On July 13, a group of Catholics, including Father Peter Phan Kim Huan of Lai Chau parish, were accompanied by soldiers and government officials to offer money and food to 32 Mang ethnic families in Sin Ho District of the mountainous province of Lai Chau which borders China.
The families were given three million dong (US$130) each.
Families from Nam Tan Xa Village had lacked basic food and supplies since floods washed away all their crops and houses on June 23-25.
Some villagers were isolated because many local roads were unusable due to landslides.
Led by soldiers, Catholics also traveled by motorbike and walked for hours across streams and damaged roads to reach affected villages.
In the past, priests were banned from paying such visits to the area.
(Photos and texts by ucanews.com reporter)