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On Nov. 28 a video showing Pham Van Long, 42, the head of My Phu 1 village in central Dak Lak province, wearing pants rolled up above his knees, barefooted and coordinating the distribution of relief items after the historic floods in the south-central region, went viral on social media.
He doesn’t use a list but remembers all faces and names and says things like "Mrs. Bay’s household, elderly and living alone, house with flimsy walls" and "Mr. Tuan’s household, four people, shrimp pond swept away."
Hundreds of villagers line up without pushing or shoving. When he notices some outsiders wearing masks and hats joining the line, he softly asks them to leave to ensure there are enough rations for his village.
Pham Van Long, 42, head of My Phu 1 village, central Dak Lak Province, calls out the names of people receiving for relief materials from a charity group on Nov. 28, 2025. Photo by Ana Hue
The video was made by Nguyen Van Thi, a member of a charity group in South Quy Nhon Ward in Gia Lai Province. That day the charity had brought 300 relief packages, but since the village has 800 households, the visitors asked Long for help.
Witnessing the chief remembering every newborn child and recently deceased senior, the charity group was astonished. "I’ve been to many places, but never seen anyone with such a good memory," Thi says.
Asked about the "superhuman" memory that has been acclaimed by netizens, Long says it is the result of 15 years of dedicated service to the village. Every day he visits every alley and knocks on every door, he says.
Memorizing all the information about all 800 households and 3,000 people in the village, and even temporary residents, is a requirement he sets for himself.
He served in the army in 2005. After being discharged and graduating from the Da Nang University of Economics, he returned to his hometown to work as a policeman and was elected village head in 2010.
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Pham Van Long, 42, head of My Phu 1 village, central Dak Lak Province, calls out the names of people for receiving relief materials from a charity group on Nov. 28, 2025. Photo by Thi Tourguide |
He demonstrated even more capabilities during the floods in mid-November. Using a self-drawn "village defense map" from his time as a police officer, meticulously marking each low-lying area and vulnerable house, he began the evacuation as soon as the alarm sounded.
Livestock was moved up a mountainside and children and seniors were taken to sturdy buildings. As a result, though My Phu 1 was isolated for many days, there were no casualties.
The methodical evacuation also helped reduce the pressure on rescue efforts on higher levels of government when the floodwaters rose.
During the days when water was chest-high, Long rowed a boat to deliver food and water to each house. When the waters receded, he took charge of receiving and distributing relief supplies on a transparent basis: those who suffered the most damage received them first.
"Distributing goods is not just about giving material things, but also about preserving the self-respect of the people," he says.
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Village head Pham Van Long frequently visits households in the village, offering encouragement and understanding their needs. Photo courtesy of Long |
His family was among those that suffered the most losses. The floodwaters swept away his shrimp, crab and fish ponds, causing losses of over VND400 million ($15,206).
After the floodwaters receded, he spent days wading through the mud helping villagers clean up. "Material possessions can be replaced, but the bonds of community and the responsibility I’ve undertaken cannot be overlooked."
