German tourist donates $380 to flood-hit central Vietnam before flying home

On Nov. 27, Scholz said he had been following news and social media coverage of the severe flooding in central Vietnam and wanted to help them but he was unsure how to express his support directly to those suffering loss and hardship.

"Seeing people sitting on rooftops waiting for rescue, I thought I needed to do something. At that moment, I felt like I was a part of this country," he said.

"I believe you can help me do this. I love Vietnam and the friendly, kind people here. I hope I can help in some way," the German tourist wrote in a letter to the owner of a hotel in Tuan Chau in Ha Long, home to the world famous bay.

Hai, the hotel owner, said she was surprised to receive the envelope because during his three-day stay, Scholz had not asked about flooding in the central region.

After accepting the money, she suggested using it to buy rice for relief efforts, and Scholz agreed.

Hai purchased 830 kg of rice and donated it to a flood-relief team in Scholz’s name.

Thanh Hai (far right) gives 830 kg of rice to a flood relief team to deliver them to affected residents in central Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Thanh Hai

She described his gesture as especially meaningful because he was only a tourist, not a resident of Vietnam.

The story of Scholz’s donation quickly spread on social media, with many people expressing their gratitude to him.

"It’s great to see foreign visitors care about the difficult circumstances of Vietnamese people even though it’s not their responsibility," commented Minh An.

"Foreign visitors come here and feel like they are part of this place," added Tuan Linh.

Scholz said he frequently engages in charity work in Germany.

"I want to share because many people will need that money more than me," Scholz said.

He first visited Vietnam in December last year, traveling to Sa Pa, Ninh Binh, Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An. Returning to Vietnam in mid-November 2025, he visited Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat.

He had planned to go to Nha Trang but then canceled his plan because of flooding, instead heading to Da Nang and ending his trip in Ha Long on Nov. 26.

Heavy rain has caused historic flooding across the south central region, home to popular tourist destinations like Nha Trang, Quy Nhon and Phu Yen and some of the country's most popular beaches, over the past weeks. At least 98 people were killed and hundreds of thousands of homes damaged.