As heavy rain and landslides forced families from their homes in Mu Cang Chai Commune, Lao Cai Province, hotel owner Hoang Thi Thuan has turned her family-run business into a free shelter for displaced residents.
Speaking to Dantri/Dtinews, Thuan, born in 1988, said days of persistent rainfall had caused streams to swell to near road level, while landslides swept through several parts of the commune, forcing many households to evacuate.
After seeing families struggle to find safe accommodation, she posted a message on social media offering free rooms at her hotel to anyone affected by the disaster.
Thuan's post was shared across many social media groups in Lao Cai Province (Photo: Screenshot).
The seven-storey hotel has 12 guest rooms and can accommodate around 30 people. Located on level ground that had previously been reinforced, the building escaped damage from the landslides.
"People have been struggling to find somewhere safe to stay, while my hotel has had almost no guests during this period," Thuan said. "I simply want local families to have a secure place to rest while they wait for conditions to improve and begin rebuilding."
Thuan prepares hotel rooms for arriving residents (Photo: Provided by the subject).
On the afternoon the flooding struck, six families, including elderly residents and young children, arrived seeking shelter and were immediately given rooms.
According to Thuan, the evacuees spend the nights at the hotel before returning home during the day to help emergency workers clear mud and debris from their properties.
In addition to providing free accommodation, her family has supplied drinking water for everyone staying at the hotel.
Thuan said this was not the first time her family had opened the hotel to disaster victims. During a major landslide in 2024, they also provided temporary accommodation for affected households.
"What we're doing isn't anything extraordinary," she said. "If people are in difficulty and have nowhere to stay, we help however we can. I just hope they have a safe place to sleep, get through this disaster and return to normal life as soon as possible."
Many families in Mu Cang Chai Commune suffered damage after rocks and mud swept into their homes (Photo: Provided by the subject).
Earlier on July 18, the Lao Cai Province People's Committee said heavy rain had damaged eight homes in Mu Cang Chai Commune by the afternoon of July 17, forcing eight households to evacuate.
Authorities also warned that several areas remain at high risk of further landslides, while rapidly rising water levels on the Nam Kim Stream continue to threaten homes, transport links and other essential infrastructure.
In response, the provincial government issued an emergency directive ordering agencies and local authorities to mobilise personnel, evacuate residents from dangerous areas, provide temporary accommodation and essential supplies, and accelerate recovery efforts.
Officials have also been instructed to strengthen warnings in landslide-prone areas and complete damage assessments so support can be delivered promptly to affected families.