First-time foreign visitor to Vietnam supports flood victims after attending friend’s wedding

Sokhom Kin, a 35-year-old American, traveled to Vietnam for the first time to attend a friend’s wedding in Go Cong Ward, Dong Thap Province, over 100 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City.

During his visit, he saw images of the destruction caused by severe flooding in south-central Vietnam.

Once he returned to Ho Chi Minh City, he headed straight to the Fatherland Front Committee’s office to make a donation.

“I know that people in Ho Chi Minh City have been providing a huge amount of food, blankets, drinking water, and essential supplies,” he said.

“I decided to make a cash donation, even though my contribution is small."

Having witnessed the impact of hurricanes in the United States, Kin said he understands the hardships Vietnamese families are facing.

He shared a message of hope for the affected communities, expressing confidence in their resilience.

“I hope people in the south-central region can recover soon. I know Vietnamese people are strong and caring toward one another,” he said.

On Tuesday, trucks filled with relief goods gathered at the committee’s headquarters at 55 Mac Dinh Chi Street before heading to flood-stricken areas in south-central Vietnam.

Even though material donations had been suspended, the financial office remained crowded as people continued to arrive with monetary contributions aimed at helping families rebuild their lives.

2 elderly sisters take buses across city to donate

Among those arriving at the Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City to give what they could were two elderly sisters, including 77-year-old Thu Thuy from Phu Lam Ward.

They left home early, taking two buses and walking part of the way to make their donation of VND2 million (US$76), a sum they had carefully saved.

Despite their age, they had hoped to stay afterward as volunteers to help sort and pack relief supplies, only to learn that the work had been completed the night before.

Thuy said she had been heartbroken watching television reports showing homes and possessions swept away by floods in Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak, and other provinces.

“My contribution is small, but I hope it can help in some way,” she said.

She added that forecasts of an approaching storm left her worried.

“They say another storm may be coming. I pray for everyone’s safety.”

Many other donors arrived quietly, choosing not to leave their names.

Their only wish was that their contributions would reach those struggling the most and offer some comfort in a difficult time.

Torrential rains and severe flooding across south-central Vietnam have killed at least 91 people, left 11 missing, and caused an estimated VND13 trillion (over US$490 million) in economic losses, authorities confirmed early on Monday morning.

The hardest-hit province is Dak Lak, where 63 people were killed, according to the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority.

More than 221 homes were destroyed, 933 were damaged, and nearly 201,000 were inundated.

Dak Lak alone recorded 150,000 flooded homes, while Khanh Hoa Province reported nearly 37,000 and Gia Lai Province about 19,200.