New houses supported by the government in the resettlement area of Lũng Lỳ Hamlet. —  VNA/VNS Photos Chu Hiệu

CAO BẰNG — Returning to Lũng Lỳ, in Ca Thành Commune, Nguyên Bình District, Cao Bằng Province, in the early days of 2025, one can see that the people here are gradually rising from their loss and pain. New houses have been built and the residents are restarting their lives with perseverance, resilience and aspirations for a brighter and more sustainable future.

Unhealed wounds

In early September 2024, the torrential rains caused by the remnants of Typhoon Yagi triggered a landslide in Lũng Lỳ Hamlet, completely burying six houses, killing nine people and injuring three others. In the aftermath of the disaster, the provincial authorities put out an urgent appeal to build houses for families who lost both their loved ones and their homes. Although the community has rallied to support and help create a new life, the pain of losing family members still lingers in the hearts of the people here.

Upon seeing visitors at her home, 31-year-old Triệu Mùi Lai, sat leaning against a wall still smelling of fresh paint. Holding her nearly one-year-old child, she gazed into the distance, clutching her daughter’s hand tightly, as tears welled up in her eyes. She told us her husband had been killed when a landslide buried her farmland. While four people now live in their new house, the grief remains. Lai recalled the days when her whole family would gather around the dinner table, with the children clinging to their father, chatting and laughing—memories of a husband she lost to the disaster.

In another newly-built house, Triệu Vần Phu, who is 21 years old and lives in Lũng Lỳ Hamlet, has already furnished it with tables, chairs, beds and other necessities. However, he always appears deep in thought. The pain is immense—overnight, the disaster took away his parents and his hard-working wife.

With his grandmother as his only remaining support, he was dealt another devastating blow when she passed away just days before their new home was completed. Phu added that ever since the landslide and his grandmother’s passing, his life has revolved around caring for his two young children. He has had to suppress his sorrow, taking on all responsibilities, tidying up and taking care of the new house. Now, as the sole pillar of the family, he must strive even harder to rebuild his life and secure a stable future for his children.

Inside the new house of Triệu Vần Phu in the resettlement area of Lũng Lỳ Hamlet.

A new rhythm of life

Determined to ensure no one is left homeless, on September 18, 2024, Nguyên Bình District initiated the construction of houses for seven households in Lũng Lỳ Hamlet. Each single-story house, which spans approximately 70 square metres, is valued at nearly VNĐ240 million (US$9,492). After four months, sturdy and well-built new homes were handed over to the affected families, providing them with a safe place to live before the Lunar New Year in 2025.

Hoàng Văn Vạn, who lost his wife in the landslide, was overwhelmed with emotion upon receiving his new house. Despite all his difficulties, he remains optimistic. With a secure home, he no longer has to worry about the rainy season and can focus on work and production. He is determined to improve his family's life.

During the house-warming ceremony, Triệu Thị Phương, a sixth-grade student at the Ca Thành Commune Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities, returned home to celebrate with her grandmother, uncles and aunts. Having lost both parents in the landslide, Phương held her baby sibling tightly, trying to suppress the pain she had endured. On this joyful day, she missed her parents dearly—she dreams of them every night, but she knows they are now only memories. Nearly four months after the disaster, Phương's life is stabilising. She attends boarding school and diligently studies with her classmates. After the celebration, she packed her books and clothes, smiled brightly at her grandmother and relatives and headed back to school, carrying hope for a brighter, more fulfilling future.

Smiles have returned to the residents of Lũng Lỳ Hamlet after their losses and hardships.

From the new houses, looking back at the old village, the sight of the collapsed hillside still brings pain, as if the landslide had happened just yesterday. Now, living in sturdy new homes, the people of Lũng Lỳ—especially the survivors of the devastating disaster—are stepping into a new chapter of their lives.

The once-uneven land has been levelled and the newly built concrete houses stand close together. This is a tremendous source of encouragement, giving families the security they need to focus on economic development and escape poverty.

Reflecting on the past, Lũng Lỳ Hamlet Chief Hoàng Văn Me still cannot forget the tragedy. He and the people of the village deeply appreciate the support from the authorities and the entire nation, which has provided them with new homes and stability. With sturdy houses, the residents—especially the children—are regaining their emotional stability, moving beyond the trauma and returning to normal life and school.

The community hopes for continued assistance to complete the necessary infrastructure, creating favourable conditions for long-term stability and economic growth. VNS