Society

Homes of love and compassion

Thanh Nga - My Ha • July 27, 2026 20:42

From dilapidated and run-down houses, in just over three months, many families in Nghe An, whose children were victims of the resistance movement and exposed to chemical toxins, have been able to welcome the joy of new homes. These homes are not only shelters from the rain and sun but also meaningful gifts of gratitude, providing motivation for these families to overcome difficulties and strive for a better life.

Thanh Nga - My Ha/Present:Hong ToaiJuly 27, 2026

*****

From dilapidated and run-down houses, in just over three months, many families in Nghe An, whose children were victims of the resistance movement and exposed to chemical toxins, have been able to welcome the joy of new homes. These homes are not only shelters from the rain and sun but also meaningful gifts of gratitude, providing motivation for these families to overcome difficulties and strive for a better life.

At the age of 52, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha, from Nghi Huong 3 hamlet, Cua Lo ward, finally has a decent house to live in. This seemingly ordinary joy was a long-held dream of a woman who was exposed to Agent Orange/dioxin.

Born in 1974, as the firstborn child, Ms. Ha was cherished and had high expectations placed upon her by her family. However, as she grew older, she began to exhibit unusual behaviors. She had intellectual disabilities, difficulty speaking, and couldn't keep up with her peers, forcing her to drop out of school early. As an adult, she was unable to care for herself, didn't know how to manage finances or spend money, and was completely dependent on her mother for all her daily activities.

Mrs. Tinh, Ms. Ha's mother, recounted that her husband, born in 1949, fought in the Southern battlefield during the war against the US. After his discharge, he returned to his hometown, carrying with him the wounds and lasting effects that he passed on to his own child. For over 50 years since their child was born, Mr. and Mrs. Tinh have been by their child's side. Later, when Ms. Ha had another child, they raised both the child and the grandchild. Even now, at the age of 52, Ms. Ha is still unable to live independently.

Over the years, despite receiving family support to move out and live independently, Ms. Ha's life has remained full of difficulties. What constantly worries her mother is the house, built in 2003, which has seriously deteriorated after more than 20 years of use. Just last year, two consecutive storms hit Cua Lo, causing significant damage to the house.

Given these difficulties, when the government initiated a policy to provide financial support for the construction and repair of houses for victims of Agent Orange, the village committee proposed including her family on the first list. With the help of neighbors, after more than a month of construction, the entire repair project, with a total capital of 120 million VND, was completed.

For the family of Ms. Phan Thi Ngoc in Hung My hamlet, Hung Nguyen commune, hardship and difficulties still persist in their old house, where most of the roof tiles are damaged and misaligned, leaving them with only temporary shelters and tarpaulins. Every time it rains, water leaks everywhere, forcing them to bring out all their pots, pans, buckets, and basins to catch the water. The worst was the 2025 flood, which severely damaged the house, forcing the family to evacuate to relatives' homes for several days out of fear that the house might collapse at any moment.

The old house still stands, but only a part of it remains, used as a storage space. Next to it is a larger house, about 100 square meters.² With three bedrooms, a kitchen, and a self-contained bathroom, the house was recently completed and moved into by the family at the beginning of July. Since the house was built, neighbors have come over every day to visit and offer help. Everyone is happy because from now on, the family truly has a safe and secure place to live.

Ms. Ngoc's father is a veteran who fought in the Southern battlefield and was exposed to chemical toxins. The consequences of the war didn't just affect her father's generation, but also extended to his children and grandchildren. Ms. Ngoc herself has undergone medical treatment for many years, and at times her mental health has been unstable, leaving her with an unseen fear. Her two children are also frequently ill, one of them suffering from epilepsy and requiring numerous hospitalizations.

Their family life was therefore always a struggle to make ends meet. Given these difficulties, when they were considered for housing assistance for families affected by Agent Orange, Ms. Ngoc and her husband felt a renewed sense of hope. Although the financial assistance wasn't substantial compared to the total construction costs, it was a great encouragement for the family to boldly borrow money from relatives and build a new home. After nearly three months of construction, the new house was completed before the rainy season...

Previously, in implementing the Prime Minister's policy on supporting the elimination of temporary and dilapidated houses for the children of resistance fighters affected by chemical toxins, Nghe An province reviewed and approved support for 214 households, with a total budget of over 15.15 billion VND. Of these, 111 households received support for new construction and 103 for repairs. In just over three months of implementation, many new homes have been completed, helping families gradually stabilize their lives and alleviate the difficulties caused by the war.

Following the launch ceremony, the program to support the elimination of temporary and dilapidated houses for the children of resistance fighters affected by chemical toxins was quickly implemented in Nghe An province. With a support level of 100 million VND for new construction and 50 million VND for repairs, the goal is to complete all houses before July 27, 2026.

Speaking at the send-off ceremony, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Thai Van Thanh said: Although the war is long over, the consequences of chemical toxins still haunt many families across generations. Therefore, supporting the construction and repair of houses for them not only means ensuring social welfare but also represents the profound gratitude of the Party and the State to the families who sacrificed and contributed to the cause of national liberation.

According to officials from the Department of Meritorious Persons under the Ministry of Interior, to date, 149 out of 199 (74.8%) households have completed their houses and handed them over for use; 50 out of 199 households are in the process of completion.

According to a report by the Ministry of National Defense, after only about 3 months of implementation, the program has supported the construction and repair of 1,422 houses for the children of resistance fighters affected by chemical toxins in 24 localities; of which 410 houses have been completed and put into use. In Nghe An province alone, the program is being implemented comprehensively with the determination to complete it on schedule, contributing to helping families stabilize their lives and gradually alleviate the losses and suffering left by the war.