauled by ox carts and spread directly across the roadway to dry. This intersection, where the Ho Chi Minh Trail meets Highway 48, is a busy traffic hub—especially during rush hours—while vehicles on the Ho Chi Minh Trail often travel at very high speeds.
Using the roadway itself as a drying area creates serious danger for motorists. The risk is greatest on bright, hot days when the brown color of the coffee beans closely matches the surface of the trail, making it difficult for drivers—especially motorcyclists—to see the beans in time.
Phan Xuan Tu, a frequent traveler on this route, voiced his concern: “Drying coffee on the roadway here is extremely dangerous for traffic. If a motorcyclist loses concentration, just a slight skid over those coffee beans can cause an immediate fall because the beans are very slippery.”
To ensure the safety of people and vehicles passing through this section, local authorities are urged to promptly remind residents to keep the traffic corridor clear and maintain a safe roadway.