The palm-leaf-roofed house of Hoang Van Duan, 43, sits on a hillside in Vong area, Thuong Long Commune. With the storm season approaching, its deteriorating condition poses a growing risk to the family.
The ageing roof is riddled with holes, while sections of the bamboo walls have rotted away. Duan has used sacks and cardboard to cover some of the gaps.
The family's kitchen contains only a few old aluminium pots and chipped bowls and plates. They do not have a table and chairs, while the neatest part of the house is a small study desk used by Duan's sons, Hoang Van Dung, 12, and Hoang Van Viet, nine.
With the new school year approaching, the brothers spend their spare time studying.
"My parents are out working. I'm going into seventh grade and Viet into fourth grade. We study while we can because when it rains at night, the roof leaks and we have to turn off the electricity for fear of electric shocks," Dung said.
Dung added the family often wakes during heavy rain to place containers under the leaks, while strong winds can leave the entire house wet.
"When it rains heavily, we all get soaked. Sometimes rainwater flows into the house, along with rats and snakes. We're very scared," he noted.
According to Duan, he and his wife had been working in a tea field to earn money for food but rushed home as dark clouds gathered, fearing heavy rain would flood their leaking house while the children were alone.
Their earnings barely cover daily meals, leaving them unable to repair the house despite fears it could collapse during severe weather. The family of five therefore has little choice but to continue living there.
Hoang Thi Nguyet Nga, vice chairwoman of the Thuong Long Commune Women's Union and chairwoman of the commune's Red Cross, said the couple worked hard, farming and taking whatever casual jobs they could find.
Nga said the couple's poor health and limited work capacity left them reliant on low-paid casual jobs to support their three children, keeping the family in poverty for years.
She highlighted that local authorities had provided livelihood assistance and included the family in charitable support programmes whenever possible.
However, limited local resources mean the family has been unable to rebuild its badly deteriorated home, which poses a particular danger during the storm season.
"We hope Dantri readers and donors can help the family build a safe, sturdy home. That would allow the parents to focus on earning a living and caring for their children, while giving the children a secure place to live and study," Nga expressed.
