For five days, Bui Tan Truong’s home in Vo Kien Hamlet, Dien Khanh Commune, Khanh Hoa Province became a shelter for more than 50 people displaced by rising floodwaters. They huddled together, shared what little food they had, and made sure no one was left behind.

From his balcony, Truong recalled, "For two straight days, all I could see was an endless sea of floodwater."

Starting on the afternoon of November 18, the Cai River in Nha Trang surged, inundating residential areas with water levels reaching up to three meters.

People in Vo Kien, Khanh Hoa endured five nights without power or clean water.

The elderly, unable to move on their own, were cared for by younger residents. Volunteer groups brought supplies to help the community survive isolation.

More than 70 years old, Ba Hai said it was the fastest, highest flood she had ever seen.

“In just an hour or two during the night, the water nearly touched the ceiling,” she said. People frantically called out to one another, climbing to higher ground. In lower homes, some had to tear open roofs to escape.

Hai and her daughter clung to a metal wall all night, hoping their roof wouldn’t collapse. Rescue teams finally reached them the next morning.

Without power, water, or phone signals, residents relied on candles or oil lamps to light the night and comfort one another. Though evacuated, their thoughts remained with the homes they left behind - damaged appliances, lost possessions, and nothing but the clothes they wore.

They collected rainwater just to get by. “At least we’re alive,” one person whispered. News spread slowly from neighboring villages, fueling anxiety. With no way to call for help, they waited in the dark.

When they reached shelter, they rationed food, helping one another through the high waters.

Pham Thi Anh Nga said the water rose so fast she had to climb to safety and went two days without eating.

When others brought her to safety, she looked at their faces and said, “We just nodded at each other. No words. I was still panicking - two of my relatives hadn’t been rescued yet.”

Heavy rain pounded the shelter. Over a dozen people huddled together, some crying, each raindrop fueling their fear.

By November 20, everyone trapped had been rescued. When they heard the news, tears of relief flowed.

Even now, many shudder recalling those moments. “We were scared someone would freeze up, lose grip, and be swept away,” said one villager.

On November 21, Dinh Thi Kim Khanh, head of the Women’s Union in Vo Kien, cooked pho for those at the shelter. Owning a small eatery, she gathered every last ingredient she had to serve those in need. “Everyone’s hungry - we share what we have,” she said.

As the water rose, locals were guided to higher ground. Village leaders stayed awake through the night, coordinating rescue efforts to get each household out.

In many parts of Vo Kien, water levels remain too high for residents to return home.

By November 22, water levels in Dien Khanh had begun to drop, but many areas remained cut off. In Vo Kien alone, some areas were still submerged by nearly a meter. Broken bridges and washed-out roads hampered aid delivery.

Bui Minh Nhan, Party Secretary of Vo Kien, borrowed a boat to ferry residents to safety and deliver food and water to stranded homes.

“By the 21st, when the water eased a bit, people finally got clean water and instant noodles,” he said.

With 398 households in the hamlet, the blackout came just hours after the floods began. Nhan and a few others swam from house to house, using memory to navigate. “There was no time to think - just instincts and the sound of people shouting for help,” he recalled.

By the next morning, they used boats to continue evacuating people. Without phone service, they stopped at every home, prioritizing children and the elderly. Each boat could carry just two or three people, but the teams worked tirelessly, ensuring everyone was safe by November 20.

When a drone flew overhead, Nhan held up a water bottle and shouted, “People here badly need clean water!”

“Two more people left at Nha Muoi - please help them!”

As the village chief drove a truck loaded with supplies, Nguyen Hoang Tuyen called out for help. “The current was so strong, we nearly flipped several times,” he said. Life jackets were scarce, and nerves were stretched thin. “Luckily, everyone made it out safely.”

By 6 p.m., village chief Thai Minh Tien had gathered enough food for the next delivery.

Final boat trips carried meals to three shelter sites, mostly in tall buildings. The teams raced to finish before dark, uncertain whether the waters would rise again.

Final rescue trips brought essential supplies to shelters before nightfall.

Lieutenant Nguyen Quoc Tuan from Khanh Hoa’s Fire and Rescue Police joined volunteers in delivering aid to nine households in the farthest corner of Vo Kien. It was their second trip of the day. Navigating deep waters, they used large trucks to reach people.

“Thank you, please be careful on the way back!” a villager called out, her smile cutting through the dark.

“Take care, Auntie Hai!” they shouted back.

As the vehicle turned around, Tuan wished they had brought clothes for the people.

One woman, hearing the trucks, ran out begging for candles - an essential item during these flood-ravaged nights.

By candlelight, Vo Duc Thanh’s two daughters cleaned up their home. “We stayed at my uncle’s on higher ground. Only came back this morning to check,” he said.

His house was a mess, but Thanh remained hopeful.

“I don’t even know where to start... but we’re alive. That’s what matters.”

Nguyen Hue