‘Packages of love’ for compatriots in hardship

(ĐN) - In the wake of severe losses caused by natural disasters across several provinces and cities, the Party, local authorities, and the people of Dong Nai province have shown solidarity and compassion, offering meaningful and practical support to those affected.

Residents of Trang Dai ward in Dong Nai province are helping each other prepare banh tet (cylindrical glutinous rice cake) to send more food aid to flood-affected communities. Photo: Cong Nghia

During the historic floods in the South Central Coast and Central Highlands, Dong Nai has provided not only material support but also dispatched personnel and equipment to assist communities in overcoming the disaster. Beyond this, local Party committees, authorities, and community organisations continue to take further meaningful actions to stand alongside people in affected areas.

Doan Thi Hoa, a native of Ninh Phuoc commune, Khanh Hoa province, now residing in Trang Dai ward, has spent recent days feeling as if "sitting on a bed of fire" after seeing images of her hometown and other areas in the South Central and Central Highlands submerged in floodwaters.

She shared: “I’m nearly 50 years old, and I’ve never seen my peaceful hometown struck by such fierce floods and such severe damage.”

Women of Trang Dai ward work through the night of November 22 and into the early hours of November 23 to wrap banh chung (square glutinous rice cake) and banh tet. Photo: Cong Nghia

Although travel was difficult during the stormy season, Doan Thi Hoa found her own way to support her hometown. On the afternoon of November 22, after finishing her shift at Changshin Vietnam Co., Ltd. in Tan Trieu ward, she went to the Trang Dai Ward Cultural House. There, she joined others in washing and drying dong and banana leaves, and wrapping banh chung and banh tet, working through the night to prepare food packages for flood-affected communities.

Emotionally, she shared: “Wrapping banh chung and banh tet during Tet is usually such a joyful experience, but today it was the opposite. I couldn’t hold back my tears. Like everyone here, I just hope that the people in the flood-hit areas can overcome this and soon return to their peaceful everyday lives.”

Though not originally from the central region, Tran Van Son of Trang Dai ward has deeply shared in the sorrow and losses of residents in the flood zone. In a tangible show of support, he and his neighbors came together to donate essential supplies for urgent relief. Over the past several days, he set aside personal matters to help gather and prepare goods to send to those affected by the floods, serving as part of an effort initiated by the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Trang Dai Ward.

Tran Van Son said, “I still vividly remember four years ago, when Dong Nai was overwhelmed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and everything was under lockdown. At that time, my family received a bag of rice, along with vegetables, eggs, dried fish, and salt sent by people from the Central region. Now that the Central region is reeling from severe flooding, the kindness we received back then comes rushing back. I truly feel the pain of those affected, and I want to do everything I can to share in and help ease the enormous losses they are facing.”

A family delivers milk, snacks, and old clothes to the Trang Dai Ward Cultural House to support flood-affected communities. Photo: Cong Nghia

Phan Quang Tuan, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Council of Trang Dai ward, said this year’s storm and flood season has been especially harsh, causing severe damage from the North down to the Central region.

“Whenever there’s a major disaster, the ward’s Fatherland Front Committee and residents in the locality immediately step in to organize donations,” he said. “Everyone gives what they can, no matter how small, because it’s the thought that counts. Over the past few days, we’ve collected essential supplies and goods to support people in the Central region. It’s a true community effort, and it’s heartwarming to see that every resident takes part in the aid campaign with the same commitment as if they’re helping their own family.”

According to the Trang Dai Ward Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, over the night of November 22 into the early hours of November 23, residents prepared and cooked more than 300 banh chung and banh tet, which were loaded onto trucks for rapid delivery to disaster-affected areas. In addition, locals donated hundreds of boxes of instant noodles, rice, bottled water, and other essential supplies. The goods were sorted and packed into individual parcels for easier distribution once they reach the flood-affected communities.

Beyond the donation points managed by the Dong Nai Provincial Fatherland Front Committee and the provincial Red Cross, many other localities across the province have also been urgently organizing their own collection and relief efforts to support residents in need.

By Cong Nghia – Translated by Thien Kim, Minho