Return to Mường Pồn

ĐBP - Mường Pồn commune, Điện Biên province once bore the brunt of nature’s fury during a devastating flash flood a year ago. Landslides, raging streams, homes swept away, fields destroyed, and lives lost forever. One year later, we return, witnessing not only changes in the landscape but also the indomitable will to live of the people here. Through grit and resilience, the flood-stricken community of Mường Pồn is rebuilding and reviving day by day.

Rising after the flood

In the memories of many, the flash flood that struck Mường Pồn commune on the night of July 24 and early morning of July 25, 2024, remains unforgettable. The raging waters swept away and damaged more than 100 houses, buried nearly 160 hectares of farmland, and claimed the lives of seven people, who were either dead or missing. In just a few hours, entire villages were submerged in floodwaters, mud, and grief, leaving behind damages estimated at hundreds of billions of đồng.

As time passed, the pain gradually subsided, giving way to a determined journey of recovery. Mud was cleared, houses rebuilt, roads and embankments reinforced. On once-buried rice fields, green shoots of rice, corn, and cassava now grow again. Where cultivation was no longer possible, farmers switched to new crops. Across the villages, people were busy repairing homes, building livestock pens, and restoring fields, working together to rebuild their homeland, as if to declare: Mường Pồn will not fall.

A corner of Lĩnh hamlet resettlement area after the flood.

In Lĩnh hamlet, the hardest-hit area, the strength of life is palpable. From devastation and ruin, the hamlet now shines with new tin-roofed houses, red and green under the sun, like pieces of a hopeful mosaic. The national flag flutters proudly; children laugh and play beside their new homes, their bright voices chasing away the shadows of tragedy.

The family of Quàng Thị Dên in Lĩnh hamlet suffered severe losses. When the floodwaters roared through, their humble wooden home and all their hard-earned possessions were swept away in an instant. “All I could do was stand there and cry. Everything was gone, from the rice pot to the blanket for my children,” recalled Dên, her eyes still reflecting the shock.

Yet in her despair, she told herself: “As long as we’re alive, we can start over.” That belief gave her the strength to begin again. Now, one year later, having moved to a safer resettlement site on higher ground, her family has a sturdy new home. Beside it, vegetable beds are green again, and their farmland is gradually being restored. Her children are back in school.

Alongside efforts to stabilize housing, livelihood support programs have been launched. For example, a 23-hectare rice cultivation project in Lĩnh and Tin Tốc hamlets has introduced new production opportunities while helping residents access modern farming techniques suited to the local highland climate. Local authorities have leveled more than 66 hectares of buried land and restored another 115 hectares of farmland. Nearly 400 households have also been given support to start poultry farming, helping them recover quickly and stabilize their lives.

Although her family suffered no loss of life, Tòng Thị Xúng in Lĩnh hamlet saw all her belongings, livestock, and poultry washed away, and nearly 8,000 square meters of farmland buried under mud. Refusing to bow to misfortune, she worked to start anew. With timely government support, her family received breeding stock, guidance on soil restoration, and training in new production methods. Now, rice has taken root and corn ears are forming on 4,000 square meters of restored land. Livestock pens have been rebuilt, and the chirping of young chicks signals a new life emerging.

The local government has also taken long-term, sustainable measures. Projects are underway to build embankments protecting farmland and residential areas, and to regulate water flow from Mường Pồn 1 hamlet to Tin Tốc hamlet, reducing landslide risks and protecting 90 households, 160 hectares of paddy fields, and 2.5 hectares of fishponds. Irrigation systems are being upgraded to ensure stable water supply for agriculture. These steps reflect the determination not only to “patch things up” after the disaster but to create a solid foundation for Mường Pồn’s long-term safety and development in the face of climate change.

Nguyễn Đăng Hùng, Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee of Mường Pồn commune, shared that the locality had never before faced such a catastrophic natural disaster. Yet in adversity, compassion and solidarity, together with the support of the government, armed forces, organizations, businesses, and above all, the unity of the people, enabled Mường Pồn to stand strong again. More than 100 houses have been built; livelihood models implemented; projects repaired or newly constructed, clear evidence of a determined reconstruction effort. Though life remains challenging, it has stabilized: children are back in school, and production activities are bustling once more.

Lessons in flood preparedness

A year after the devastating flash flood, painful memories still linger. But from that tragedy, the community has undergone a transformation in awareness and action for disaster prevention, shifting from passive reaction to proactive adaptation and preparedness.

In the past, during heavy rain, villagers would simply wait for the water to recede. Now, every household monitors storm and flood conditions, watching the flow, color of the stream, and the rumbling from upstream to detect the risk of flash floods. Each family keeps an “emergency backpack” with essential items such as documents, medicine, dried food, raincoats, and flashlights, ready to evacuate when warnings are issued.

Tòng Thị Xúng of Lĩnh hamlet tends to the poultry her family received in post-disaster support.

Home construction practices have also changed. Many families have relocated away from stream banks and slopes. New houses are built on higher ground with solid foundations, sturdy tin roofs, and brick or reinforced frames. Some households have added mud barriers or dug drainage ditches around their homes to reduce flood damage. Children are taught flood escape skills.

Flood preparedness has become a community effort. In hamlets like Tin Tốc, Mường Pồn 1, Mường Pồn 2, and Lĩnh, community watch teams have been formed. Some monitor weather, others observe water flows and check landslide-prone areas; some are responsible for issuing alerts and assisting with evacuation. Responsibilities are clearly assigned. Disaster prevention is now everyone’s responsibility, forming an “early warning system” within the community itself.

Thanks to these proactive measures, on the night of July 25, 2025, exactly one year after the flash flood, Mường Pồn once again faced prolonged heavy rain, sudden stream surges, and mud and rocks entering some homes. However, thanks to early warnings and coordinated action between the authorities and residents, no casualties occurred, and property damage was minimized. This is clear proof of the effectiveness of improving community disaster response capacity.

Cà Văn Điện of Mường Pồn 2 hamlet shared: “After last year’s flood, I joined a training course on escape skills and flood recognition. Now my family always keeps emergency supplies ready and is prepared to evacuate during heavy rains. We’ve also reinforced our home, raising the foundation, building sturdy walls, and adding wooden latches to the windows. Thanks to this readiness and vigilance, during the recent heavy rains, my family and many others in the hamlet remained safe.”

The mindset around farming and forest protection in Mường Pồn has also shifted dramatically. Residents now actively participate in flood prevention planning and propose models suited to local realities. Crops are adapted to the new climate and terrain. The practice of clearing forest for farmland is ending, as people understand that protecting the forest is protecting life. Bare hills are being reforested. No longer just coping with immediate threats, villagers are thinking about the future, ensuring they will not be left empty-handed after a single night of rain and flood.

According to Hà Quốc Thịnh, Secretary of the Mường Pồn commune Party Committee, the commune has worked with relevant agencies to issue flood risk warnings for specific areas, enabling residents to proactively develop suitable response plans. Support programs are implemented comprehensively, from building solid houses, providing new crop varieties, to organizing training on escape skills and climate-adaptive farming techniques.

Natural disasters remain a constant threat, but what is most admirable is that the people here have not chosen to surrender. Instead, they choose to adapt, turning hardship into the driving force to rise again.

Leaving Mường Pồn, one cannot help but feel moved, not only by the majestic beauty of the Northwestern mountains, but by the powerful vitality of its people. They have endured immense loss but never lost faith. One year ago, they were left with nothing. One year later, they stand tall again, rebuilding with their own hands, with community spirit, and with the desire for a peaceful, strong life. Their journey continues, but with each steady step forward, today’s Mường Pồn has become a symbol of the unyielding spirit of renewal in the highlands.

Ngọc Huyền
Comment

You have 500/500 characters left

Please enter 5 or more characters!!!

Recent news

  • 'Điện Biên boosts prevention and control of dengue fever

    Điện Biên boosts prevention and control of dengue fever

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - In recent years, the dengue fever situation has been complicated in many provinces and cities across the country. Although no dengue cases have been recorded in Điện Biên province in the first seven months of 2025, the health sector and local authorities have been implementing comprehensive measures to prevent and control the disease, protecting public health.
  • 'Mobilizing all efforts to overcome flood consequences

    Mobilizing all efforts to overcome flood consequences

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - The heavy rain that occurred from the night of July 31 to the early morning of August 1 caused flash floods and landslides, inflicting severe damage to lives, property, and infrastructure in many highland communes across Điện Biên province. Local authorities, together with functional forces, are mobilizing maximum manpower and resources to focus on relief efforts, ensuring that no flood-affected resident lacks food or clothing.
  • 'Urgent allocation of VND 200 billion to support Điện Biên in overcoming natural disaster aftermath

    Urgent allocation of VND 200 billion to support Điện Biên in overcoming natural disaster aftermath

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - On the afternoon of August 3, following a direct visit to residents severely affected by natural disasters in Điện Biên province, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, Head of the National Civil Defense Steering Committee, and the Government’s working delegation held a meeting with the Standing Board of the Điện Biên provincial Party Committee to assess and direct recovery efforts.
  • 'Steadfast organization, strong faith

    Steadfast organization, strong faith

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - The merger of commune-level administrative units is a major policy of the Party and State aimed at streamlining the organizational apparatus and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the political system. However, after the merger, consolidating Party organizations at the grassroots level in the newly formed communes is a crucial and urgent task to ensure the Party’s comprehensive leadership from the grassroots, maintain political stability, and promote local socio-economic development.
  • 'Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính visits and encourages flood-affected residents in Tìa Dình

    Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính visits and encourages flood-affected residents in Tìa Dình

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - At around 2:00 p.m. today (August 3), Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and a Government delegation arrived by helicopter in Tìa Dình commune, Điện Biên province to visit and encourage local residents affected by recent flooding, as well as to inspect and direct ongoing rescue and recovery operations. Accompanying the delegation was provincial Party Secretary Trần Quốc Cường.
  • 'Return to Mường Pồn

    Return to Mường Pồn

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - Mường Pồn commune, Điện Biên province once bore the brunt of nature’s fury during a devastating flash flood a year ago. Landslides, raging streams, homes swept away, fields destroyed, and lives lost forever. One year later, we return, witnessing not only changes in the landscape but also the indomitable will to live of the people here. Through grit and resilience, the flood-stricken community of Mường Pồn is rebuilding and reviving day by day.
  • 'Hero in the night of the deadly flood

    Hero in the night of the deadly flood

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - In the white curtain of torrential rain and the deafening roar of the mountains, a decisive act and an urgent phone call by village head Mùa A Thi saved 21 households with 90 people from the jaws of death during a devastating flash flood in the early hours of August 1.
  • 'Ensuring projects continue after local administrative restructuring

    Ensuring projects continue after local administrative restructuring

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - Following the recent restructuring and streamlining of the two-tier local government apparatus, the transfer of management for ongoing and completed infrastructure projects is being carried out urgently to ensure continuity. The goal is to avoid any delays or disruptions caused by the reorganization and merger of administrative units.
  • 'Stuck in the mud: Thanh Nưa residents struggle with crumbling road

    Stuck in the mud: Thanh Nưa residents struggle with crumbling road

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - Hundreds of households in the former center of Thanh Hưng commune, now part of Thanh Nưa commune, Điện Biên province are enduring daily hardships as they navigate a severely degraded road leading to the old commune center. Despite repeated appeals and years of hope, the rugged, muddy path remains a persistent burden, especially during the rainy season.
  • 'Urgent efforts to restore power supply for flood-affected residents

    Urgent efforts to restore power supply for flood-affected residents

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - Heavy rains and flooding on the night of July 31 and early morning of August 1 in Xa Dung, Mường Luân, and Na Son communes in Điện Biên province caused power outages at 97 transformer stations, affecting a total of 8,960 customers. The Điện Biên Power Company is urgently mobilizing forces to restore electricity as quickly as possible for residents.
  • 'Urgent measures to contain African swine fever

    Urgent measures to contain African swine fever

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - Across the country, more than 540 communes and wards in 30 of 34 provinces and cities still have African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks that have not passed the 21-day quarantine period. The illegal sale, purchase, transport, slaughter, and consumption of sick or dead pigs, as well as the disposal of carcasses into the environment, are worsening the epidemic’s spread.
  • 'When radio broadcasting and social media go hand in hand

    When radio broadcasting and social media go hand in hand

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - The effectiveness of communication is measured not only by the volume of information delivered but also by its ability to spread. As social media gradually becomes a popular access channel while radio broadcasting remains a trusted source, combining these two forms has created strong outreach.
  • 'Listening to the people

    Listening to the people

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - After more than a month since its establishment, the commune-level government apparatus in Điện Biên province has taken shape and is operating smoothly. Along with organizational stabilization, one important task is to monitor public opinion and listen to the thoughts and aspirations of the people. Being open to listening and flexible in addressing emerging issues not only ensures the newly merged apparatus operates efficiently but also brings it closer to the people, earning their trust and strong support.
  • 'Ensuring security for the Party congresses at all levels

    Ensuring security for the Party congresses at all levels

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - The success of Party congresses at all levels reflects the unity, responsibility, and thorough preparation of the entire political system. Among the key contributors is the close coordination among sectors and forces, especially the police force, which plays a vital role in ensuring security and safety before, during, and after the congress.
  • 'Keeping the flame alive and passing it on

    Keeping the flame alive and passing it on

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - In the rush of modern life, as many traditional crafts fade into obscurity, there are still those who quietly preserve and pass on the flame of ancestral trades. They are not only talented artisans but also teachers, true “flame‑bearers” for the next generation, helping safeguard the cultural identity of ethnic communities in the great forests of the Northwest.