“Stay Strong, Northern Vietnam!” – A Journey to Bring Clean Water to Flood-Affected Communities

Northern Vietnam, stay strong!

This has been the rallying cry of the nation over the past week, as people from all over Vietnam have been showing their support and encouraging the flood-affected communities in the North to stay resilient.

Although Typhoon Yagi and the subsequent floods have passed, the severe aftermath remains. Embodying the spirit of “sharing and caring,” hundreds of relief teams have rushed to the Northern provinces with a sense of solidarity and compassion.

On September 13th, just before 5 a.m., our relief team, including representatives from the VTV Youth Union, the Ministry of Public Security’s Youth Union, and prominent businesses such as the TH Group, departed from Hanoi. Guided by the military and police, we arrived in Zone 9 of Hien Luong Commune, Ha Hoa District, Phu Tho Province, in the late morning.

At the peak of the floods, the water level here rose to about 6 meters above the road, and it still stood at approximately 4 meters at the time of our visit. The entire neighborhood had been isolated for three days. Daily, the soldiers used small boats to deliver food and drinks to the families who chose to stay, either because they hadn’t had time to evacuate or because they didn’t want to leave.

Our boat glided through the deep waters, passing by what used to be bustling residential areas, once-thriving model rural villages, and lush riverine fields, now all lying in ruins. The typhoon had left its devastating mark, with houses half-submerged, some tilting dangerously, their roofs torn off, and empty window frames gazing forlornly into the distance. In slightly higher areas, residents stood on second-floor balconies, eagerly awaiting the relief teams for their much-needed supplies.

A boy sits on the second floor of his house, with the first floor almost entirely submerged.

The military and police forces assist relief teams in reaching the affected communities.

We stopped at the home of Mr. Nguyen Van Cong in Zone 9 of Hien Luong Commune, and he shared his harrowing experience during the floods.

“At 6 a.m. on September 9th, the floodwaters started rising, and my family had to evacuate to a safer place. However, concerned about our belongings that we had worked so hard for, I decided to stay behind, thinking that ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way.’ My family owns four rice threshers and a harvester, two of which were left in the fields and were swept away by the floods. We also lost our fish pond, and we were only able to save 60 bags of rice by moving them to higher ground.”

When asked about the relief goods he needed the most, Mr. Cong replied that clean water was his top priority. For him, clean water was not just for quenching thirst but also essential for cooking.

“My family has six members, and as of now, we still don’t have access to clean water for daily use. The floodwaters have only receded to about two meters. Thankfully, the local authorities and relief teams have been a great help. I’ve been suffering from foot sores from wading through the dirty water for days. The clean water you brought will be used for drinking and cooking,” said Mr. Cong, his voice filled with gratitude.

Homes without electricity and some that have collapsed. This particular family chose not to evacuate and receives daily supplies of clean water and food from the military and kind-hearted donors.

One of the most memorable stops on our journey was Phin Ngan Commune in Bat Xat District, Lao Cai Province. We set off from the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Lao Cai Province at 4:30 p.m., heading towards Bat Xat.

The roads in this area had also been cut off due to landslides, and we navigated through muddy and bumpy sections that had been partially cleared by the authorities and local people. According to local leaders, the landslides had isolated the villages in Phin Ngan Commune completely. It was only on September 13th that transportation in the area resumed normal operations. Along the way, there were still warning signs and ropes stretched across the road to caution drivers about potential landslides and the strong current of water flowing across the road.

Upon reaching the People’s Committee of Phin Ngan Commune, we continued our journey on motorcycles, with local youth union members who were familiar with the terrain leading the way. We carried boxes of essential goods and bottles of clean water, delivering them to each household in need.

As night fell at 7 p.m., we began our descent from the mountain, navigating the winding and rocky road in the dark. Our hearts were heavy with the emotions of the day. The natural disaster had claimed lives, destroyed homes, and wiped out livelihoods. We hoped that the small bottles of water and essential goods we delivered would provide some much-needed support and strength to the resilient people of the North as they rebuild their lives.

Along the way down, we encountered vehicles with banners that read, “Relief for flood-affected people in the North.” For days, convoys had been traveling from the South and Central regions to the North, a true testament to the unity and compassion of the Vietnamese people. We will stand together and support each other through these challenging times.

Embodying the spirit of mutual support and compassion that is inherent in Vietnamese culture, the TH Group, Bac A Bank, and the For Vietnam’s Stature Foundation (VSF) – organizations led by Labor Hero Thai Huong – have provided timely relief assistance to the people of the Northern provinces severely affected by Typhoon No. 3. As of September 14th, the total value of their support amounted to VND 6 billion, including cash and approximately 400,000 units of fresh milk, beverages, and bottled water (TH true WATER).

In addition to cash donations through political and social organizations for purchasing essential goods and rescue equipment, the fresh milk and beverages were directly distributed to the people in need. These products were not only essential but also invaluable to the flood-affected communities during the flooding. Moreover, access to clean water – a basic necessity – will help ensure the health and well-being of the people and enable them to regain stability in their lives.