Humanity - a flame that never goes out in the midst of historical floods

In October, when torrential rains and natural disasters blanketed the northern provinces, a somber atmosphere prevailed, and even the earth seemed to fall silent before the pain and loss of the people. Thai Nguyen was the hardest hit, struggling amidst a historic flood. The entire resilient land was submerged in water, streets transformed into rivers, and houses swayed precariously in the vast expanse of water. But it was precisely during these difficult times that a miracle shone through – the light of compassion. Amidst the storm and calamity, people reached out to each other, offering warmth and kindling the flame of hope: that human kindness and compassion remain beautiful; that where there is human kindness, hardship will pass.

The floodwaters may sweep away many things, but they cannot drown the beauty and strength of compassion. The flame of sharing continues to burn quietly through every challenge, warming hearts amidst the raging storms and tempests. It's not the dazzling lights of the city, but the simple light emanating from the heart, from the human spirit. That light shines and manifests itself through every small action, every call to action, through hands reaching out to each other in times of danger. It is this – and nothing else – that has helped hundreds of people in Thai Nguyen find shelter, a bowl of rice, and a bottle of water in the darkness of the flood.

When the heart opens and leads the way

On the afternoon of October 7th, the streets of Thai Nguyen gradually turned into rivers, and Mai Thao Nguyen 's phone rang incessantly. People were asking for accommodation, some requesting temporary shelter, and others pleading for help. Without hesitation, she and her husband cleaned up all 40 rooms in their family hotel to welcome people seeking refuge. " As long as there's a dry place for people to rest, sharing rooms is fine, as long as they're safe, that's what matters, " she said.

In just a few hours, the small, cozy hotel became a shared home for over 120 people. The elderly, children, students, and migrant workers all found shelter. Ms. Nguyen and her husband, along with their staff, worked tirelessly: arranging blankets, boiling water, preparing milk for the children, and cooking noodles for the hungry. As night fell, the oil lamps cast shadows, laughter mingled with the sound of falling rain. In this difficult time, strangers suddenly became close – sharing a roof and a kind heart.

Tình người - ngọn lửa không bao giờ tắt giữa cơn lũ lịch sử - Ảnh 1. — Ms. Nguyen's small hotel became a shelter for hundreds of people.

Not only that, her family also stocked up on hundreds of liters of fuel for the generator, along with instant noodles, drinking water, and dried food to be ready to welcome more people.

Flames in the middle of a rainy night

While people were frantically battling the floods, in another corner of the city, the phone of 48-year-old Tran Thi Thai rang incessantly. As the head of a volunteer club near the Gang Thep stadium, she and her members were accustomed to such urgent calls.

" We mobilized everything overnight so we could start working tomorrow morning ," she said.

It was about cooking relief meals. As soon as they heard about the heavy rain, Ms. Thai's group held an emergency meeting. Some gathered rice, others washed pots and pans, and some transported gas stoves – all working frantically amidst the rain. Because she understood that a bowl of hot rice in the middle of a flood could save a life .

Last year, after Typhoon Yagi , her group cooked over 23,000 meals and distributed 30,000 packages containing drinking water, life jackets, and dried food. On peak days, the kitchen prepared up to 6,000 meals to supply isolated areas. " As soon as we hear about flooding, we start cooking immediately. We don't wait for anyone to call on us ," she said with a gentle smile.

In the middle of the night on October 7th, while many people hadn't yet found shelter, her volunteer kitchen was already ablaze with activity. Dozens of large pots of rice were bubbling furiously, the aroma of rice mingling with the smell of rain and damp earth. Her cold, wet hands continued to diligently pack rice, measure water, label, and deliver supplies to the relief teams.

Tình người - ngọn lửa không bao giờ tắt giữa cơn lũ lịch sử - Ảnh 2. — Ms. Tran Thi Thai and her volunteer group are busy preparing thousands of food packages to send to flood victims in Thai Nguyen.

It is said that miracles don't come from a magic wand, but from people themselves, from hearts that know how to give.

"Free ride-hailing" and charitable deliveries.

In Phu Xuyen commune (formerly Dai Tu district), upon hearing news of rising floodwaters, 33-year-old Trieu Van Bo couldn't sit still. He posted a short status update: "Offering free transportation to deliver relief supplies to flood-affected areas. Contact me if you need my services."

Just minutes later, his phone rang incessantly. People were asking for water, others for rice, and some were looking for life jackets for children. Without hesitation, he sped off into the pouring rain. Mud, strong currents, and cut roads, but he and his group of friends tirelessly navigated the slippery slopes, carrying supplies to flood victims. "Saving anyone, helping in any way, is enough to make me happy. Right now, the most important things are bottled water and sealed bags of puffed rice – because they last longer. Rice or sweets spoil easily , " he shared.

Each sack of rice delivered, each container of water reached the people, made him deeply feel the value of living for others . It's that simple, yet it warms people's hearts – because amidst the raging flood, there are still people quietly doing good deeds.

Along with that, many other convoys from provinces like Ninh Binh, Hai Phong , Thanh Hoa, etc., loaded with rice balls, water, and essential supplies, traveled through the night to provide relief to people in the flooded areas. Ms. Dang Thanh Trang (Ninh Binh) organized a call for everyone to join hands in cooking for the flood victims; some contributed money, others rice and supplies, and some labored... everyone pitched in to ensure that the people did not go hungry.

About 10 km from the city center, 31-year-old Nguyen Hang posted an advertisement offering free parking for residents in the flooded area. " My yard can accommodate nearly 100 cars; feel free to bring yours and leave until the water recedes ," she wrote.

Besides providing parking, she also prepared three bedrooms to accommodate 20-30 people, prioritizing the elderly and young children. Throughout the night, Ms. Hang stayed awake, constantly responding to messages and guiding strangers to drop off their belongings and find accommodation. " In times of hardship, I will do my best to help anyone I can ," she shared.

Kindness - a miracle in everyday life

Ngo Anh Tuan, the founder of the crowdfunding platform GiveNow, once said: "In times of natural disasters, what people need most is not just food, but also sharing – because only sharing can help them rise again after their losses."

Indeed, hot meals, clean water bottles, or shelters not only save lives in the moment, but they also embody human kindness and ignite the belief that, no matter how great the storm, people will always be there for each other . " Compassion is a language that the blind can 'read' and the deaf can 'hear'."

While rescue and relief efforts were underway, hundreds of kind-hearted individuals from all over volunteered their services. Those with money contributed money, those with strength contributed their labor, and those with vehicles contributed their cars. Each person was a drop of water, but together they formed a vast ocean that nourished life.

And then, as the floodwaters recede, the traces of the flood will gradually be erased, but the stories of compassion will remain – like sparkling streaks in collective memory, becoming inspiring examples for future generations to remember: there was a time when the people of Thai Nguyen not only fought floods with human strength, but also with human kindness. And, when we know how to live for each other, how to open our hearts to the suffering of others, we are continuing to write the most beautiful story of humanity – the story called "compassion".