The military and civilians unite to overcome the flood.

A hurried meal, a quick nap, then another round of wading through floodwaters to help the people; troops are deployed everywhere, constantly on the move, sometimes reinforcing dikes, other times salvaging rice crops. This has been a familiar sight over the past few days for officers and soldiers of the armed forces of Tay Ninh province in the Dong Thap Muoi region, which is struggling to cope with this year's flood season.

The soldiers waded through the water to help the people harvest rice.

Stay close to the people, stay close to the fields, protect every rice pad and dike.

Faced with the complex developments of heavy rain and flooding, departments, agencies, and localities in the Dong Thap Muoi region of Tay Ninh province are urgently implementing many solutions to protect production and minimize damage, especially to the autumn-winter and winter-spring rice crops that have just been sown. In particular, the provincial armed forces have always been a solid "support" for the people during these days of rising water levels.

In Tan Hung commune, one of the lowest-lying areas in the province, the water level this year has risen unusually high. Since the floods arrived, the permanent militia force has had almost no days off. Pham Si Bel, a militia soldier from the Tan Hung Commune Military Command, shared: "Flood control knows no time. When people need us, we have to be there, and we only go home after the job is done. No one can bear to see their people suffer."

The soldiers used mangrove wood to prevent the dike from breaking.

Along the embankments, many sections have been eroded by the water. Under the torrential rain, militiamen, local soldiers, and residents take turns reinforcing the embankments with sandbags and reinforcing the piles. The rhythmic shouts mingled with the roar of the pumps, all blending into a frantic pace amidst the flood season.

Deputy Commander of the Tan Hung Commune Military Command, Nguyen Hoang Quan, said: “The militia force strictly adheres to the duty roster, closely monitoring every field and every residential area. Wherever there is an incident, the militia is there. Sometimes, they are eating dinner and upon hearing news of a dike breach, they drop their chopsticks and run immediately. Everyone understands this is their duty and responsibility to the people.”

Soldiers drive piles into the ground to prevent the dike from breaking.

During peak days, the local military forces had to divide into many small teams to both reinforce the dikes and assist people in harvesting any remaining crops. Everyone was soaked, but their eyes shone with determination.

The bond between the military and the people remains strong amidst the silver waters.

Not only in Tan Hung, but also in Vinh Hung commune, floodwaters rose rapidly across the rice fields. Mrs. Tran My Hanh's family in Go Cat hamlet was one of the households whose rice crops were submerged. She emotionally recounted: "If it weren't for the soldiers' help, I would have lost everything. The water rose so quickly, the boats couldn't get through, and the harvesting machines were useless. The soldiers waded in to retrieve the rice, cutting each bundle one by one. It was heartbreaking to see."

In the chest-deep flooded fields, dozens of officers and soldiers of Company 9 – Command of Defense Zone 4 ( Tay Ninh Provincial Military Command) patiently cut each clump of rice with sickles and rice stalks. The rice was bundled together and placed on nylon tarpaulins to form floating rafts to be pulled ashore.

Corporal Le Trung, a soldier from the 9th Infantry Company, said while harvesting: "Seeing the rice flooded is heartbreaking. No matter how hard it is, I try my best to help; I don't feel tired at all. Every bundle of rice we cut helps save a portion of the villagers' income."

The team is repairing the broken section of the dike.

Amidst the storm, Lieutenant Pham Thanh Tri, commander of the 9th Infantry Company, shouted: "Keep going, comrades! Every bundle of rice we salvage represents the sweat and hard work of our people. Don't let the flood sweep it all away!"

The encouraging shouts echoed across the shimmering fields, giving them renewed strength. Hands moved swiftly, and boats lined up one after another, carrying rice ashore amidst the cold rain.

Mr. Nguyen Van Du, a farmer from Vinh Hung commune, said emotionally: “The soldiers and militia members were very enthusiastic. My family has 8 acres of land, and we were able to harvest over 30 acres thanks to them, the militia, and the youth union members. Without them, I would have probably lost everything.”

In Hung Dien commune, local military forces are also working hard to reinforce the dike protecting the rice fields. Deputy Commander of the Commune Military Command, Le Thanh Hung, said: “Officers and soldiers always consider helping the people as their duty. Many of them have been working in the rain for days on end, but no one complains about the hardship. Protecting the rice for the people is our greatest joy.”

Soldiers and civilians work together to reinforce the embankment.

The floodwaters will recede, the fields will turn green again, and the rice paddies will return to the vibrant yellow of the new harvest. But the image of the soldiers in their green uniforms wading through the water, harvesting bundles of rice, and piling up sandbags to reinforce the dikes… will remain deeply etched in the hearts of the people of the Dong Thap Muoi region.

This is not only a story about a sense of responsibility, but also a vivid testament to the close bond between the military and the people.

According to Do Huu Phuong , Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Tay Ninh province, the entire 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 area alone, more than 74,200 hectares have been sown, with nearly 28,700 hectares already harvested, and the remaining 45,600 hectares are in the heading, tillering, and milk-ripening stages.

In addition, the entire province has nearly 37,300 hectares of newly sown 2025-2026 Winter-Spring rice, of which the Dong Thap Muoi region alone accounts for more than 27,800 hectares. According to statistics up to October 20, 2025, floods have damaged nearly 252 hectares of rice in Tay Ninh province, of which nearly 230 hectares were completely destroyed; 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… Particularly, the entire province has more than 7,200 hectares of Autumn-Winter rice and 100 hectares of Winter-Spring rice at risk of flooding and damage.

According to Nguyen Quang Ngoc, Director of the Tay Ninh Meteorological and Hydrological Station, water levels on rivers and canals in the Dong Thap Muoi area are rising rapidly due to a combination of heavy local rainfall, high tides, and upstream flooding, with an average increase of 1-3 cm per day. Current water levels at stations in the Dong Thap Muoi area are measured to be 4-49 cm higher than the same period in 2024. Floodwaters are predicted to continue rising and peak around October 23-24, potentially reaching or exceeding Warning Level II, especially at upstream stations in the northern part of Tay Ninh province.

According to forecasts, the highest water levels 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); and at Kien Binh and Tuyen Nhon stations, the forecast is approximately 0.05m higher than alarm level III.

Le Duc

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