Overcoming fierce floods together

In recent days, historic rains and floods have continued to cause severe damage across many provinces in Central Vietnam and the Central Highlands. As floodwaters have yet to recede thoroughly, losses of life, property, homes, and crops continue to leave tens of thousands of households devastated. In these times of hardship, the nation’s spirit of “sharing food and clothing” has been awakened more strongly than ever.

Dak Lak Provincial Police rescue family with children and the elderly at Tay Hoa commune. Photo: Minh Anh

Central Vietnam is no stranger to prolonged rains and storms, but this time the floods have exceeded all forecasts. In many areas, water levels rose rapidly within just a few hours, sweeping away homes, fields, and livestock, cutting off transportation, and making rescue operations extremely difficult.

On this narrow and vulnerable stretch of land, every passing storm leaves behind old wounds yet to heal while carving deeper new ones. In the Central Highlands, provinces such as Gia Lai and Lam Dong were also severely affected. Torrential rains triggered consecutive landslides, sweeping away hundreds of homes and devastating thousands of hectares of crops, including coffee and pepper, the primary sources of livelihood for local communities. Many villages were left isolated, facing shortages of food, clean water, and medicine.

The floods not only washed away property, but also brought immeasurable loss. The tears of mothers who lost their children, of wives who lost their husbands, and of children left orphaned in an instant have gripped the hearts of the entire nation.

When floods and storms challenge the resilience and humanity of the Vietnamese people

Amid the sorrow, what warms our hearts is the image of human kindness. Police forces, the army, and local militias work day and night tirelessly to carry out rescue operations; relief trucks rush onto the roads; field kitchens send up smoke across flood-stricken areas; and houses open their doors to shelter strangers. All of this reflects the age-old tradition of solidarity in our nation.

In major cities, countless volunteer groups, social organizations, associations, businesses, and individuals immediately mobilized to collect donations. A pack of instant noodles, a few sets of clothes, a box of water, a warm blanket, or even just a few dozen thousand dong from low-income workers – all of these have become lifelines helping flood-affected communities stay resilient.

This spirit is not new. It has become a defining trait of the Vietnamese people – a small but indomitable nation, enduring hardships yet full of compassion, poor yet always willing to share. Whenever natural disasters strike, the people across the country come together like one big family: some contribute their labor, some their money, some their words of encouragement, all turning their attention to the areas most in need.

Officers and personnel of Tam Hiep Ward Police load relief goods onto vehicles for delivery to flood-affected communities. Photo: Cong Nghia

The fierce floods not only tested the compassion of society but also demanded a coordinated, swift, and professional response from the entire political system. First and foremost, emergency relief efforts must be carried out faster and with greater accuracy, with State resources mobilized to the fullest and allocated to the right people, in the right places, at the right time. At the same time, the media must maintain its role as a truthful and humane communication bridge. Accurate information enables effective rescue coordination, prevents panic, and promptly spreads meaningful stories that strengthen public trust. In the long term, local governments need to be more proactive in disaster preparedness: developing safer residential planning, issuing early warnings, reinforcing dams and reservoirs, constructing flood-proof shelters, and providing training on self-rescue skills. A well-prepared system will significantly reduce potential losses.

Moreover, businesses and socio-political organizations must continue to play a vital role in the community. Contributions in the form of funding, equipment, rescue vehicles, and post-flood support are not only a corporate social responsibility but also a humanitarian mission of units that have developed thanks to the nation's peace and stability.

No one left behind after the floods

When the floodwaters recede, what remains is not only mud and devastation, but also a long and challenging journey of recovery. Thousands of homes must be rebuilt from the ground up; once-fertile fields have been stripped bare; children are left without familiar classrooms; and countless workers have lost their livelihoods in the aftermath of a flood. The natural calamity may have passed, but the “battle” to restore life has only just begun.

Therefore, support cannot stop at emergency relief. What flood-affected communities need now are long-term and sustainable recovery policies: concessional loans for farmers to resume production; restoration of schools, clinics, and transportation infrastructure; the provision of appropriate seedlings and livestock to restart agricultural cycles; community medical examination and treatment to prevent post-flood disease outbreaks; and temporary employment opportunities for those who have lost their income. This endeavor is not only the responsibility of the State, but the collective duty of the entire nation. Every contribution, no matter how small, is a building block in the effort to rebuild lives. Because the safety and stability of one region is not theirs alone to bear, it is the safety and stability of the entire country, of all of us.

Members of the Thien Son Charity Club (Tho Son commune, Dong Nai province) connect the community and mobilize community resources to support residents in the flood-hit central region. Photo: Thi Huong

Throughout the nation's history, the Vietnamese people have consistently withstood natural disasters. From devastating floods and historic storms to tragic landslides, our people have always risen again, rebuilding homes, replanting crops, and joining hands to rebuild their lives. That strength does not stem from material wealth, but first and foremost from human compassion, the most intangible yet enduring asset of the nation. In the face of floods, a single outstretched hand can save an entire family. A few words of encouragement can give flood-stricken households the strength to carry on. A timely act of sharing can shield a child from hunger and cold. That is why, even as natural disasters continue to strike, the Vietnamese people press on, guided by compassion, united in solidarity, and with hearts burning with resilience, refusing to yield.

From the heart – for every heart

Today, as the Central and Central Highlands regions brace under the weight of devastating floods, we cannot, and must not, stand by. The suffering of our compatriots is not the pain of a single region, but a wound carved into the very body of the nation. To heal and rebuild, no one but the Vietnamese people can come together. Each individual giving a little, each family doing its part, each organization fulfilling its responsibility, will together form the strength of a nation that has always known how to care for and protect one another in times of hardship. That shared effort can begin with the simplest of acts: a message sent to a relief hotline; a box of instant noodles, a few bottles of water, or a warm coat delivered to flood-stricken areas; a contribution from a business or agency; an article that shares accurate information; a message of encouragement for frontline rescue teams; or a humanitarian vehicle pushing through torrential rain to carry warmth and hope from afar.

No contribution is ever too small when it comes from the heart. No act is nonsense if it helps a family firmly stand, a child return to school, or a person regain the faith to continue living. When one heart reaches out to another, we create a strength great enough to carry our people through the storm and flood.

Police officers in Tam Hiep ward receive goods donated by local residents to support flood-affected communities. Photo: Cong Nghia

These days, rising floodwaters are laying bare the fragility of human life in the face of nature, but at the same time, they reveal the boundless strength of Vietnamese compassion. We cannot change the laws of weather, but we can transform loss into hope, grief into determination, and pain into strength to rebuild lives.

The floods will pass, but what remains is our shared responsibility: not only to deliver emergency aid, but to offer a steady hand; not only to provide support, but to walk alongside those in need; not only to give, but to share with all our hearts. Because only when we clasp hands and face hardship together can this nation truly grow strong, and only when no one is left behind can the country move forward with confidence, no matter how many storms lie ahead.

By Tu Huu Cong – Translated by Thu Hien, Minho