Army and people unite to overcome floods

Soldiers wade in water to harvest rice to help people

Stick to the people, stick to the fields, keep each rice field and dike

Faced with the complicated developments of floods and rains, departments, branches and localities in the Dong Thap Muoi region of Tay Ninh province have urgently deployed many solutions to protect production and limit damage, especially for the newly sown autumn-winter and winter-spring rice fields. In particular, the provincial armed forces are always a solid "support" for the people during the days of rising water.

In Tan Hung commune, one of the lowest areas in the province, the water level has risen abnormally this year. Since the flood began, the militia force has had almost no days off. Pham Si Bel, a militia soldier of the Tan Hung Commune Military Command, said: “Flood fighting does not count the hours. When people need us, we have to be there and only return after finishing our work, because no one can bear to see our people suffer.”

Soldiers used cajuput trees to prevent the dike from breaking.

Many sections of the dyke system were washed away by water. Under the pouring rain, militiamen, local soldiers and people took turns building sacks and piling piles. The rhythmic shouts mixed with the roar of pumps, all combined into an urgent rhythm in the middle of the flood season.

Deputy Commander of Tan Hung Commune Military Command Nguyen Hoang Quan said: “The militia force strictly follows the duty regime, closely following each field and each residential area. Wherever there is an incident, there are the militia. Sometimes when we hear news of a dike breaking while eating, we drop our chopsticks and run away. Everyone determines that this is their duty and responsibility to the people.”

Soldiers piled piles to prevent the dike from breaking.

During peak days, the commune military force had to split into many small groups to both protect the dike and help people harvest the remaining crops. Everyone was soaked, but their eyes shone with determination.

The strong military-civilian relationship between the silver river

Not only in Tan Hung, in Vinh Hung commune, floodwaters also rose rapidly in the fields. Mrs. Tran My Hanh's family in Go Cat hamlet was one of the households whose rice was submerged. She emotionally recounted: "If it weren't for the soldiers' help, I would have lost everything. The water rose so quickly, the boat couldn't get in, the harvester couldn't do anything. The soldiers waded down to look for the rice and cut each bundle, it was heartbreaking to see."

In the chest-deep water fields, dozens of officers and soldiers of Company 9 - Defense Command of Region 4 ( Tay Ninh Provincial Military Command) with sickles and rice in hand, patiently cut each clump. The rice was bundled and placed on nylon tarps to form floating rafts to be pulled to shore.

Corporal Le Trung, a soldier of the 9th Infantry Company, said while harvesting: “Seeing the rice flooded, I feel so sorry. No matter how hard it is, I try to help, I don’t feel tired. Each bundle of rice cut saves a part of the income for the people.”

The force to repair the broken dike

Amidst the wind and rain, Senior Lieutenant Pham Thanh Tri - Captain of the 9th Infantry Company, shouted: "Keep up the good work, comrade! Every bundle of rice you salvage is the sweat and effort of our people. Don't let the flood wash it all away!"

The cheers echoed through the silver water as if to give us more strength. Hands moved quickly again, boats lined up to carry rice to shore in the cold rain.

Mr. Nguyen Van Du, a farmer in Vinh Hung commune, emotionally said: “The soldiers and militia are very enthusiastic. My family has 8 hectares, and I was able to cut three hectares thanks to them, the militia and union members. Without them, I would have nothing.”

In Hung Dien commune, local military forces also worked hard to reinforce the dike to protect the rice fields. Deputy Commander of the Commune Military Command, Le Thanh Hung, said: "Officers and soldiers always consider helping people as their duty. Many brothers were drenched in the rain for many days, but no one complained about the hardship. Protecting rice for the people is the greatest joy."

Soldiers and people together reinforce the embankment

The flood will recede, the fields will be green again, the fields will return to the brilliant yellow of the new harvest. But the image of the green-shirted soldiers wading in the water, harvesting each bundle of rice, building each sandbag to protect the dike… will remain deeply imprinted in the hearts of the people of Dong Thap Muoi region.

It is not only a story about responsibility, but also a vivid demonstration of the close relationship between the army and the people./.

Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Tay Ninh Do Huu Phuong said that the whole province has sown nearly 92,000 hectares of rice for the 2025 Autumn-Winter crop, of which nearly 28,800 hectares have been harvested. In the Dong Thap Muoi region alone, more than 74,200 hectares have been sown, nearly 28,700 hectares have been harvested, the remaining 45,600 hectares are in the flowering, tillering, and milk ripening stages.

In addition, the whole province has nearly 37,300 hectares of newly sown 2025-2026 Winter-Spring rice, of which Dong Thap Muoi region alone accounts for more than 27,800 hectares. According to statistics up to October 20, 2025, flood waters have damaged nearly 252 hectares of rice in Tay Ninh province, of which nearly 230 hectares were completely lost; 22 hectares of fruit trees and 1.5 hectares of vegetables were also affected; mainly concentrated in communes such as Khanh Hung, Vinh Thanh, Vinh Chau... In particular, the whole province has more than 7,200 hectares of Autumn-Winter rice and 100 hectares of Winter-Spring rice at risk of being flooded and damaged by floods.

Director of Tay Ninh Hydrometeorological Station Nguyen Quang Ngoc said that the water level on rivers and canals in Dong Thap Muoi area is rising rapidly due to a combination of heavy rains in the area, high tides and floods from upstream, with an average increase rate of 1-3 cm/day and night. The current water level at stations in Dong Thap Muoi area is measured to be 4-49 cm higher than the same period in 2024. Flood water is forecast to continue to rise and peak around October 23-24, possibly reaching or exceeding alert level II, especially at upstream stations in the North of Tay Ninh province.

According to forecasts, the highest water level in 2025 could reach 3.4m at Hung Dien B station; 3m at Tan Hung (0.2m higher than alarm level II); 2m at Moc Hoa (equal to alarm level III); at Kien Binh and Tuyen Nhon stations, it is forecasted to be about 0.05m higher than alarm level III.

Le Duc

Source: https://baolongan.vn/quan-dan-dong-long-vuot-lu-a204968.html