This initiative was launched in response to the severe flooding and heavy rainfall that struck Lai Chau in July 2026. According to the Lai Chau People’s Committee, as of 3pm on July 19, the floods and landslides occurring between July 15 and 19 had claimed six lives and forced the emergency evacuation of 1,686 people. Approximately 400 hectares of rice paddies, crops, and fish ponds were submerged or buried, while transport, irrigation, and power infrastructure, along with schools, sustained extensive damage. Total losses were estimated at more than VND 190 billion.

As a mountainous province, Lai Chau is frequently affected by heavy rainfall, flash floods, and landslides, particularly in high-altitude and border communes. With many households relying primarily on agriculture, the destruction of crops, livestock, and homes has had a direct and devastating impact on local livelihoods.

To support recovery efforts, World Vision International in Viet Nam has allocated USD 50,000, equivalent to nearly VND 1.3 billion, for assistance in Dao San and Si Lo Lau communes. Of this amount, VND 1.04 billion is being distributed as direct cash support to 260 households (130 households in each commune), with each household receiving a one-time grant of VND 4 million to help meet essential needs and rebuild their lives.

Households receive assistance at the event. (Photo: WVIV)

The remaining funds are allocated for coordination, monitoring, and technical support throughout the implementation process. Beneficiary households are selected based on the extent to which they were directly affected by the disaster, with assistance intended to cover urgent needs such as food, essential supplies, and other immediate expenses.

Dong Thi Hong, Vice Chairwoman of the Dao San Commune People’s Committee, emphasized that a vetted list of 130 households has been prepared to ensure aid reaches the intended recipients and reflects the community’s actual needs. She noted that the initiative is being implemented through close collaboration between World Vision and local authorities, following a structured process that actively involves residents.

According to Nguyen Thi Huong Giang, Project Manager at World Vision International in Viet Nam, while the assistance cannot fully offset the losses, it will help families meet pressing needs, particularly food, daily living essentials, and children’s education.

Earlier, on September 28, representatives from World Vision International in Viet Nam visited flood-affected communities in Lai Chau to assess the situation and identify specific support requirements, laying the groundwork for this emergency response.

Doseba Sinay (second from left) visits a household affected by floods. (Photo: WVIV)

Alongside cash distribution, World Vision International in Viet Nam is also conducting outreach on disaster prevention, mitigation, and response within communities, with a focus on raising awareness and strengthening the response capacity of local residents, especially children.

This relief effort builds upon World Vision’s ongoing programs to support vulnerable communities in Viet Nam, which aim to both address immediate post-disaster needs and enhance resilience and proactive preparedness for future risks.

Plan International Vietnam Support Lai Chau Youth in Economic Empowerment The project, implemented by Plan International Vietnam, aims to equip ethnic minority youth, especially women, with the necessary knowledge and skills to develop sustainable livelihood models that adapt to climate change.

From Lost to Found: German Tourist Thanks Vietnamese Police for Returning His Bag Recently, the Phuc Than Commune Police (Than Uyen district, Lai Chau province) returned a black bag to Philipp Horn (born in 1991, German nationality) including hispassport, visa, his iPod headset, his plane ticket, and many foreign currencies from Japan, Korea, China, and the United States.