Foreigners help remove trees felled by typhoon Yagi in Hanoi

The West Lake area resident returned recently from France and saw the wreckage left behind by Yagi, the strongest typhoon to hit Vietnam in 30 years.

The Frenchman signed up for a local program and helped carry debris to trucks to clear the capital’s roads. "There are fallen trees everywhere. I want to contribute to make the city I live in more beautiful."

Vietnamese and foreign volunteers collaborated with authorities to clear fallen trees on Ly Thai To Street in Hanoi's Hoan Kiem District, Sept. 14, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/ Quynh Nguyen

Typhoon Yagi swept through Hanoi on Sept. 7 with maximum wind speeds of 102 kph, causing widespread destruction. Many trees broke or were uprooted, littering the streets. As of last Friday, over 40,000 fallen trees have been reported, mainly in central areas.

Duncan Withers of New Zealand, who has been living in downtown Hanoi for two years, was upset to see the old trees he loved broken and lying on the ground. "Big trees were uprooted."

He and his girlfriend signed up for a full day of cleanup work near the Opera House in the heart of the city.

Polish national Joanna Chilicka, who has been living in Hanoi for eight years, said she had never seen the city so devastated by a storm. "I have lived in Vietnam long enough to know that people will always help each other in times of difficulty. This urges me to contribute."

Joanna Chilicka carries a fallen tree branch in Hanoi on Sept. 14, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Nguyen

Dragging large branches was hard work, but she was determined to carry on as she saw many volunteers working alongside her.

The program that these volunteers participated in was run by Hoan Kiem Youth Union and tourism company Tubudd.

Vu Thi Thai An, a media representative for the latter, said: "The least we can do is to clean up the city." Her company called for volunteers online and over 200 people, including over 100 foreigners, signed up.

Thanh Mai, a passerby who witnessed foreigners assisting with the cleanup, expressed that she was touched by their efforts. "As a Vietnamese, all I can say is thank you to our international friends," said Mai, who also joined in to help.