Ha Tinh families live in crumbling houses at risk of collapse

In mid-June, beneath the scorching sun and dry winds of Huong Tra Commune, 57-year-old Trinh Thi Hieu tends to her grapefruit garden, shielding herself from the heat. The family's 500 sq.m, plot supports fruit and livestock, with each grapefruit providing vital income, though just a small amount, to cover medical and daily expenses.

Just steps away, her 50 sq.m wooden house, built 26 years ago, is falling apart. The tiled roof leaks, and the earthen walls are cracked and porous. Termite damage weakens the wooden columns, and a broken bed frame is wedged against the door to hold the house together during strong winds.

For decades, this decaying structure has been their home.

Inside Trinh Thi Hieu’s home in Ha Tinh Province. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Hung

Hieu's husband, 62-year-old Tran Van Huong, suffers from permanent mobility issues after an accident 10 years ago, leaving him unable to work. Their youngest son, Tran Van Quan, 31, was in a traffic accident seven years ago that resulted in the amputation of his left leg. The accident has left him withdrawn and unable to work consistently.

Hieu, who earns less than VND10 million (US$383) per year selling tea and an additional VND3-5 million from the orchard, struggles to cover her family's medical expenses. The leaking roof often soaks their belongings, and they use basins to collect rainwater and stuff old clothes into cracks during winter. Attempts to repair the house have been repeatedly derailed by medical emergencies.

Hieu worries about her son's future, particularly as she and her husband grow older. Quan occasionally earns VND100,000-150,000 providing consultations on ornamental plant care, but this is only possible if his mother drives him.

"I hope one day my son will have a solid house, a job that suits his condition, and perhaps a loved one to lean on in his old age," Hieu says.

Trinh Thi Hieu (R) and her husband Tran Van Huong in their home in Ha Tinh Province. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Hung

About 10 kilometers away in Huong Lam Commune, 59-year-old Ho Thi Mai Huong faces a similar struggle. Her wooden house, built over 20 years ago, is on the verge of collapse. Termite damage has hollowed out the columns, and the entire structure is unstable.

"Whenever guests visit, I have to ask them to stay outside," Huong says. "If the house collapsed, I wouldn't know how to explain or compensate them."

Huong's husband passed away when their youngest son was a month old. Since then, she has raised her children alone while working as a primary school teacher. Now she is retired with a pension of VND3 million, which is stretched thin to cover her son's university expenses in Hanoi.

Ho Thi Mai Huong stands in front of her dilapidated one-story house in Ha Tinh. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Hung

The deteriorating house, with light streaming through cracks in the roof, is a constant source of worry. Huong once saved VND10 million to repair it, but medical bills for ongoing back and shoulder pain have eaten into her savings.

"I just want to fix the house so my children and I can have a safe place to live," she says.

Both Hieu and Huong are classified as extremely disadvantaged by the local government. While they have received some support through programs and social assistance, the help is limited due to resource constraints.

"The desire for a safe, permanent home is completely just, but with their difficult financial situation, that hope remains out of reach," says Ha Van Dan, Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee in Huong Khe District.

"We hope the 'House of Hope' program will provide these families the opportunity to realize their dream of stable housing."