”
We are in dire need of help. Tonight, the entire Mailisa family has nowhere to stay. Accommodations and hotels are occupied by evacuees, and there’s no electricity. We are currently in Làng Nủ village, if anyone in the area has a hotel, guesthouse, or a place we can stay, please let us know (there are 25 of us in the group)
,” wrote Phan Thị Mai, CEO of Mailisa beauty salon chain, on her personal Facebook page on the evening of September 14th.
Prior to this plea, Ms. Mai’s charitable group had arrived in Cao Bang province and provided over 1 billion VND in cash assistance to those affected by the third storm. This was part of their commitment to contribute 3 billion VND and 50 tons of rice towards disaster relief.
In Vĩnh Quang commune, Bảo Lâm district of Cao Bang, Ms. Mai presented 70 million VND to 7 households who lost loved ones in flash floods and landslides. She also gave away 2 charitable houses worth 200 million VND and 400 million VND in cash to 800 impoverished and disadvantaged households. The group then proceeded to Yên Lạc commune in Nguyên Bình district, where they donated another 2 charitable houses valued at 200 million VND, 90 million VND to 180 poor households, and 60 million VND to 6 families who had lost members.
The next stop for Ms. Mai was Làng Nủ village, Phúc Khánh commune, Bảo Yên district, Lào Cai province, which had been devastated by a terrifying landslide that buried the entire village. As of the evening of September 14th, 51 people had been reported dead, 33 were missing, and only 57 had been accounted for.
According to Ms. Mai’s plan, after consulting with local leaders, the group would distribute 1 billion VND in cash aid in Làng Nủ. Specifically, 39 households whose homes had been flattened and who had lost loved ones would receive 20 million VND each. An additional 222 million VND would be distributed to 370 other disadvantaged villagers. The distribution was scheduled for noon on September 15th.
However, on the evening of September 14th, Ms. Mai’s group encountered a setback when they couldn’t find a place to stay. After her plea for help, a benefactor contacted them and offered accommodations for the entire group.
Mailisa’s charity group in Làng Nủ village.
Earlier, Ms. Mai recounted the arduous journey to Làng Nủ, which was fraught with landslides blocking the roads. At times, her group had to rely on excavators to get through impassable sections.
”
It’s not just about the money, but also the effort and thought that goes into it. Timing and targeting the right recipients, especially those in remote areas, are crucial when it comes to giving
,” said Ms. Mai.
Phan Thị Mai, born in 1975 in Đức Thọ district, Hà Tĩnh province, comes from a farming family. Having experienced loss due to natural disasters, she frequently engages in large-scale charitable activities, such as the recent 70-billion-VND “Zero-dong Kitchen” project in Gò Vấp district, Ho Chi Minh City. Her Mailisa beauty salon chain is also a well-known brand in the beauty industry.
