A Disaster Beyond Anything Previously Seen
Vietnam is facing some of the most destructive floods in its recent history. This year’s rainfall and resulting inundations have far exceeded what local communities, authorities and even long-standing disaster-response organisations are used to managing. In many regions, floodwaters arrived with extraordinary speed, overwhelming rivers and reservoirs to the point where dam operators had no choice but to open floodgates, sending massive volumes of water downstream.
Official estimates already report dozens of deaths, while independent assessments suggest the toll may be in the hundreds. Homes, roads, plantations and entire hamlets have been swept away. Tens of thousands of families have seen everything they own consumed by water or buried in mud. For many, the floods took not only their property but their livelihoods and the foundations of their economic survival.
This crisis is not confined to a single region. While the northern and central provinces were struck first, the situation quickly expanded. Today, provinces such as Khánh Hòa, Phú Yên, Ninh Thuận and Bình Thuận—areas rarely associated with catastrophic flooding—are also facing severe destruction. In mountainous districts located below major dams, sudden releases of water devastated villages within hours. The combination of extreme weather, rising sea levels and saturated watersheds has turned the floods into one of the worst natural disasters Vietnam has experienced in decades.
Communities Facing Enormous Challenges
For thousands of families, the struggle is now one of survival and resilience. Many have lost their homes entirely. Others are returning to houses filled with mud and debris, their belongings ruined and their land unusable. Farmers who spent years investing in fruit trees, rice paddies or livestock woke up to find that everything had disappeared in a single night.
Beyond material losses, the emotional toll is immense. Some families are still searching for missing relatives. Others are grieving quietly while trying to care for children, the elderly or neighbours who have lost even more.
The challenges extend far beyond shelter and food. People are now facing deep uncertainty about the months ahead. Fields will take time to dry. Crops will need replanting. Tools, seeds, animals and small business inventories will have to be replaced before any form of normal life can resume. The poorest families, who had very little margin to begin with, are at risk of falling further into poverty for years to come if no support is available.
Mekong Plus and Anh Duong: Acting Immediately Where Help Was Possible
From the earliest days of the disaster, Mekong Plus and the Anh Duong Center mobilised their network to reach the poorest households. In authorised districts, staff and volunteers immediately contacted families in our programmes, relying on nearly 200 community collaborators to relay information quickly despite blocked roads and chaotic conditions.
In Hậu Giang, one of the worst-hit areas, the situation became critical almost overnight. Most poor families depend on daily wage labour, and the floods brought all work to a stop, cutting off their only income. Farming households suffered even greater losses: animals perished or had to be sold cheaply, crops were submerged, and market prices dropped sharply—rice fell to 5,500–5,800 VND/kg, pigs to 52,000 VND/kg, and eels to around 80,000 VND/kg. At the same time, food prices in local markets doubled or tripled, creating immense pressure on families already forced to take shelter with relatives or neighbours.
Yet even in hardship, solidarity remained strong. Local authorities distributed relief packages worth 300,000–500,000 VND per household, while neighbours, temples and benefactors shared rice and essential goods. Mekong Plus and Anh Duong focused on the most vulnerable families, delivering 100 emergency food packages in Hậu Giang. In nearby communities, 30 more families still need help, requiring an additional 15 million VND (about 570 USD).
What We Witnessed in the Field
During a recent visit to Hậu Giang, Bernard witnessed both devastation and remarkable community spirit. Villagers stood in knee-deep water but continued organising shared meals, helping elders move around safely, and supporting families who had lost nearly everything. Many households had no choice but to leave their homes temporarily, spending their days gathering snails or fishing with simple nets to earn just enough for food. Despite immense hardship, families continued to show dignity and hospitality.
Outside official project areas, staff used trusted personal contacts to reach families who might otherwise remain invisible in the broader emergency response. Similar scenes unfolded in Thiện Chí’s project area in Hàm Thuận Nam, where three communes—Hàm Thạnh, Hàm Kiệm and Tân Thuận—were severely affected. More than 300 households suffered losses exceeding 3 billion VND. Local authorities, youth groups and neighbours coordinated evacuations, while businesses, temples and surrounding communes provided relief packages.
Thiện Chí supplemented these efforts with 30 essential supply kits. One particularly vulnerable family is that of Nguyễn Hùng Thao, whose dragon-fruit farm was badly damaged while he and his wife are both undergoing cancer treatment. Thanks to support from temples, local authorities, neighbours and Thiện Chí, the family received financial help, essential goods and health insurance, with further assistance planned to restore part of their farm.
These moments show both the resilience of local communities and the urgent need for continued outside support to help families recover and rebuild.
The Needs for the Coming Weeks
As floodwaters slowly recede, the most urgent phase of the crisis is shifting into a long and difficult recovery period. Immediate humanitarian relief remains necessary, especially for families who still cannot return to work or whose food supplies have been spoiled. Repair materials such as tarpaulins, mosquito nets and basic construction supplies will soon be critical as people begin rebuilding their homes.
Livelihood support will be essential in helping families escape long-term poverty. Many have lost not only their income but the resources required to restart their work. Microcredit will therefore play a vital role in recovery, enabling families to restore crops, restart small businesses or replace livestock and equipment. Without this, the economic impacts of the floods could trap entire communities in hardship for years.
Mekong Plus is currently gathering more information from affected regions to assess precise needs. As more data becomes available, our focus will be to direct funds to households with the greatest vulnerability—widows, elderly people living alone, families with disabilities, and those whose livelihoods have been entirely destroyed.
How You Can Make a Difference
Mekong Plus has been working in rural Vietnam and Cambodia for more than 30 years, focusing on practical, low-cost development that brings long-lasting change to the poorest families. Our work relies on strong local partnerships, a deep understanding of community needs and a commitment to transparency. With overhead costs kept below 10 percent, donations are used directly where they are needed most.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.Today, we are calling on our supporters to stand with the people of Vietnam during this unprecedented crisis. No contribution is too small. Every donation enables us to reach another family with food, relief supplies or the means to rebuild their livelihood.
To support our flood response efforts, please visit:
https://mekongplus.org/en/donate/
Your generosity today will help families recover tomorrow. Together, we can make sure no one is left behind.
More Ways to Get Involved
Here’s how you can get involved:
● Sponsor a child with a scholarship: https://mekongplus.org/en/sponsor-a-child/
● Finance a microcredit: https://mekongplus.org/en/finance-a-microcredit/
● Join our eco-tours: https://mekongplus.org/en/mekong-bikes/
● Make a donation to our programmes: https://mekongplus.org/en/donate/
● Follow us on Facebook: Mekong Plus & Mekong Quilts
