Laotian residents cross the Nam Mo River into Vietnam, seeking help from residents in Muong Tip Commune, Nghe An Province on July 31.
On August 1, a video clip circulated on social media showing several men speaking a foreign language, attempting to describe their dire situation and lack of supplies. According to a translation, they were Laotian residents who had used floats to cross the Nam Mo River into Vietnam, seeking help from villagers in Muong Tip.
The Laotian group received food and essential supplies from local Vietnamese residents. The video drew widespread praise online for the spirit of compassion and solidarity between the people of Vietnam and Laos.
Vi Thi Quyen, Party Secretary of Muong Tip Commune, confirmed the footage was recorded at Ta Do Village around noon on July 31.
She said the Laotian visitors were residents of Na Muong Village in Nong Het District, Xieng Khouang Province. The group had crossed the river after nearly two weeks of isolation caused by floods, which left 40 households in food shortage. Damaged roads, landslides and the remote location had prevented access by local authorities, prompting them to seek aid from across the border.
"Although people in Ta Do were also badly affected by the floods, Muong Tip Commune authorities and local residents chose to set aside part of their donated relief goods to support the people of Na Muong," Quyen said.
Forty aid packages were delivered, each containing 10 kilograms of rice, two boxes of instant noodles, clean water, milk and basic household items. These were contributed by Ta Do villagers, commune authorities and local charity groups.
Muong Tip Commune authorities and local residents give their donated relief goods to support the people of Na Muong on July 31.
The Laotian villagers expressed deep gratitude for the essential supplies and the solidarity shown. All of the aid was transported back to Laos by float on the afternoon of July 31.
Vi Van Son, Chairman of Muong Tip Commune People's Committee, said that since July 20, heavy rains brought by Storm Wipha and its aftermath had triggered widespread flash floods and landslides across the area. Ta Do Village had been isolated for days after two flash floods on July 21 and 27.
Preliminary reports show that 114 houses in Muong Tip suffered storm-related damage, along with widespread destruction of roads, schools, public buildings and infrastructure. Power outages and mobile network disruptions also occurred throughout the commune.
Many houses are damaged in recent floods in Muong Tip Commune
As of August 1, landslides continued to block Provincial Road 543D and multiple inter-village routes, making relief distribution to affected households extremely difficult.
Muong Tip is a remote commune in a mountainous border area that shares a boundary with Laos.
