A New Beginning at Ta Cu Ty 1 School: Seeing Hope Rise Again

Months after Typhoon Yagi swept through Lao Cai province, its impact continued to shape the most basic routines of daily life. But now, change is finally on the way.

June 10, 2025

Group of people wearing traditional attire posing together in front of a colorful backdrop. — Photo: UNDP Viet Nam

In Bac Ha’s misty highlands of Lao Cai province, the storm may have moved on, but its presence lingers. Half-built houses scatter the hillsides, roads remain thick with mud, and landslides continue to threaten remote communities.

At Ta Cu Ty 1 Semi-Boarding Primary and Secondary School, bathroom and toilet facilities are on the brink of collapse. Cracks stretched across the walls like a spiderweb, and the floors sagged in uneven patterns. In most places, it would have been deemed unsafe and shut down long ago. But here, it remained part of daily life - a place used not out of choice, but out of necessity. Each visit is shadowed by an unspoken fear: Would today be the day something gives way?

“It’s very dangerous,” said Acting Principal Mr Pham Ngoc Son, “but we don’t have enough resources to address all the damage.”

A view of a hillside with a white building and green trees under a clear blue sky.

Cracked and stained bathroom tiles with a mop in the corner.

Beyond safety risks, the school’s sanitation infrastructure has caused daily discomfort. With only two bathrooms and four showers available, the school was forced to introduce a strict schedule: boys shower on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while girls use the facilities on the remaining days. Long queues, unsafe conditions, and the fear of collapse have become part of daily life.

“I’m so frustrated,” Leng Thi Hang, Grade 9 student, disappointedly shared. “My only wish is to have more bathrooms so our daily lives can be easier.”

And that wish was finally becoming reality. On a bright afternoon in mid-April 2025, students and teachers excitedly gathered to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony of the public facilities, marking a hopeful step forward as the new school year approaches.

Thanks to the support of the Government of the Republic of Korea, through the Inclusive Early Recovery and Reconstruction Programme after Typhoon Yagi, 12 brand new bathrooms and 12 toilets will be built - clean, safe, and ready by the end of May 2025.

A group of people participating in a ceremony outdoors, with decorations and a building in the background. — Photo: UNDP Viet Nam

Among the guests were representatives from the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control, the Lao Cai Women's Union, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Viet Nam. They stood alongside the school community, ready to celebrate the beginning of a much-needed improvement. Their presence symbolised the collective effort and international support that had made this moment possible.

At the ceremony, Mr Duong Van Hung – UNDP Programme Officer, emphasised that rebuilding was not just about infrastructure but restoring safety and resilience. For the school community, the new bathrooms are more than just construction; they are a symbol of a collective effort to secure a future where education can continue without fear.

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About the Inclusive Early Recovery and Reconstruction Programme after Typhoon Yagi:

Through UNDP, the Government of the Republic of Korea has provided financial assistance to address the severe impacts of Typhoon Yagi in four northern provinces of Viet Nam, including Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Cao Bang and Ha Giang. The purpose is to support early recovery, focusing on immediate needs, enhancing long-term disaster resilience, and promoting sustainable development in affected areas.