Top 9 Notable Examples of Compassionate Acts During the Flood Season in Central Vietnam

Bùi Tuấn Thiện, a student at Tràng An Primary School in Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi, visited the editorial office and donated 436,000 VND to support the people in Central Vietnam. This money was saved by Thiện since the beginning of the year. When asked how Thiện managed to save, his father explained that Thiện used methods such as raising a piggy bank and cutting down on snacks. Thiện decided to use all of his savings to help and share with the people of Central Vietnam. Although the amount might seem small, it represents an act of compassion and a sense of responsibility toward the community, despite Thiện's young age.

The story of soldiers and the youth from La Hót village, A Bung commune, Đakrông district, Quảng Trị province, who bravely crossed floodwaters to help a pregnant woman reach the health center, has moved many people. Upon hearing that Hồ Văn Khánh's wife from La Hót village was in labor and had ruptured her waters, the La Lay International Border Guard station sent a team to work with the village youth to safely transport the woman to the Tà Rụt commune health station. Despite the deep flooding and fast-flowing waters at the La Lay intersection, the team worked together without hesitation, successfully getting the pregnant woman across the flooded area and to the health center in 30 minutes.

During the historic floods of 2021, the entire country’s attention was on Central Vietnam, a region that suffers from annual floods and storms. In the provinces of Quảng Trị, Quảng Bình, and Thừa Thiên-Huế, the relentless rain and wind continued, isolating many areas. Along with homes submerged, the residents were devastated by news that 13 officers and soldiers had perished while on duty at the Rào Trăng 3 Hydroelectric Station. These officers, alongside emergency responders, risked everything to navigate treacherous waters and reach the people in distress. Despite the dangers, they rushed to save citizens in critical conditions. Tragically, the team was struck by a landslide while traveling to the rescue, resulting in their sacrifice. Their courage and selflessness stand as a profound example of heroism, all for the love of Central Vietnam, our beloved homeland.

The officers and staff of Viettel Group, a major telecommunications company in Vietnam, collaborated to raise a total of 10 billion VND in support of Central Vietnam’s flood victims. Upon receiving the donated funds, Viettel worked alongside local authorities and other branches within the affected areas to ensure the best support measures for the citizens. During the three consecutive major storms that struck Central Vietnam, Viettel mobilized nearly 1,500 technical staff to maintain networks and provide emergency communication services at priority stations, those at risk of flooding or being cut off. Viettel’s technical team also participated in rescue operations, deploying mobile broadcast vehicles and satellite phones to aid in command and rescue efforts. Additionally, Viettel Post, the company’s logistics arm, provided free transportation of essential supplies such as rice, noodles, and personal hygiene products to all disaster-affected areas.

On October 19th, in the midst of torrential rain at 1 a.m., the Bo Trach District Police received an urgent call about a passenger bus with license plate number 43B - 024.54 traveling from North to South. The bus carried 18 people, including 5 women and a 2-year-old child. As the bus passed through a flooded area at Khe Gat Ford, located in the Chiến Thắng neighborhood, the vehicle was swept away by the floodwaters, drifting several dozen meters off the road. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation and the potential danger to lives, especially in such a challenging time of ongoing floods, the Bo Trach Police immediately deployed a rescue team of 100 officers, along with 5 vehicles and necessary equipment, to the scene. In the dark of night, amidst strong currents, the police officers swam to the bus, broke the windows, and attached ropes to the bus to guide the stranded passengers to safety. By 4 a.m., the rescue team had successfully evacuated 5 women and the 2-year-old child from the bus, continuing to assist the remaining passengers. When the last passenger was safely brought to shore, hundreds of onlookers cheered with joy. Among the victims, the 2-year-old child, terrified and crying uncontrollably, caught the attention of one police officer, who immediately removed his uniform and wrapped it around the child to keep them warm and calm. Throughout the journey from the Khe Ngát Ford to the local health station in the town of Việt Trung, the officer made every effort to comfort and lull the child to sleep. This heartwarming image spread through the flood-affected region, offering comfort to the local residents.

On the afternoon of October 17th in Đông Hà, Quảng Trị, upon receiving news about rising floodwaters in several parts of the city, the officers of the Fire Fighting and Rescue Department of the Quảng Trị Provincial Police immediately mobilized their forces and equipment to the ‘hotspot’ for evacuation. The area requiring evacuation was Đặng Dung street, in Phường 2 (Đông Hà City). At that time, the water levels had risen dramatically, reaching up to 1.4 meters, combined with heavy rain, making movement extremely difficult. While evacuating citizens along Đặng Dung Street, the officers sang the song “We Are the Police Officers of Vietnam” by composer Trần Gia Cường to lift the morale of the team. Meanwhile, the residents, seated on floats, were being guided by police officers wading through the water. This emotional scene was captured on a phone by officer Nguyễn Ngọc Lai, a member of the rescue team. The simple yet heartwarming image moved countless hearts, symbolizing the deep compassion and the Vietnamese spirit of ‘love others as you love yourself.’

The prolonged and intense rainfall and flooding have caused widespread flooding, landslides, flash floods, and landslides in several regions of Central and Central Highlands Vietnam, especially in Thừa Thiên Huế and Quảng Trị provinces, resulting in fatalities and missing people. In response to this immense tragedy, the Prime Minister expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the soldiers who lost their lives while performing search and rescue missions, as well as to those affected by the natural disaster. In addition to these condolences, the Prime Minister allocated 5,000 tons of rice from the national reserves and 500 billion VND to the provinces of Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị, Thừa Thiên Huế, Quảng Nam, and Hà Tĩnh. Each province received 1,000 tons of rice and 100 billion VND for hunger relief and to help with the aftermath of the disaster. Furthermore, the government ensured the protection and safety of the citizens in these areas, sending timely assistance to encourage and support the spirit of the people during this difficult time.

Nguyễn Quân Dũng, a young man from Nghệ An, who lives in Vinh City, has traveled extensively by truck across the provinces of Quảng Trị, Huế, and Quảng Nam to deliver food supplies to isolated communities affected by the storm and flooding. After hearing about the struggles in many districts where residents were unable to leave due to the floods, Dũng not only spent his own money but also called on friends for donations. In a short time, he managed to collect 5,000 boxes of instant noodles for relief. Notably, he personally drove the truck for five days, reaching many flooded areas across the three provinces to distribute the noodles for free. "I was worried that the people wouldn't have anything to eat and might go hungry, so I had to drive through the night, in the middle of the storm, to make it in time," shared Nguyễn Quân Dũng.

Everyone surely remembers how, whenever storms and floods hit, devastating the lives of the people in Central Vietnam, social media is flooded with calls for donations. Many philanthropists and artists also joined in, sending clean water, instant noodles, and other essential goods to the isolated and struggling areas. Among the most notable individuals involved in this charitable work are MC Quyền Linh, the couple Lý Hải and Minh Hà, and many other artists who have made encouraging efforts. They visited the affected areas and personally delivered charitable donations to the people. In addition, there were numerous "unsung heroes" who made their way to Central Vietnam to support those in need. Above all, the spirit of solidarity helped the local people overcome adversity.