 |
| Students stayed at a hotel for free on the morning of October 23 |
“Sheltering from flood”... at hotels
On October 22, after seeing forecasts of complicated developments of the typhoon and flood affecting Hue City, Ms. Chau The Lieu Trang, owner of several hotels and villas in Hue City, posted on Facebook inviting people to her hotels and villas to shelter from the typhoon, ensuring their safety.
The Facebook post was brief, yet full of compassion: “Ready to support free accommodation for students, mothers, and children in low-lying areas, or for those who feel unsafe during the typhoon and flood. Those who finish work late at night and can't get home because of flooded roads can also come and stay.” Below the post was a phone number to book a room, along with the addresses of three locations: Poetic Hue Hotel (24/26 Vo Thi Sau, Thuan Hoa Ward, Hue City); facility 2 - Cleopatra villa (35 Kinh Nhon, Bau Va planning area, Hue City), and facility 3 - Sunshine villa (13/77 Thai Duong - Thuan An, Hue City).
From the evening of October 22, a number of students and households from low-lying areas moved in to stay. Ms. Trang set aside 15 rooms at the hotel at 24/26 Vo Thi Sau Street, Thuan Hoa Ward, along with one 6-bedroom villa in Thuy Xuan Ward, and one 4-bedroom villa in Thuan An Ward to welcome people. In total, there are nearly 25 rooms, each able to accommodate 4-6 people, all ready to open their doors throughout the typhoon week. These accommodations are all located in high-ground areas that are not prone to flooding.
Hoang Thi Phuong Trinh, a fourth-year student at the University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Hue University, shared: “I live in a low-lying area, and I was worried about the water rising, so I contacted the hotel owner on the evening of October 22 to ask for shelter from the flood. The staff at the hotel, especially Ms. Trang, were very enthusiastic. Besides the free accommodation, they also provided instant noodles for me and my friends. She also told us to stay comfortably, and only go home after the typhoon and flood had passed.”
Normally, the hotel rooms rent for 400,000 VND/night/room, and a whole villa costs from 3 to 3.5 million VND/day for 10-15 people. However, hearing the news of the dangerous natural disaster and the risk of deep flooding, Ms. Trang decided not to accept paying guests, and reserve the space for people needing shelter. “Some people asked to rent the whole villa, but I either refused or arranged them in another villa, because I wanted to keep the space available for those in need of a safe place. Everyone who comes is registered, welcomed and served like a paying guest, with no distinction. The only difference is that I don't take money from them,” shared Ms. Trang.
Ms. Trang also stated that not just this typhoon, but during previous and future typhoons, her accommodation facilities will always be open for free to support people. Her motivation stems from a desire to share and stand with people during periods of natural disaster, typhoons, and floods.
Being ready to open doors and share
 |
| FPT School Hue prepared to welcome people from flooded areas |
In response to the complex developments of the typhoon, FPT School Hue had proactively prepared full facilities and essential supplies, ready to open its doors to welcome people to shelter from the typhoon and flood.
On the school's campus, classrooms, dormitories, and common areas were cleaned and arranged neatly, ready to serve as temporary accommodations for people. The school also prepared food reserves such as instant noodles, milk, eggs, coffee, etc., to serve people sheltering from the flood. Additionally, the high-ground parking area was opened to help people park their vehicles safely away from the flood.
A representative of the school said that FPT School Hue always considers this an activity that demonstrates the social responsibility of “F house”, wishing to join hands with the community to overcome the natural disaster. Mr. Nguyen Mau Nhat Khanh, a representative of FPT School Hue, shared: “We want to create a safe and warm shelter so that people can feel secure as they get through the typhoon and flood.”
With a spirit of sharing with the community, for the past two days, staff at My Duc Foreign Language Center, at 92 Dang Huy Tru Street, Thuan Hoa Ward, had also been busy preparing supplies to welcome people to stay for free.
The Center has 6 airy classrooms, and a spacious and safe parking area that can accommodate dozens of people. Ms. Tran Thi My Duc, Director of the Center, said that the staff had prepared blankets, pillows, drinking water, instant noodles, snacks, and fruits, ready to serve. One room can be set up with mats, and carpets... for communal activities.
To stay there, people only need to contact the phone number 0914052400 in advance so that staff can coordinate the accommodation, and bring their personal identifications and phone chargers.
With just a few lines of words posted on its fanpage, the Center received registrations from many people. T.C., a student who was in the process of moving out of the rented room, but had not yet found a new place to stay, immediately texted to ask for shelter from the typhoon. Le Thi T.V., a student at the University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Hue University, renting a room on Dang Van Ngu Street, called to register out of fear of flooding. Meanwhile, a pregnant female worker, whose house in Hoa Chau Ward was flooded, contacted the Center from her workplace to ask for temporary accommodation.
Ms. Tran Thi My Duc said that flood only lasts for a few days, and she wants to share and support people living in low-lying areas, especially students from other provinces who are renting rooms. Last year, the Center also provided shelter for several students; as there were not enough staff to handle meals, she provided them with money for food.