Vietnam Insider

Thanks to livestream selling on social media, ethnic Xo Dang farmers in Tu Mo Rong commune (Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam) are earning stable incomes and transforming their livelihoods. The “online marketplace” model is becoming a powerful tool for economic growth in remote mountain regions.

From local markets to online streams

Every weekend, the traditional market in Tu Mo Rong buzzes with excitement. Among stalls filled with forest herbs, roots, bananas, and wild vegetables, a new scene stands out: ethnic villagers holding up smartphones and livestreaming their farm produce.

“In the past, I could only sell vegetables at the village market,” said Y Khuong, a Xo Dang woman from Ngoc Leng village, smiling as she adjusted her camera. “Now, with my phone and some guidance, I can show my products online and reach more customers. My income is much more stable.”

In Ty Tu village, Vi Van Chom was shy during his first livestream. But with hands-on training from local officials, he soon mastered how to take photos, film short videos, and introduce forest vegetables, bamboo shoots, and cassava to online buyers.

“At first it felt strange, but the results were unbelievable. Every time I go live, I get new orders,” Chom said proudly.

Community tech teams: “Digital guides” for ethnic farmers

Recognizing the potential of local specialties like forest ginseng, five-flavor berries, and wild bananas, Tu Mo Rong commune established a community digital technology team to bring e-commerce closer to ethnic households.

Officials don’t just teach digital skills — they join villagers at the markets, help set up livestream booths, demonstrate how to describe products clearly, and share posts across Facebook and Zalo groups to attract customers.

“At first, people were hesitant to appear on camera. We had to guide them step by step — how to hold the phone, how to talk, how to upload posts. But now they’re confident and eager to go live,” said Tran Thi Phuc, head of the commune’s Women’s Union.

Local leaders lead by example

Tu Mo Rong’s leaders are not just promoting digital tools — they’re using them. During the “Zero-VND Market” event on October 3, Commune Chairman Tran Quoc Huy and other officials joined villagers in a hands-on livestream training session combined with folk games to create a lively, community-driven atmosphere.

“We want our people to move beyond traditional markets and reach the wider online world,” said Chairman Tran Quoc Huy. “Digital livestreaming helps Tu Mo Rong’s produce find stable markets, improve incomes, and promote sustainable poverty reduction.”

A new chapter for Vietnam’s highland farmers

From traditional traders to confident digital sellers, the people of Tu Mo Rong are proving that technology can bridge the gap between mountain communities and global markets. Each livestream is not only a sales opportunity — it’s a story of empowerment, innovation, and cultural pride.

NINH BÌNH, Vietnam — A powerful tornado struck multiple communes in Ninh Bình Province before dawn on September 29, leaving at least nine people dead, 18 injured, and hundreds of homes damaged or destroyed.

In Phú Bình village, Nguyễn Minh Đức, 29, recalled being lifted from his bed by the violent winds. His grandparents were buried under collapsed walls but survived with broken bones. Others were less fortunate: two elderly residents were killed when their home caved in.

Entire neighborhoods were left in ruins. Roofs were torn away, concrete walls leveled, and water tanks, vehicles, and furniture scattered hundreds of meters. “It felt like a bomb went off,” said Hoàng Thị Hường, 58, who survived by sheltering in a corner as her roof was ripped off.

Authorities reported 11 homes collapsed, 126 unroofed, five schools and a health station damaged, along with temples and markets. Families are now clearing debris, some borrowing money to repair homes while others shelter with neighbors.

Meteorologists said the twister was fueled by unstable weather patterns as Typhoon Bualoi’s circulation collided with lingering remnants of another storm and a northern cold front. The same system triggered tornadoes in Hưng Yên, Hải Phòng, and Quảng Ninh, causing additional deaths and injuries.

“We just want a roof and a bed so my sick wife has somewhere proper to rest,” said 82-year-old Nguyễn Văn Thủ, whose house was destroyed.

Torrential rain from Tropical Storm No. 10 brought severe flooding and traffic paralysis to Hanoi on the morning of September 30, forcing many residents to abandon vehicles or spend hours inching their way to work and school.

Some commuters reported journeys taking up to three hours. Hải Anh, 28, left early from Thanh Xuân District for her office in Cầu Giấy but still endured gridlock. “Normally it takes me 45 minutes. Today it was nearly three hours,” she said, describing vehicles at a standstill along Phạm Hùng Street as thousands converged from major arteries.

Flooded roads left many stranded. Đức, 35, said his motorbike stalled in deep water near Mỹ Đình Stadium. “I had to push it for 400 meters. With no repair shop in sight, I gave up and went home,” he said.

Parents also struggled to get children to school. Nguyễn Trang, 30, attempted to take her son to class but was forced to turn back after her motorbike stalled in heavy rain. “We were soaked through, and cars created waves that nearly knocked us off,” she recalled.

By 7 a.m., major intersections such as Trôi–Lai Xá in Hoài Đức District were submerged, with vehicles turning back in long lines. Residents said flooding was the worst they had seen in more than a decade.

Hanoi Drainage Company reported rainfall of up to 198 mm in some districts within 24 hours. Pumping stations across the city, including Yên Sở, Cầu Bươu, and Đồng Bông, have been operating at full capacity to ease water levels, though conditions remain severe in several neighborhoods.

A court in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, on September 29 sentenced 16 people to death for their roles in a notorious Myanmar-based criminal network accused of online fraud, drug trafficking, prostitution, and multiple murders.

According to state broadcaster CCTV, prosecutors found that since 2015, the Ming family syndicate had exploited its influence in Myanmar’s Kokang region to establish scam compounds and coordinate large-scale criminal operations. The group was accused of running online fraud schemes, drug deals, illegal casinos, and sex trafficking rings.

The court said the syndicate used violence to control its operations, killing at least 14 people — including 10 who tried to escape or disobey orders. In one case in October 2023, gunfire erupted at a scam compound as gang members attempted to prevent victims from being repatriated to China.

Authorities revealed the group drew more than 10 billion yuan (US$1.4 billion) in financial backing from armed “sponsors.” While 16 received death sentences — five with a two-year reprieve — another 23 defendants were handed prison terms ranging from five years to life.

The verdict comes as China steps up cross-border cooperation with Southeast Asian countries to dismantle such scam hubs. Thousands of people have been repatriated from Myanmar in recent months.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime has warned that cyber-fraud networks, many led by Chinese nationals, are generating tens of billions of dollars annually and are expanding beyond Southeast Asia to Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, and the Pacific. An estimated hundreds of thousands of people are trapped working in these compounds worldwide.

A landslide triggered by heavy rain in Sa Pa (Lào Cai Province) on September 29 sent a car tumbling down a mountainside, though the driver escaped unharmed.

At around 5:08 p.m., a section of road leading to Cát Cát village suddenly gave way, with rocks and soil crashing down onto the roadway. Dashcam footage from a following vehicle captured the moment a black car was struck and pushed off the road, sliding down the slope.

Local authorities confirmed the incident. “Fortunately, the driver is safe,” said Phan Đăng Toàn, chairman of Sa Pa Ward People’s Committee.

The car sustained significant damage after being swept downhill.

The incident comes as northern Vietnam continues to experience widespread heavy rain and thunderstorms from Tropical Storm No. 10. The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has warned of heightened risks of flash floods and landslides in provinces including Lào Cai, Sơn La, Phú Thọ, and Thanh Hóa, with rainfall in some areas exceeding 250mm.