People living along the Red River struggle during the stormy season

Storm No. 10, which has just made landfall, combined with the simultaneous release of floodwaters from hydroelectric plants, has pushed the water level of the Red River up, submerging many alluvial flats and banks and disrupting the lives of households along the river.

The floating houses were pulled ashore by people to avoid the storm.

Over the past few days, the familiar scene along the banks of the Red River has completely changed. The dirt road leading to the alluvial plain, where people usually exercise and play, is now submerged in red water. The rows of lush green trees are only left with their tops, struggling to reach above the water.

Living with floods

Life along the Red River is usually a colorful picture, and the rainy season always brings quiet colors, full of challenges. Especially for households living on floating houses or on alluvial land, rising river water not only disrupts their daily life but also directly threatens their livelihood and safety.

The floating house area, which could be accessed by motorbike or on foot, is now isolated and can only be accessed by boat.

Mr. Tran Van Thai looked at the floating house he has lived in for more than 20 years now isolated by river water.

In Long Bien ward, Mr. Tran Van Thai, a resident who has been living on the river for more than 20 years, shared about the difficulties his family is facing. “My family has 4 people, my wife and two children. Our main jobs are street vending, raising livestock and fishing. In the past few days, it has been raining and storming, the river water has risen, street vending is almost impossible, and family income has been seriously affected. Goods are easily wet and damaged, and few people go out to buy and sell on rainy and stormy days like this,” Mr. Thai shared.

Not only losing income, moving and daily activities also become more difficult. Mr. Thai said that on days of high water, the whole family has to move their belongings to the shore, especially taking the children to a safer place. Danger also lurks from reptiles such as cobras, buffalo snakes, centipedes, and insects that become more common when the water rises, causing anxiety for families with young children. "Although it is so hard, we have gotten used to this life. For more than 20 years attached to the river, we have experienced many high water and storm seasons. We can only accept and find ways to cope in the most positive way," Mr. Thai confided.

That optimistic spirit is not only his but also that of the fishermen and the people living on floating villages along the Red River, who consider living with floods an inevitable part of their lives.

The water is vast, people who want to go to the fish raft can only travel by boat.

Uncle Hue spent all day today ferrying people in and out on his boat.

Also in the riverside area, Mr. Hue, a fisherman and fish farmer, could not avoid the great impacts of the water. He said that the water rose quickly at night, greatly affecting his family's life. These days, he temporarily put aside his fishing work to drive a boat to help people in the area move in and out of the shore, because the small roads that were previously submerged under water. "Movement now depends entirely on the boat. All day today, I transported people in and out without even having lunch. During the rainy season, people working on the river like us are very tired. We just know to carefully anchor our boats, and constantly update news on the internet to have timely response measures," Mr. Hue shared, his face showing fatigue but his eyes still shining with resilience.

People's feelings during flood season

Mrs. An Thi Dao could not help but feel sad when seeing familiar parks and sandbanks submerged.

The rising water level of the Red River not only affects the lives of those directly connected to the river but also impacts the common living space of the entire riverside community. Ms. An Thi Dao, 67 years old, residing in Hong Ha ward ( Hanoi ), could not help but feel sad when seeing familiar parks and alluvial flats submerged. She said that the river water rose rapidly from the night of September 30, and the Red River bank area has now been almost submerged by the Red River. Chuong Duong forest park, Son Hai temple, Phuc Tan bank forest park,... places where people usually gather seem to have disappeared in the river water. Ms. Dao said that although these public spaces do not belong to anyone, they are the efforts of everyone to take care of and preserve them. Seeing them submerged in floodwaters makes people around here feel sad.

In the context of common difficulties, the spirit of solidarity and mutual support of the riverside community becomes closer. The ferry trips of fishermen like Mr. Hue or the support of the militiamen are all expressions of neighborly love, for the consensus to overcome difficulties.

Chuong Duong Forest Park was submerged in the Red River.

Despite the hardship and fatigue, the riverside residents never give up but consider challenges as an inevitable part of life.

To ensure safety and timely support for the people, the local government is also making every effort. Mr. Hoang Hai, Chairman of the People's Committee of Long Bien Ward, said that the People's Committee of the ward is still closely monitoring the situation. If the river water level reaches the alarm level, the Command Committee will be immediately activated to take stronger response measures. He also affirmed that for families in difficulty, the residential group will report to the ward to provide timely support to the people, from moving assets to providing necessities. This is the government's commitment, a belief for people living along the river to be more confident in the face of the harsh flow of the rainy and stormy season.

The story of the rainy season is always a challenge for people living along the Red River. Despite facing countless difficulties, from loss of income, lurking dangers to the pain of seeing familiar spaces submerged, the people here still maintain an admirable optimistic spirit. Despite hardship and fatigue, they are determined not to give up but consider those challenges as an inevitable part of life, then stand up resiliently, continue to hold on and build the future on this beloved riverside land. It is a simple but powerful beauty, a story of the determination and faith of people who have been attached to this land.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/xa-hoi/nguoi-dan-ven-song-hong-chat-vat-mua-mua-bao-20251001202341081.htm