Over recent days, people in Da Nang have come together to cook thousands of ‘ banh chung’, a traditional square-shaped pack of sticky rice with meat and bean fillings wrapped in green leaves usually made for Tet, for those in the devastating floods-weary central regional localities of Thua Thien Hue, Quang Tri and Quang Binh.

Inhabitants living on Khanh An 2 Street in Hoa Khanh Nam Ward, Lien Chieu District have immersed themselves in a bustling ambiance making ‘ banh chung’ for flood victims in the worst-hit localities.

With their hearts profoundly touched by the plight of thousands of their compatriots in the areas hardest by flooding, dozens of inhabitants living on Khanh An 2 Street in Hoa Khanh Nam Ward, Lien Chieu District, have immersed themselves in a bustling ambiance making ‘ banh chung’ for the flood victims.

Some people committed to giving rice, others committed to giving meat. Some others were willing to clean the leaves, while others would wrap the cakes, all of whom were in a prompt fashion to make as many cakes as they can.

It was worth lauding that the kind-hearted people even worked around the clock to ensure the ‘banh chung’ would reach the affected areas at the earliest. In particular, some had to stay up all night to watch the stoves for boiling the wrapped cakes.

Young volunteers were in charge of taking the cakes the hardest-hit places.  The type of cake is tasty, clean and keeps people full for longer.

‘I am tired but happy because I know what I am doing is meaningful”, a volunteer said.

Rather than food, the making of the cakes shows the Da Nang residents’ sympathy and kind support for their compatriots in affected localities

In a similar vein, a total of 30 people gathered in a restaurant on Ho Nghinh Street, An Hai Bac Ward, Son Tra District to make ‘ banh chung’. Each was given one task like preparing ingredients, arranging leaves, wrapping, or cooking.

Many people gathered in a restaurant on Nghinh Street, An Hai Bac Ward, Son Tra District to make ‘banh chung’.

The making of ‘banh chung’ express the country's moral tradition of ‘la lanh dum la rach’ (The intact leaves protect tattered ones)

Notable amongst was a foreign ex-pat named Russel, an Australian national, who was in charge of cutting leaves and slicing meat.

The kind-hearted man said he deeply understood what flood victims are suffering amid the natural disaster. The only thing he wanted to do was to support them as much as possible in his own way to help them overcome historic floods-triggered difficulties and challenges.

By XUAN SON, LAM PHUONG – Translated by A.T