A Storm That Feels Like an Old Friend
When I heard the news that Storm No.10 (Bualoi) had slammed into Ha Tinh, my heart sank. It was like stepping back into my childhood, when storm season wasn’t just a headline, it was part of daily life.
I remember sitting by the window as a child, watching the sky turn black, the wind howling, and sheets of rain hammering down. Roofs flew, trees snapped, rivers overflowed, and in those moments, storms didn’t feel like rare disasters. They felt like an inevitable visitor.
But there’s something else I remember just as vividly: the mornings after. The quiet determination of neighbors clearing debris, men fixing broken fences, women patching roofs, children picking up fallen branches. In Ha Tinh, storms leave scars, but they also leave behind stories of strength.
Storm No.10 (Bualoi) – Fierce and Relentless
This time, Storm No.10 did not spare my hometown either. According to local reports, the storm carried winds of level 10–11, with gusts up to level 13–14 as it made landfall in Ha Tinh (Tiền Phong).
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Rainfall was forecasted to reach 150–250mm, with some places over 400mm.
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Thiên Cầm beach, one of Ha Tinh’s most beloved coastal spots, was left in ruins: houses collapsed, restaurants and shops torn apart, electric poles down, and entire streets buried in debris (Dân Việt).
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Many business owners shared heartbreaking stories. Some had just begun recovering from the impact of Storm No.5, only to be wiped out again by this one.
The images of bent palm trees, torn metal roofs lying on the ground, and shattered boats remind us of how powerful nature can be — and how fragile human life is when storms rage.
Childhood Memories of Storm Seasons
Growing up in Ha Tinh meant learning how to live with storms.
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I watched my parents hurriedly tie down the roof as the wind roared.
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I saw neighbors’ gardens swallowed by floodwater overnight.
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I heard the sound of tin sheets slamming against each other, echoing through the stormy night.
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I saw men, bruised and tired, rebuild houses brick by brick while women cooked meals over open fires for families who lost their kitchens.
Yet, what stood out most was not fear, it was recovery. After each storm, people simply picked themselves up and started again. It’s almost like resilience is woven into the DNA of the people here.
Why Ha Tinh People Are Known as Resilient
People often say the central region of Vietnam produces some of the most resilient souls. I believe storms play a huge part in shaping that spirit.
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Community First: After a storm, no one waits for help. Neighbors show up with ropes, nails, food, and whatever they have. It’s an unspoken pact: we survive by standing together.
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Adaptability: Each storm teaches lessons. Roofs get built stronger, gardens replanted, flood dikes reinforced. Generations pass down survival knowledge.
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Strength in Starting Over: Losing everything to storms isn’t rare. But instead of giving up, families find ways to restart, no matter how small.
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Inherited Wisdom: From grandparents to children, storm stories and techniques are shared: how to secure doors, protect livestock, or find safe shelter. This wisdom saves lives.
Storms destroy things but they cannot destroy the human spirit.
Lessons from Storm No.10
Storm No.10 leaves us with urgent reminders:
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Infrastructure matters. Stronger homes, safer powerlines, and better drainage could reduce the damage.
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Early warnings save lives. With winds at level 13–14, timely evacuation and preparation made the difference between survival and tragedy.
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Community resilience is key. Quick action after the storm – clearing roads, restoring electricity, and helping the vulnerable – prevents greater suffering.
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Recovery must be swift. Providing loans, materials, and support for rebuilding helps families avoid long-term setbacks.
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Memories carry lessons. Each generation must pass down not only the pain of storms but also the courage to face them.
From Ruins to Light
Ha Tinh is a land of storms. But it is also a land of courage.
Storm No.10 tore through homes and fields, but what remains is not just loss. What remains is the unyielding spirit of the people – the ability to rebuild, to comfort each other, and to keep moving forward.
As someone who grew up here, I know this well: storms will always come, but so will the light after the storm.
And in that light, Ha Tinh people stand tall, ready to begin again.