Vietnamese people support each other during super typhoon Yagi

As Yagi raged across northern Vietnam, the spirit of mutual support and solidarity deeply ingrained in Vietnamese culture was felt by all those impacted by the super typhoon.

Images and video clips showing this spirit online document homeless individuals and those without solid shelter being taken to houses and provided with food, water and safe refuge during the storm, all free of charge; cars and trucks forming long lines to shield motorbikes as they cross bridges; and the sight of motorcyclists being buffeted by the wind, assisted to safety by local residents and emergency services.

Nguyen Phương Anh, a resident in Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi, owns two apartments on Nguyen Tuan street.

She lives in the lower apartment, while the upper one, a spacious 100 sqm apartment with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, remains vacant.

As the typhoon approached Hanoi on Saturday, she posted on a social media account offering the vacant apartment to workers seeking temporary shelter during the worst of the storm. She then even offered to cover the cost of taxis to transport people to safe accommodation.

After posting, she received numerous calls from those needing shelter, ultimately accommodating around 40 people in the apartment.

“Thankfully, with the support of the building management and other residents providing blankets and other necessities, everyone at the apartment was well looked after,” she said.

She also prepared food and essential supplies to help everyone through the storm.

Tran Anh Tuyet, a resident in Hanoi's Dong Da district and head of charity group Thien Tam 84, offered her 18-room house in Lang Ha ward as a shelter during the typhoon.

Besides providing free shelter, Tuyet also covered travel and food expenses for those in need, even arranging taxi rides for those without transportation.

“Having faced financial hardships myself in the past, including enduring flooding during storms in a small house, I understand the struggles people face,” she said.

Witnessing others struggling from a safe, warm place prompted her to clean up her house to offer shelter to those in need.

"My greatest wish is for everyone to stay safe and get through the severe storm," she added.

In Co To island district, Quang Ninh province, 43-year-old Le Thi Loan, owner of CoTo View Hotel, decided to open her hotel to residents with inadequate housing during the typhoon.

She posted information on social media, including the hotel's address and phone number, to help people find it.

Those unable to reach the hotel were picked up by Loan and her staff in coordination with local authorities.

By the night before the typhoon made landfall, over 40 people from various households on the island had sought refuge at Loan’s hotel.

All the people coming to her hotel were from households with inadequate housing or rented rooms on the island.

The island was without electricity due to the typhoon, but the hotel was running on a generator and meals were provided free of charge.

“In times like these, mutual support and protection are crucial, I think," Loan said.

Crossing the storm together

A video of two white cars coordinating to escort a motorbike across an overpass in Lieu Giai ward, Hanoi during the storm has been widely shared and received millions of interactions on social media over the weekend.

The footage shows a motorcyclist struggling against strong winds during the typhoon.

Fortunately, two car drivers worked together to create a safe passage by driving parallel to each other and shielding the bike from the wind.

Many social media users expressed their emotions about the spirit and kindness of Vietnamese people after watching the clip.

Anh Duog, a social media user, commented: “I am crying when I watch the clip. My country has a lot of kind hearts.”

Dieu Ha, another social medial user, said: “This is my Vietnam, this is the unity of Vietnamese people. I am very proud to be Vietnamese.”

A lot of foreigners also commented on the clip, including the following: “Not all heroes wear capes,” “That is incredible human action,” “Thank you Vietnam for showing this to the world,” and “I was amazed by the unity of Vietnam.”

Another video showed a convoy of cars and larger vehicles guiding a group of motorbikes across the Nhat Tan bridge on Saturday afternoon, when torrential rains and very strong winds battered Hanoi.

Duong Nhuong, a 29-year-old from Tu Son district in Bac Ninh province, was one of those assisted while riding across the bridge.

She recounted that around Saturday noon, she was returning home from work when she encountered strong winds that made it impossible to continue.

“Fortunately, a kind-hearted environmental truck driver slowed down to shield me from the wind,” she said.

Then other cars and trucks followed the first to protect Nhuong and other motorbikes, shielding them from strong winds and preventing them from being blown away.

Afterwards, Nhuong shared her experience on social media, noting the truck driver’s number plate to express her sincere thanks.

The post garnered nearly 10,000 likes and comments, with many netizens praising the drivers for their heartwarming actions during the storm.

In Hai Phong city, La Xuan Phuong, a resident living in a tall building, said that at around 3 p.m. on Saturday he saw a woman struggling to move her motorbike along Hung Vuong street due to the fierce wind.

The woman had to leave her bike and cling to a traffic divider, fearing the wind would carry her away.

As the rain poured, the woman waited for help.

About 15 minutes later, a white car zipped past but then suddenly reversed.

The driver offered her a ride to shield her from the storm.

Phuong then captured the act on his phone and shared it online, which resonated deeply with the community.

He expressed admiration for the driver’s bravery, noting that keeping the car door open in such weather could have been hazardous.

Safety for all

To ensure the safety of residents before the typhoon made landfall, the People's Committee of Co To island district took decisive action to relocate households living in dilapidated homes to safer locations.

Nearly 800 residents were evacuated to safety during the storm.

The committee, along with local authorities, arranged for staff to manage and oversee evacuation and sheltering at designated safe areas, including assigning leaders and armed forces to each village.

Similarly, in Hanoi, on Friday night, 160 residents from the dilapidated A7 Tsn Mai apartment complex in Hoang Mai district were relocated to Tan Mai Primary School, just 300 m away, to ensure their safety before the super typhoon hit.

The local government prepared essential supplies such as instant noodles, drinking water and blankets for the evacuees.

The People's Committee of Ta Mai ward formed task forces from various departments to support the displaced residents, ensuring no one went without necessities during the storm.

Nguyen Huu Vy, an 86-year-old resident, expressed relief after being relocated to a classroom at the primary school.

He shared his concerns about living in the old, deteriorating A7 apartment complex and was grateful for the temporary shelter provided.

Similarly, Hoang Thi Huyen, 65, a displaced resident, said: “We’re grateful for the help.”

She expressed her appreciation for the care provided by the local authorities, highlighting the quality and cleanliness of the temporary accommodation.