Late in October, when continuous rain submerged areas across Huế and Đà Nẵng, island resident Phan Thị Thúy, 47, decided to act. She donated 110 kilograms of dried fish, worth about 17 million VND (USD 670), which her family had saved to sell at year’s end. Within hours, nearly a dozen women from her hamlet joined in, bringing pans, gas stoves, cooking oil, salt, fish sauce, and spices to contribute.
Despite limited supplies on the island, the women organized an efficient cooking line. They washed and fried the fish until crispy, then simmered it with chili, pepper, sugar, and garlic over low heat for hours to ensure long-lasting flavor and preservation, suitable for flood-hit areas with scarce cooking conditions.
Beginning at 6 p.m. on October 28, the women worked tirelessly until 1 a.m., enduring the heat of large pans and the strong aroma of fish. “We just want people in the flood zones to have a hot meal and regain strength to overcome hardship,” said Nguyễn Thị Hương, one of the volunteers.
By dawn, they had produced 150 kilograms of braised fish, divided into 0.5 kg portions and packed into boxes weighing 5–10 kg. At 6:30 a.m., the women loaded the packages onto a canoe bound for the mainland, where volunteers in Quy Nhơn immediately transported them to inundated regions.
“All the fish was caught and sun-dried here on Nhơn Châu Island,” said Thúy. “We just hope our small gift brings some comfort and reminds those suffering that they’re not alone.”
Dương Hiệp Hùng, Chairman of the Nhơn Châu Commune People’s Committee, praised the effort: “Despite their own hardships and relying mainly on canoes for transport, the people of Nhơn Châu always stand ready to help. The actions of these women reflect the community’s enduring spirit of solidarity.”
