On September 11, at the home of Mr. Le Thanh Long in Da Nang’s Ngu Hanh Son District, dozens of volunteers were busy preparing chung cakes and tet cakes to send to flood-affected areas in northern Vietnam.

Mr. Long explained that local volunteer groups quickly organized when news of severe flooding and food shortages in the North broke on September 9. Community members, many of whom were strangers, came together to help, taking on tasks from soaking rice to wrapping cakes. The atmosphere was both urgent and cooperative.

Thu Trang, a member of the volunteer group, mentioned that previous experience assisting flood victims has helped streamline the current relief efforts.

On September 12, 15 pickup trucks and a cargo truck carrying 5-6 tons of goods, including 1,000 chung cakes, dried fish, life jackets, and essential supplies, were dispatched to the affected areas. Volunteers will continue to prepare cakes in the coming days to send daily relief.

“We have received support from all over the country whenever Central Vietnam has faced storms or flooding,” Trang said. “Now it’s our turn to help those in the North who are struggling after the storm.”

At Ngoc Lan Kindergarten in Da Nang, students, teachers, and parents have been contributing to the relief effort by collecting shoes for children affected by the floods. Each teacher is also donating a day’s salary.

Over 200 pairs of shoes have already been collected and will be thoroughly cleaned before being sent to children in need in the northern provinces.

Da Nang’s inflatable rescue boat team also set off to assist residents in the flood-stricken northern regions. The team, consisting of more than 10 members and several boats, is coordinating with local authorities to provide timely aid.

Minh Viet, a member of the rescue team, shared that this is just the initial deployment. If needed, they will call for additional personnel and resources, staying until the floodwaters recede.

The SOS Da Nang team also mobilized on September 8, initially providing aid in Hai Phong before moving on to Yen Bai and other northern provinces.

“Whenever Central Vietnam faces natural disasters, the whole country responds,” said Dang Ngoc Tien, leader of the SOS Da Nang team. “Now that the North is in need, it’s time for us to give back.”

Thien Luong - Quoc Huy - Tran Nghi