Residents of Bac Ai Tay Commune, Khanh Hoa Province, attend the inauguration ceremony and handover of their new homes. (Photo: Van Phu)

A: We are in the first days of 2026, a moment when Vietnam is filled with renewed momentum as the country steps confidently into a new era, an era of national rise.

B: Looking back at 2025, we see a year with severe natural disasters and devastating floods. Vietnamese people, from the highlands to the lowlands, had to brace themselves and endure extraordinary hardship and loss.

A: In those most trying moments, what sustained people was not just material support, but the timely presence of compassion, unity, and the deep bonds between the armed forces and the people.

B: On the very last day of the lunar year, we will recall stories about homes rebuilt after historic floods in central Vietnam, about the warmth of spring along the borderlands, and about the efforts to bring happiness to children in the misty highlands.

A: There are sweat and tears, and also quiet, resilient smiles, all reflecting a simple yet deeply humane message that no one is left behind.

Colonel Hoang Ngoc Thanh, Deputy Political Commissar of the Special Forces, speaks at the house handover ceremony in Dak Lak Province. (Photo: Van Phu)

At a house presentation in Hoa Thinh commune, Dak Lak province, Colonel Hoang Ngoc Thanh, Deputy Political Commissar of the Special Forces, said, “These new homes are not just shelters from sun and rain, they are living symbols of army-people solidarity and compassionate support in times of hardship. They help residents stabilize their lives and move forward.”

For local residents, the new houses are nothing short of a miracle. After the historic floods swept away their property, few could have imagined that, in such a short time, they would be living safely again.

Nguyen Huu Trung, a resident of Hoa Thinh commune, proudly showed off his newly built flood-resilient home. “Now we feel completely at ease. When floods come, we just go up to the loft, no more running around in fear. We are deeply grateful to the Party, the State and the soldiers. The special forces worked tirelessly so that my family could have a comfortable home,” said Trung.

Nguyen Van Be is another recipient. His family includes five fallen heroes and two Heroic Mothers.“In this new house, we encourage our children and grandchildren to follow Party guidelines and State policies, uphold our family traditions and set an example for future generations,” said Be.

A new house is completed just before the arrival of Tet. (Photo: Thai Ba Thuong)

For Chamalea Chuong, a Raglai ethnic minority resident in Bac Ai Tay commune, Khanh Hoa province, this Tết has made a long-held dream come true. His family of six no longer has to crowd into a dilapidated eight-metre-long shack. Instead, they now live in a spacious new 14-meter home.

“With the soldiers’ help, we can finally welcome the Lunar New Year together in a safe and comfortable home. I’m so happy and grateful,” said Chuong.

Peace has also returned for Nguyen Thi Tam, who once thought she would spend the rest of her life in a temporary shelter in Phu Phong hamlet, Dak Lak province. She now beams with pride as she shows off her new home. “I can’t put my happiness into words. Everything is complete now, from the new furniture to the thoughtful gifts from the soldiers. I moved into my new home just in time for Tet.”

The fear of sleepless nights fleeing floodwaters and days of hunger and cold has finally stopped at the doorstep. The new homes are opening wide to welcome spring sunlight. For local people, peace is not just the end of the disaster, it is gaining the feeling of safety in a solid house. Peace has now returned and is warmer than ever.

Soldiers present essential household items as gifts to local residents. (Photo: Van Phu)

A mission from the heart, a duty to the people 

B: Behind these smiles and happiness was a dramatic race against time. The Special Forces were among the units tasked with rebuilding homes in flood-hit areas.

A: It was a “mission from the heart” carried out during the Quang Trung Campaign.

B: We talked with Senior Lieutenant Colonel Pham Sy Cuong, Deputy Political Commissar of the Special Forces Brigade 198, about this remarkable journey.

Reporter: Could you elaborate on your brigade’s engagement in building homes for residents in Hoa Thinh commune and nearby areas in Dak Lak?

Sen. Lt. Col. Pham Sy Cuong: In response to the Quang Trung Campaign launched by the Prime Minister, the Party Committee and the Command of the Special Forces ordered brigades to make all-out efforts to successfully carry out this mission. This is a duty and a responsibility, demonstrating the commitment of military units, of the Special Forces Command and Brigade 198 in particular. We see this as a highly meaningful and deeply humane endeavor. Helping people rebuild their homes so they can celebrate spring and welcome Tet in safety and joy is a great source of happiness, honor, and pride for us. With that spirit, we were determined to complete the task successfully, even ahead of schedule. In peacetime, training and combat readiness remain the core tasks of soldiers. At the same time, helping the people, in my view, is the fulfilment of the military’s roles and responsibilities.

Senior Lieutenant Colonel Pham Sy Cuong, Deputy Political Commissar of the Special Forces Brigade 198

Reporter: Construction in remote areas under harsh weather and difficult terrain must have posed many challenges. How did you overcome them?

Sen. Lt. Col. Pham Sy Cuong: At a number of construction sites, access was so limited for heavy machinery. Soldiers had to carry materials by hand across muddy fields to the worksites. To keep the rebuilding effort on track, clear assignments were made for each construction site, with experienced leaders dispatched to the most challenging spots. Despite harsh conditions, we pressed on with the work, underscoring our determination to complete the mission, regardless of the obstacles.

Reporter: What does handing over these homes ahead of Tet mean to you?

Sen Lt. Col. Pham Sy Cuong: Our contribution may be small in the overall QuangTrung campaign, but seeing people receive their new homes brings us immense joy. Residents are happy and grateful to the Party, the State, the Government, local authorities, benefactors and the military units involved. Though our work may be modest in scale, its impact is deeply meaningful. Many soldiers were moved by the warmth and appreciation shown by the people, an experience that further reinforces the enduring image of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” and the Special Forces in a new era. In the coming time, we will build on the results of the Quang TrungCampaign, continuing to work closely with local authorities to support disadvantaged families, help stabilize livelihoods and improve their incomes, contributing to local growth in the new phase of national growth.

Reporter: Thank you very much, Senior Lieutenant Colonel.

Members of the Special Forces complete the final touches before handing over a new house to residents of Hoa Thinh Commune, Dak Lak Province. (Photo: Van Phu)

As floods recede, compassion remains

A: As people happily settle into their new homes, they remember the will and dedication of the soldiers of the Vietnam People’s Army who stood by them through “storms upon storms” and “floods upon floods.”

B: To understand why a new home evokes such profound feelings, we’ll recall last November when life and death were only a hair’s breadth apart.

In November 2025, the central region and the Central Highlands were struck by historic floods. Water levels rose quickly, reaching 3 meters in some places, submerging thousands of homes. 76-year-old Nguyen Thi Tam of Hoa Thinh commune recalls watching floodwaters surge alarmingly throughout the night. She managed to grab only two sets of clothes before fleeing. Her house collapsed completely in the mud. She could do nothing but cry.

“The flood surged continuously for three days and nights. Everything was completely destroyed. There was nothing left. I thought I’d never again have a place to live in. All my belongings were washed away, nothing left,” said Tam.

Dang Thi Dien of Hoa Thinh Commune, Dak Lak Province, cannot hold back her tears as she recalled the days of flooding. (Photo: Van Phu)

Another Hoa Thinh resident, Dang Thi Dien, still trembles when she recalls that night. “The water rose frighteningly high. I clung to a roof beam but then fell into the rising floods. Until the following afternoon rescuers could only reach my place. I had to stay in hospital for half a month due to my injuries. Everything - my house, cattle and fowls - was swept away. I was so devastated that I thought I couldn’t go on living.”

Typhoon Matmo and Fengshen left deep scars stretching from Ha Tinh to Dak Lak province. 1,900 houses were destroyed completely, and 184,000 houses were flooded.

Some houses are located out in the fields, making transportation extremely challenging. (Photo: Van Phu)

In Khanh Hoa province, landslides disrupted the lives of ethnic minority people in Bac Ai Tay commune. Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyen, Chairwoman of the commune People’s Committee, said the flood is still fresh in her mind. “Prolonged heavy rain isolated hamlets. Telecommunications, electricity, and water supply were cut off. Landslides on Provincial Road 707 made it impossible for vehicles to get through.”

On November 30, the Prime Minister launched the “Quang Trung Campaign” to rapidly rebuild homes in flooded communities. Soldiers quickly became construction workers. 

Construction sites in Hoa Thinh commune offered no days off during the final days of 2025. To meet deadlines the soldiers worked day and night regardless of weather conditions. Second Lieutenant Hoang Le Ngoc Anh, who worked in the most difficult areas, said, “We felt a strong sense of responsibility to help people stabilize their lives as soon as possible. Of the 18 houses assigned to our unit, several were extremely difficult to get to. My comrades and I had to carry construction materials on our shoulders over long distances.”

Soldiers work day and night to stay on schedule. (Photo: Thai Ba Thuong)

The local residents were deeply touched by the sight of soldiers laboring in the cold rain, carrying bricks and cement across muddy terrain to rebuild their homes. Nguyen Thi Minh of Hoa Thinh commune said she and the other villagers prepared food and tea to encourage the soldiers. “When they finished building the houses and returned to their unit, I was deeply moved. While they were here, we built a close relationship.”

The bond between the soldiers and the people encouraged the soldiers to finish the construction as quickly as possible. The flood victims learned that, no matter how harshly nature might treat them, they would not be left behind. Settling into their new homes, their worries faded away, replaced by warmth, feelings of gratitude, and hope for the new spring.

Local residents feel secure in their new, sturdy home. (Photo: Van Phu)

SPRING WARMTH FROM THE ARMY PEOPLE BOND ALONG LAO CAI BORDER 

A: While a post-disaster shortage of shelter in the central region and Central Highlands was addressed by rapid home construction, hardship in communities in the northern highlands is eased by vehicles driving over mountain passes carrying essential supplies donated by people nationwide.

B: In the spirit of “The whole nation joins hands for the poor, leaving no one behind,” a program to bring a warm and sufficient Tet to ethnic communities was carried out in the border province of Lao Cai.

Despite the biting cold of the highland winter, the atmosphere at the Ta Gia Khau multi-purpose cultural house was exceptionally warm. In the meeting hall, locals expressed their heartfelt emotions, enjoyed cultural performances, and presented Tet gifts to policy beneficiary families and disadvantaged households.

The “Warm Spring Border Program 2026” at the Ta Gia Khau Cultural House. (Photo: An Kien/VOV-Northwestern region)

In the yard people enjoyed a green sticky rice cake wrapping contest, sports activities, and a zero-dong market. When Vu Seo Qua, a Mong woman from Pac Ta hamlet, received a large bag of gifts, her face lit up with joy. “My family has two adults and three children. These gifts will ensure a sufficient Tet. Thank you to the soldiers and the donors.”

Over 1,500 policy families, poor households, and students felt the same joy when they received their Tet gifts. In Pha Long, a poor border commune, the Tet gift program is very much appreciated. “This meaningful activity brings joy and encouragement, and strengthens people’s trust in the Party and State. It also reinforces the bond between the army and the people, particularly between border residents and the Border Guard forces and other armed units in the area,” said Pham Dang Nam, Deputy Secretary of the commune Party Committee.

A zero-dong market (Photo: An Kien/VOV-Northwestern region)

The gifts were donated by multiple agencies, businesses, and private donors, including the Lao Cai Power Company. Luu Minh Tuan, Vice Chairman of the company’s Red Cross Society, said the money came from the employees. “We brought 100 gift packages worth a total of 1,200 USD. Many people in the mountain regions are very poor. We hope to bring more gifts to them in other programs.”

Colonel Nguyen Van Tuan, Deputy Political Commissar of the Lao Cai provincial Border Guard Command, said, “The program expresses our gratitude to border residents and motivates them to continue standing shoulder to shoulder with the Border Guard in firmly safeguarding national sovereignty and border security.”

A warm and sufficient Tet has come to the Pha Long border area. Gifts and emotional visits have provided motivation for the residents to remain rooted in their villages, where hardships will eventually give way to happiness and they can be sure that no one will be left behind.

A chung cake wrapping contest (Photo: An Kien/VOV-Northwestern region)

BORDER SPRING GLOWS WITH ARMY-PEOPLE SOLIDARITY 

A: Spring has arrived in the borderlands, bringing Tet gifts and love from the lowlands. In Xin Man commune, Tuyen Quang province, teachers and students have received support through the “Female Service Members Accompanying Border Women” program.

A: Amid foggy, treacherous mountain passes, the bond between soldiers and locals is flourishing in a special way.

When a military delegation reached Xin Man after navigating steep, landslide-prone roads with dangerous hairpin turns, they were greeted by the biting cold of the northern commune, where the poverty rates still exceed 50%.

Nan Xin Ethnic Day Boarding Primary School stands as a beacon of learning for children in this remote area. The sight of students chatting and playing in a courtyard exposed to harsh sun and sudden mountain rains deeply moved the visiting soldiers, who have built what they dubbed the “Compassion Courtyard Roof.”

Sponsors attend the inauguration ceremony for the courtyard roof of Nan Xin Ethnic Boarding Primary School. (Photo: Van Phu)

Colonel Nguyen Thi Thu Hien is Head of the Military Women's Board of the Ministry of National Defense’s General Political Department.

“Our action reflected our sense of responsibility and our affection. We built a courtyard roof so the students can play safely regardless of the weather.”

Principal Nguyen Van Hiep said that this year the school has 364 students, all from ethnic minority communities.

“Our facilities are limited, but thanks to support programs, conditions have improved. We now have a covered courtyard and new TVs to help students access technology. The teachers will feel more secure working here.”

Children receive warm jackets, woolen scarves, and hats to stay cozy during the winter. (Photo: Van Phu)

In the early-year mountain chill, the most touching moment came when female officers and soldiers helped the children put on new winter jackets, scarves, and woolen hats. Fifth grader Ly Thi Hoai said with a smile, “I’m very happy and proud. This gift is very special to me. I hope to become a teacher to help my parents and my village.”

Despite family hardships and daily chores herding water buffalos and caring for her sick brother, Hoai is an excellent student who scored nine out of ten in mathematics. A gift of school supplies, warm clothes, and sweets eased her family’s burden and brought the warmth of a hopeful Tet to her modest home.

Soldiers in dark green uniforms gave brightly colored traditional long dress (ao dai) to the female teachers who are nurturing future generations in the misty mountains the locals call “the gateway to heaven”. Hoang Thi Huyen, who has taught in Xin Man for 15 years, said with emotion, “The ao dai is a beautiful symbol of Vietnamese women and a meaningful gift for the teachers here. It conveys the affection of the people in the lowlands.”

For Huyen and her fellow teachers, the gift feels like recognition of their years of quiet dedication.

Residents of Xin Man commune, Tuyen Quang province, receive houses from the “Female Service Members Accompanying Border Women” program. (Photo: Van Phu)

The “Female Service Members Accompanying Border Women” program supports sustainable livelihoods through housing and social assistance packages totaling 47,000 USD. Ten “Houses of Compassion” have been given to disadvantaged female-headed households.

“This program targets the most difficult border areas. Supporting women and children strengthens civilian-military bonds and builds a people’s heart and mind posture, a strong foundation for safeguarding the homeland early and from afar in the new context,” said Colonel Ta Hong Quang, Political Commissar of the Special Forces.

As the delegation prepared to leave, warm handshakes and emotional farewells reflected the deep soldier-civilian bond forged in hardship and shared hope. In these frontier lands, compassion is strength, sustaining faith and enabling dreams to soar. That may be the most meaningful Tet gift the Vietnam People’s Army brings to local communities.

B: We’re stepping together into a new era, the era of national rise, with the determination that no one will be left behind.

A: With unity between the Party, the State, the army, and the people, no challenge is insurmountable. 

B: This unity fuels the flame of hope, making each spring more fulfilling than the last.