Help Mama Shu Shu and her family after Typhoon Yagi

Hi everyone! As some of you may know, earlier this year I spent a month in Vietnam, travelling from Ho Chi Minh in the South, right up to Sa Pa in the North. We spent a short but very sweet few days in Sa Pa with the lovely Mama Shu Shu, who welcomed us into her home and treated us like one of her own. Cooking us local foods, her own home grown rice (and lots of rice wine), taking us trekking through the beautiful Sa Pa mountains, teaching us about her culture and community, it was the most incredible few days all thanks to Mama Shu Shu and her lovely family. I went on to recommend Mama Shu Shu's homestay to so many of you through Instagram and after receiving plenty of photos, I know that lot's of you guys were also lucky enough to experience some time at her homestay in Sa Pa, it made my heart so happy to see her little smile time and time again!

Unfortunately the recent typhoon Yagi has caused mass destruction across North Vietnam. The typhoon has caused a landslide in Sa Pa that has taken the lives of so many, including Mama Shu Shu's mother and two grandchildren. Her home that she has welcomed so many of us travellers into has been destroyed, and I know she was so excited about her plans to open her new place next season, which I'm sure has also taken a huge hit.

If you have had the privilege of staying with Mama Shu Shu, you will know how much of a character she is, a truly beautiful soul that lights up the room and puts a smile on everyone's face. She made mine, and so many others experience of Sa Pa unforgettable. I have been in touch with her since the tragic events to send my love and told her we would love to send her some money to help with the rebuilding of her home and community, funerals, and any other costs and damages from the typhoon.

Please donate if you can! Even £5 is enough to feed a family of 5 in Vietnam so every little really does help. Let's help this lovely lady who has brought so much light to our lives and support her and her family as much as we can!!

Please note, this donation is going directly to Mama Shu Shu. If you want to donate more widely to the Typhoon Yagi emergency aid I have found this link where you can do so https://www.bluedragon.org/emergency-appeal-yagi/

Mama Shu Shu does not have a bank account so after contacting her to see how it would be best to get the funds to her, she has requested it be via Western Union. Hence the funds will be withdrawn into my account before being transferred straight to her through Western Union. I will share once this has all been complete and Mama Shu Shu confirms he has received.