In a small village in Dong Thanh commune ( Nghe An province), there is a simple woman with a great heart and sense of responsibility, that is Ms. Dam Thi Nham, Secretary of the Yen Hoi hamlet Party cell.

The story of Ms. Nham calling for the construction of a new house for the family of Mr. Ngo Van Chung and Mrs. Nguyen Thi Luc - a poor and foolish couple, living with a foolish child, has become a symbol of love, of the spirit of "the rich helping the poor", especially when the house was completed just one day before storm No. 5 made landfall.

Anxiety from a dilapidated house

In late May 2025, Nghe An entered the rainy and stormy season. On the news, meteorological forecasts continuously warned of a strong storm about to form offshore. During a visit to check and assess the situation of the people in the village, Ms. Nham was stunned by the scene: The dilapidated house of Mr. Chung and Ms. Luc's family - the tiled roof was full of holes, the walls were cracked, the ground was damp, and the rain was leaking everywhere. Inside, three foolish people could only sit huddled up looking at the sky, not enough to worry about daily meals, let alone a sturdy roof.

Ms. Dam Thi Nham was elected as Secretary of Yen Hoi hamlet Party Cell, term 2025 - 2027.

Ms. Nham recounted: “Looking at that house, I felt so sorry. If a storm comes, where will those three people run to? Thinking of the scene of the grandparents and their foolish child sitting in a makeshift house in the rain and wind, I couldn’t sleep. I am the Party cell secretary, I can’t just stand by and watch.”

What is more precious is that Ms. Nham's husband is an Army officer, currently working at the Air Defense - Air Force, often away from home. She alone takes on all the big and small tasks from the village to the family. That determination further highlights the qualities of a responsible and compassionate female Party member.

Kindness in action

Immediately after that, she decided to write an appeal on social media: “In Yen Hoi hamlet, there is a family of three, all foolish, with a dilapidated house that cannot shelter them from the rain or the sun. The storm season is coming, I earnestly hope that relatives, friends near and far, and kind-hearted people will join hands to help, so that we can build them a decent roof, so that they will no longer have to sleep on the ground.”

That call was like a spark that touched people's hearts. Some contributed money, some contributed labor, some sent cement and steel, some volunteered to work as unpaid laborers. The women in the association discussed contributing their days of work as construction workers and cleaners.

Mr. Ho Van Thang, a villager, emotionally shared: “Hearing Ms. Nham’s call, everyone felt they had to contribute. Some contributed little, some contributed a lot, but together they made a big deal. Building a house for that family was not only helping them, but also building a more loving village.”  

When the money and materials were ready, the construction started promptly. The atmosphere was bustling like a festival. The neighbors, whoever was free, would help at that time. Ms. Nham was always there, encouraging, motivating, and contributing like any other worker.

The closer the storm day got, the more urgent the work became. The construction workers worked day and night. Especially, the night before storm number 5 (Kajiki) hit, Ms. Nham stayed up almost all night, constantly running up and down the construction site to urge the workers to complete the last doors.

Mr. Duong Van Tinh, a construction worker who participated in building the house, recalled: “That night, it rained quite heavily. Ms. Nham wore a raincoat and held a flashlight to help us screw the door. She kept reminding us: The door must be finished, otherwise tomorrow the storm will come and the wind will blow it all away. Seeing her determination, none of us could bear to stop working.” And then, like a miracle, the new house was completed, exactly one day before the storm hit.

Simple but great happiness

When storm number 5 swept through, the wind blew in gusts and the rain poured down. The new house still stood firm and sturdy. For the first time in their lives, three foolish people had a proper roof over their heads.

Ms. Dam Thi Nham and Mr. Chung (right) and neighbors happily chatted right after storm No. 5.

What was even more touching was that the next morning, after the storm had just passed, the first place Ms. Nham went to was her new house. She hurriedly waded through the flooded road. Seeing the house standing firm, the three family members still safe, she breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes filled with tears: “At that time, I just thought, luckily I made it in time. Otherwise, the storm would have blown away the old roof and I don’t know what would have happened.”

Mr. Le Thi Thu, a villager, was moved: "Ms. Nham's heart is like an anchor that holds the village's love and affection. Thanks to her, the whole village clearly sees that as long as we are united, there is nothing we cannot do."

Message from the heart

The new house is not only a shelter for a poor family, but also a living symbol of humanity and brotherhood. It reminds us that: Love and responsibility are not distant things, but start from simple actions, from empathy for the suffering of others.

The story of Ms. Dam Thi Nham is a testament to the eternal principle of “love others as you love yourself”. From the concern and determination of a grassroots cadre, the flame of humanity has spread, connecting the whole community, creating the strength to overcome the storm.

And more than that, in the image of Ms. Nham, people also see the familiar silhouette of Vietnamese women who are the solid rear for soldiers. Her husband guards the sky of the Fatherland every day, while she stays at home quietly taking care of the village, building a warm home for those in difficult circumstances. That is the beautiful resonance between the army and the people, between the rear and the front, creating the everlasting strength of our nation.

Above all, the story leaves us with a simple yet profound message: Love, solidarity, and mutual support are not only ethics, but also responsibility, the path for our community to walk together through all the storms of life.

Colonel NGUYEN DUC HUAN, Deputy Head of Missile Department, Air Defense - Air Force Academy

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/phong-su/ngoi-nha-tinh-nguoi-giua-mua-bao-to-846424