Kindness Bus in February Sows Seeds of Hope on Rebuilt Rooftops in Dak Lak

There are places where residents shed tears twice in a single month. Such was the case in Phu Phong village, Hoa Thinh commune, Dak Lak, where the historic floods  in 2025 swept away houses, belongings, and years of carefully preserved memories. The floodwaters rose  to record levels  and  left behind heartbreaking emptiness.

Red Flags in the Wind and Green Shoots of a New Year

The first tears fell when villagers watched their homes disappear. The second time, tears flowed again, but this time from joy. Forty-nine new houses were rebuilt under the Quang Trung campaign and now   stand sturdy and bright under the sun. The small village seemed transformed. As spring approached, the Kindness Bus arrived, bringing a more complete Lunar New Year to the 49 new rooftops.

The bus  carried no elaborate gifts, only simple yet meaningful tokens: national flags and young saplings. Each household received a red flag, which soon  fluttered   proudly in front of the newly painted homes under the spring sunlight. The vivid red against the sky stood as a quiet affirmation that  after every loss, resilience remains.

The saplings are still small today, but they will grow and  take deep root   in  the soil of Phu Phong. In time, their branches will spread wide  and   cast  shade over   newly rebuilt homes, just as life here is gradually recovering.

A First Spring Meal for 49 Families

After months of  hardship, Phu Phong now hums with the warmth of early spring. The 49 new houses have not only reshaped the village’s appearance but also opened a new chapter for each family.

During its February journey, the Kindness Bus, in partnership with  the Truong Hai Group Corporation (THACO), quietly prepared  a   special surprise for all 49 households: a heartfelt first spring meal.

Fragrant banh tet were ready. The aroma of the  freshly cooked sticky rice mingled with the spring breeze and drifted  through doorways that still smelled of fresh paint. Each householdcarries a story of perseverance through stormsand has gathered  together to share ameal  and welcome the new year.

The meal was not a lavish feast, but it was one of solidarity  with  firm handshakes between neighbors who once stood side by side against raging floods. Amidst the laughter and New Year conversations, one truth  became clear: after every storm, the Vietnamese people can come together, share a slice of banh tet, and speak of renewal.

The Kindness Bus continues its journey. Yet in Phu Phong, the red flags still wave before new homes, the young trees take root, and a growing sense of belief rises with the first spring after the flood.

The Kindness Bus is produced by the Center for Digital Content Production and Development - VTV Digital in coordination with PSC Media Joint Stock Company. Thaco supports the program and, with a shared mission to spread  kindness, honors inspiring individuals, and implements meaningful, practical community projects.