Colombian tourists help clean mud-filled homes and streets after days of severe flooding caused by Storm Bualoi’s circulation in Tuyen Quang Province on October 2.
Heavy rains had submerged many houses in Ha Giang 2 Ward. When the floodwaters receded on October 2, thick layers of mud were left behind, covering the ground, furniture and roads.
At the home of Dinh Thi Binh, where only three women lived, the tourists, who were staying at a nearby homestay, offered to help carry belongings and scrub away mud. “They watched how we worked and eagerly joined in,” Binh’s daughter said. After finishing at Binh’s house, the group continued to assist other families in the nearby area.
The travellers said they were shocked by the impact of the flood on local lives and wanted to do something. They described the experience as unforgettable during their journey in Vietnam, adding that they planned to stay until roads to Ha Giang reopened so they could continue their Ha Giang Loop trip.
Residents later invited the visitors to lunch, which they accepted with pleasure.
Ha Minh Man, Chairman of Ha Giang 2 Ward’s People’s Committee, confirmed on October 3 that floodwaters had receded and noted that several foreign visitors staying in local homestays had helped residents clean their houses in recent days.
This is not the first time foreign tourists have joined flood relief efforts in Vietnam. During Typhoon Yagi in September 2024, stranded travellers from New Zealand and Spain in Sapa, Lao Cai, helped prepare hundreds of meals for residents affected by power and water outages.
Stranded travellers from New Zealand and Spain help prepare hundreds of meals for residents affected by power and water outages during Typhoon Yagi in Sapa, Lao Cai Province in September 2024.
One of them, Candela, recalled being moved by the kindness of Sapa residents, who offered the group free accommodation and weather updates during the storm. “I've travelled to many countries, but I have never seen such warmth and generosity,” she said.
