Tears in the mountains, hope from the capital
Tropical storms and floods have caused severe damages to mountainous areas of Vietnam in people and assets. Hanoi, as the heart of the nation, always shares the pain with its people, and promises to act and support them. Welcome back to The Hanoi Times' Words on the Street column.
THE HANOI TIMES — Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh cried during his visit to the people of Tia Dinh and Xa Dung communes in the northern mountain province of Dien Bien, following the devastating flash floods last weekend.
He could not hold back tears as he witnessed the destruction and listened to heart‑wrenching stories of loss: loved ones swept away, houses flattened, fields turned into muddy wastelands.
Those tears were not a sign of weakness, but the raw emotion of a leader who always puts the people first.
In September 2024, while visiting Nu village in Lao Cai, another place ravaged by historic flooding, Prime Minister Chinh also cried. At the conference that followed to address the aftermath of storm Yagi, he once again could not hide his emotions.
To some, a Prime Minister crying often may seem excessive.” Some even doubt the sincerity of those tears.
But for most Vietnamese people, including myself, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s tears feel genuine and heartfelt.
How could one not cry, when thousands of homes are buried in mud, when children’s bodies are found where they once laughed and played? When funerals are held in a rush, stripped of ceremony because no one has the heart to mourn properly anymore?
Typhoon Wipha and flash floods have caused severe damage in the mountainous provinces of Dien Bien and Son La. In Dien Bien, 10 people have died, and seven were injured. The estimated damage is about VND300 billion (US$11.4 million).
In Son La, five homes were swept away and many roads were blocked due to landslides and submerged in mud. Several suspension bridges were washed away, and dozens of hamlets were isolated.
On August 3, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh promptly approved an emergency support package of VND200 billion ($7.6 million) and 100 tons of rice for Dien Bien.
He also requested the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s Central Committee to help rebuild 80 homes that were swept away, with each family receiving VND100 million ($3,800).
The prime minister also directed ministries and local authorities to urgently restore roads, electricity, water supply, schools, and ensure basic living conditions for flood-hit residents.
From Hanoi, General Secretary To Lam issued an urgent directive: party committees and local governments must ensure that people who lost their homes do not fall into hunger, cold, or homelessness.
Rebuilding houses, especially in border and poor regions, must be a top priority. The national program to eliminate makeshift and dilapidated housing should also be accelerated, especially in disaster-hit areas.
The General Secretary also emphasized the role of the armed forces, police, businesses, and philanthropists in providing aid, not just food and money, but also presence, empathy, and timely, practical support to help victims recover and rebuild their lives.
Never has the spirit of “of the people, by the people, for the people” been shown more clearly and emotionally by the Party, the Government, and the State. These are compassionate actions that embody Vietnam’s moral tradition of mutual support: ensuring no one is left behind.
On social media, many expressed their emotions. A reader named Dinh Ba commented on the e-newspaper Dan Tri: “I’m touched by the prime minister’s wholehearted dedication to the people and the country.”
Quang Huy Nguyen wrote: “The prime minister has shared and sympathized with the people! Thank you!”
Duoc Nguyen said: “Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is a true leader for the people and the nation. He is always present in times of disaster and makes timely decisions to help people with the support of local governments.”
Such simple words show that the public see Prime Minister Chinh as a true companion of the people - someone “at the top but never above.” His tears are proof of compassion, and of leadership rooted in humanity.
Hanoi stands for the whole nation
As the country turns its attention to the flood-hit regions, Hanoi has shown meaningful solidarity and responsibility.
The Hanoi Party Committee, the Hanoi People’s Council, the Hanoi People’s Committee, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the city decided to allocate VND8 billion ($305,000) to help Dien Bien and Son La provinces recover from the disaster.
At the end of July, Hanoi Party Secretary Bui Thi Minh Hoai sent letters of sympathy, and the city provided VND5 billion ($191,000) from the relief fund to assist Nghe An in dealing with natural disaster damages.
These contributions may not be large, but they are filled with love and embody the spirit of “Hanoi for the whole country, the whole country for Hanoi”. More than material help, they are a message of unity – a soft power that builds public trust and connects hearts.
In times of hardship, such gestures from the capital have powerful ripple effects. They are a spiritual anchor for those battling nature’s wrath.
This is about people – leaders who cry with the people, cities that do not forget to share, and the enduring humanity and bonds between regions.
Hanoi has been, is, and will always be a firm pillar for the nation, with economic strength, compassion and social responsibility.
People in the highlands may be isolated by rugged terrain, but they are never abandoned. Behind them always stands a caring country and a capital city ready to act.
