In Ia Dreh Commune, one of the worst-hit zones, more than 2,300 hectares of rice, cassava, sugarcane and vegetables were flattened or submerged by Typhoon No. 13 and prolonged heavy rains. Local authorities quickly mobilized technical teams to help residents clear silt, prepare land and secure seeds so production could resume without missing the sowing window.
The rapid recovery is evident in Blăk Village, where the sound of tractors and water pumps now fills the early morning air. Farmers have returned to the fields to plow, weed and reopen irrigation channels, creating a sharp contrast with the destruction seen only months earlier.
Among them is KBôr Sưng, who lost 1.2 hectares of nearly ripe rice. Casting seeds into his rehabilitated field, he said the only option was to continue working to secure food and income. Many households across Ia Dreh have taken similar steps, leveling silted fields and restoring production areas to ensure the winter-spring crop proceeds on schedule.
Ia Dreh Vice Chairman Cao Văn Dũng said damage assessments were completed promptly to channel support to eligible households. “We encouraged people not to abandon their fields and provided timely assistance so they could resume sowing with confidence”, he said.
In Ia Rsai Commune, storms destroyed more than 939 hectares of crops. Authorities advised farmers to harvest severely damaged plots early and shift to crops better suited to post-flood conditions. Several cassava areas have since been converted and now grow tobacco. The commune has already planted more than 3,500 hectares for the 2025-2026 winter-spring season and continues to issue technical guidance as weather risks persist.
Housing stabilization has progressed in parallel with agricultural recovery. In Pờ Tó Commune, a resettlement area for 160 households, mainly ethnic minority families from frequently flooded hamlets, was completed before the Lunar New Year. Residents who once lived in makeshift, flood-prone shelters now occupy solid homes with access to electricity and clean water.
Siu Rin, one of the new residents, said his family received nearly 400 square meters of land and 22 million VND (about US$880) in housing support. Moving into a new home while welcoming his first child, he said he is committed to building a more stable future.
According to Nguyễn Hùng Linh, head of the commune’s Culture and Social Affairs Office, resettlement is part of a long-term plan linking safe housing with improved infrastructure and livelihood development.
In neighboring Ia Hiao Commune, preparations are underway for a new resettlement zone for 180 households frequently affected by floods. The commune has compensated 34 households with a total of 14 billion VND (about US$560,000) and reclaimed 15.5 hectares for the project. Commune Chairman Võ Hoàng Lan described the plan as essential to safeguarding communities as weather patterns grow more unpredictable.
From newly planted fields in Ia Dreh and Ia Rsai to new resettlement areas in Pờ Tó and Ia Hiao, the region is steadily rebuilding. Coordinated government assistance and the resilience of local residents have helped stabilize production, restore livelihoods and foster renewed optimism.
For many in western Gia Lai, this spring marks not only the return of seasonal warmth but a broader renewal, one shaped by determination to rebuild stronger after adversity.
