Spring arrives in the flood-prone village of Chút.

With the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Horse approaching, we had the opportunity to return to Chut village with Comrade Nguyen Manh Ha, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Van Ban commune (Lao Cai province), a place that suffered heavy damage during typhoon number 10 (typhoon Bualoi).

The newly built houses after the flood bring complete joy to the people of Chut village in the new spring season.

Along both sides of the road, peach blossoms have begun to bloom, radiating vibrant colors. From afar, new houses in a variety of colors gradually appear like a lively painting, heralding a new and prosperous spring.

In October 2025, a historic flood caused by Typhoon No. 10 swept through Chut village, leaving behind unprecedented devastation. Dozens of houses, along with the property and crops of the villagers, were buried and swept away by the floodwaters. To ensure safety, in addition to evacuating residents, the local authorities mobilized thousands of people to work day and night to build dikes to prevent further flooding. Even so, the damage was still severe. More than three months later, the scars of the natural disaster remain.

Many houses were buried under mud and debris, beyond repair. However, from within these hardships, with the sharing of the community and the swift intervention of the authorities at all levels, Chut village is now strongly reviving. New, spacious houses are being urgently completed so that the people can welcome a complete new spring.

According to Comrade Nguyen Manh Ha, immediately after the flood, the commune established working groups to both assist in repairing and reinforcing houses and to organize the relocation of people to new residences; the military, police, and socio- political organizations also contributed labor to help people build houses. Busy finishing leveling the courtyard to prepare for the ancestral worship ceremony before moving into the new house, Mr. Hoang Van On (67 years old) said: “When the floodwaters came, my whole family was working in the fields, so we were lucky to escape, but all our house and property were swept away.”

Thanks to the local government, I received 80 million VND in support under the policy to build a new house. During the construction, the police, military , and villagers came to help from the start of construction until the house was completed as it is today. With a new home, I feel happy and at ease this Tet holiday.” Not far away, in a house still smelling of fresh paint on a high mound, Mr. Duong Van Hien was decorating a peach blossom tree with his relatives to welcome Tet.

For Mr. Hien's family, this year holds special significance, marking an unforgettable historical milestone as they had to rebuild their house "twice" before finally being able to settle down. Expressing his gratitude to the local authorities and those who shared and helped during this difficult time, Mr. Hien emotionally shared: "The new house was under construction when the flood came, burying all the building materials and the foundation."

"I thought I would have to give up because I couldn't fix it anymore. But thanks to local support, the contributions of neighbors and other forces, my family had the motivation to build a spacious house like the one we have today. Now I will try to develop the economy , not letting down the care and help of everyone." Besides rebuilding homes, Van Ban commune also proactively implemented livelihood support for the people. Dozens of hectares of potatoes planted after the flood are ready for harvest, helping people have an additional source of income during the upcoming Tet holiday.

Pulling up a potato vine laden with tubers for us to see, Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong excitedly shared: “After the flood, everyone was worried about not being able to harvest before Tet. Now the potatoes are ready to be harvested, and the commune government is also working with and connecting with cooperatives to guarantee the output so that people can have more income to prepare for Tet.” Comrade Nguyen Manh Ha added: “The local government has provided more than 2.4 billion VND from various sources; in addition, the commune is creating conditions for converting rice paddies and garden land to residential land free of charge, and resolving administrative procedures for people as quickly as possible so that they can build houses.”

"Twenty new houses will help people settle down and celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) fully in joy. In the coming time, the commune will continue to mobilize resources to restore the buried farmland, support seedlings and livestock so that people can produce and develop a sustainable economy." The new, sturdy and warm houses nestle peacefully beside the lush green fields. Chut Village today is not only reborn after the flood, but is truly undergoing a transformation with a new appearance, bearing the mark of the collective effort, the spirit of solidarity, and the will to overcome difficulties of the people here. This Tet, in their new homes, the people of Chut Village welcome spring with firm faith in a brighter tomorrow.

Text and photos: CONG HAI

Source: https://nhandan.vn/xuan-ve-tren-vung-lu-lang-chut-post943208.html