I miss you so much, Khanh Hoa!

Early that morning, as news reports poured in about the flooding in Khanh Hoa, my phone was flooded with messages from my daughter and her husband living abroad, from friends, former comrades, and fellow writers from all over the country. A short message from writer Vu Thi Hong – former Commander of the Women's Army – read: "We feel so sorry for you, Khanh Hoa!" It hung suspended on the screen, bringing tears to my eyes. Just one short sentence, yet it broke my heart.

Many central areas of Khanh Hoa province are deeply submerged in water.

For the past week, Khanh Hoa has been submerged in floods. Familiar roads have turned into rivers. Rising water has swept away many possessions and disrupted the lives of countless people. But amidst this vast expanse of water, I not only witnessed the losses but also recognized a silent strength – the spirit of humanity, the will to "all for the people."

Hardships only strengthen bonds of friendship.

In recent days, the sacred meaning of the word "compatriots" has become even more profound. Through sleepless nights, the armed forces braved the floods to bring people to safety. Supply shipments crossed deep water into isolated residential areas, and soldiers sheltered new mothers from the rain and wind – these images warmed countless hearts.

Authorities in Khanh Hoa province assisted the pregnant woman in getting to safety.

Hundreds of boats from tourism companies were mobilized to transport people and goods. Groups of people were evacuated from deeply flooded areas in Tay Nha Trang ward, Dien Khanh commune, Dien Dien commune... Everyone was tired, but their eyes still shone with relief.

And then, free meals from the Traffic Police Department arrived just in time for the drivers stranded on National Highway 1. From big things to small things, human kindness is spreading everywhere.

In times of hardship, human kindness becomes even more apparent.

Decisive leadership, timely action.

"Don't let people go hungry or thirsty!" – the concise and decisive directive of Provincial Party Secretary Nghiem Xuan Thanh during his inspection of the flooded area on the morning of November 21st encapsulated the spirit of the entire response effort. He, along with leaders of various departments and agencies, was present at the scene, directly supervising and personally handing out the first relief packages to the people.

Immediately afterwards, numerous free kitchens lit up everywhere: Quan Am Pagoda, Son Ca Kindergarten, Vanh Khuyen Preschool, Tran Phu Secondary School… and even people's homes. 170 servings of porridge, 400 servings of lunch, 1,650 servings of dinner, and drinks were distributed daily. These numbers were no longer just statistics, but concrete manifestations of the spirit of "helping those in need," of compassion in times of hardship.

A hot meal amidst the floods is not just food; it represents human kindness and provides the strength to help flood victims get back on their feet.

Secretary of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee Nghiem Xuan Thanh (second from the right) inspects the work to remedy the erosion of the embankment of the Nuoc Ngọt irrigation reservoir.

The political system is united, and the people are in agreement.

On the afternoon of November 21, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Tran Phong chaired an emergency meeting, directing urgent measures: establishing forward checkpoints, providing essential supplies, restoring electricity and water, addressing environmental issues, and ensuring financial resources…

The overall picture of the damage was reported at the Provincial Party Standing Committee meeting: nearly 15,000 households were flooded, 126 landslides occurred, and thousands of hectares of crops, aquaculture, and livestock were damaged; estimated at thousands of billions of dong. In the face of difficulties, action must be even more decisive.

The central and local governments provided timely support: the government provided 50 billion VND and 2,000 tons of rice; the Prime Minister is considering providing an additional 200 billion VND. The Provincial People's Committee urgently allocated 112 billion VND. Businesses, organizations, and individuals everywhere also joined hands to contribute. A series of specific and practical policies were implemented by the Provincial Party Secretary, Nghiem Xuan Thanh: 60 million VND for completely destroyed houses, 30 million VND for severely damaged houses, support based on household size, students, etc., all aimed at the highest goal: quickly helping people rebuild their lives.

Remaining strong after the challenge

The water will eventually recede, the roads will dry, and the houses will be cleaned up. But what will remain is the close bond between the military and the people, the profound sense of brotherhood, and the spirit of unity and solidarity from the government to the people.

Through this article, I simply want to express my gratitude and reassurance to friends near and far: Khanh Hoa is standing strong. The people here remain resilient, united, and compassionate – just like the blue sea, white sand, and golden sunshine that this land is known for.

I miss you so much, Khanh Hoa!

And I also have great faith. I believe that after the rain, the sun will shine again. Khanh Hoa will return to peace – and be more beautiful than ever before.

LE NGOC TU

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/thuong-lam-khanh-hoa-oi-post824823.html