The wind and love still blow...

These past few days, as Typhoon Yagi made landfall, almost everyone has been checking the news daily, following the storm's progress and the damage suffered by the people. Each day brings more heartbreaking and painful news: Quang Ninh's irrigation dam collapses, Phu Tho's bridge collapses, Thai Nguyen and Cao Bang are submerged in water, Lao Cai and Yen Bai suffer landslides...

Having experienced storm after storm, flood after flood; having been a child huddled in a shaky, leaky thatched hut, silently praying for the storm to stop; having endured hunger when even the rice in the house was submerged and the stove couldn't be lit; having seen parents propping a ladder against a pillar to prevent the house from collapsing whenever the wind howled; having witnessed siblings clinging to each other, wading through torrential rain and wind to escape the storm;... witnessing this scene now is truly heartbreaking.

The storm has just passed, and the raging floodwaters have swept away thousands of homes, killing or leaving hundreds missing, and hundreds of families homeless… Grief, loss, separation… People struggle to cope, sometimes powerless against the vastness of nature. It seems that every storm leaves behind no survivors!

But now, after these stormy days, another powerful wave is spreading: the humanity, solidarity, love, and willingness to share and support each other in times of hardship among the Vietnamese people.

I've read heartwarming stories of human kindness being widely shared on social media, filling everyone with warmth and love. Images of people opening their doors to the homeless, stranded workers unable to return home, or students whose homes were damaged have melted millions of Vietnamese hearts. Anticipating the devastating effects of Typhoon Yagi, many social media accounts shared safe, free shelters for the homeless and those with unstable housing. In addition to providing free accommodation, philanthropists (both individuals and businesses) also prepared food and basic necessities for those seeking refuge.

During the storm, on the Nhat Tan Bridge in Hanoi, numerous trucks and cars slowed down patiently, working together to form a windbreak to help motorbikes safely cross the bridge. Similarly, in Hai Phong, a woman riding a motorbike was forced to abandon her vehicle on the roadside and cling to the median strip to avoid being blown away; a white car speeding past suddenly stopped and reversed to allow the woman to safely get back on her motorbike. These people, who were strangers, in difficult circumstances, were still willing to offer unconditional protection and assistance – truly admirable and worthy of respect.

On social media, many people have shared a series of touching videos and images capturing scenes of Vietnamese people helping each other in times of hardship, storms, or quietly sharing food and drinks. The heartwarming images of the elderly, young, men, and women from the poor rural areas of Nghe An province together wrapping banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) to send to flood victims are truly touching. Young people from Nghe An enthusiastically set out to help those affected by the storms and floods. Police officers and soldiers braved the floodwaters to rescue people… Then there were words of encouragement to overcome the wind and rain, to brave the storms, reaching the people in the storm-affected areas during this time of imminent danger: "Stay strong, we are always with you…" Furthermore, many young people have taken to social media to call for contributions, so that they can provide timely support to those affected by the storms and floods as soon as possible…

Many people who couldn't do anything else shared relief information or made urgent appeals for essential supplies for Thai Nguyen, Yen Bai, and Lao Cai, which were submerged in floodwaters...

All of this created a beautiful picture of compassion amidst the natural disaster, a flame that warmed the hearts of many.

Is there any pain that is not filled with compassion, any sorrow that does not stir our hearts?... These days, we see even more clearly the spirit of solidarity among the people. That's the Vietnamese spirit; in times of hardship and difficulty, the spirit of "mutual support and solidarity" binds everyone together to overcome adversity. A precious spirit nurtured throughout the long history and culture of the nation. This is not just a feeling of shared sentiment, but it has become a deep-seated cultural tradition of the Vietnamese people.

And I was reminded of some verses by the poet Luu Quang Vu:

"Wind and love blow across my country."

Like an unyielding call from time immemorial

The country is like a ship sailing through strong winds.

Love stories that find each other amidst storms.