A large-scale mural adorning the walls of Saigon University (SGU) and Sapa Private Nursery School along Nguyen Huu Canh Street in District 1, HCMC, never fails to draw the gaze of passers-by.
The mural project, named “Beautiful Vietnam,” was a joint effort between the HCMC Police Youth Union and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Saigon University to contribute to developing a clean, beautiful, and green city.
Stretching for hundreds of meters along Nguyen Huu Canh Street, the mural consists of over ten large-scale paintings depicting the natural landscapes, famous landmarks, and renowned sites from all corners of the country, such as Ganh Da Dia in Phu Yen, Hoi An ancient town in Quang Nam, Dragon Bridge in Danang, and Halong Bay in Quang Ninh.
This project marks the 30th anniversary of the summer volunteer programs and campaigns organized by the city’s youth, according to the Tien Phong news site.
Buying a motorbike with 11 kilograms of banknotes
A man’s act of buying his wife a motorbike with 11 kilograms of small-value banknotes has captivated the interest of many people and gone viral on social media recently.
The owner of a motorcycle shop in District 11, HCMC, shared this story online with a picture of a man taking out stacks of small-denomination banknotes from his backpack and putting them on the cashier’s counter. The backpack contained 11 kilograms of banknotes ranging from VND1,000 to VND5,000, totaling VND32,769 million in value. After subtracting the available cash, he transferred the remainder to the store’s employee.
The man in the story was Phan Van Duoc, aged 36, a resident of District 11, HCMC, working in the mechanical engineering field. Every time his wife went shopping, he reminded her to keep the small change and set it aside in a backpack.
He told the Thanh Nien news site that he had saved that sum of money for over two years. Recently, he put it to use by purchasing a Honda Lead scooter valued at VND47 million as a gift for his wife.
Donating husband’s organs, saving four lives
Nearly 20 years ago, Nguyen Thi Hoa got married to a hunchback. At that time, she collected and sold scraps at home in Quat Dong Commune, Thuong Tin District, Hanoi, to make a living. Binh, her husband, drove a three-wheeled vehicle to transport goods for others who hired him. They had two children.
In August this year, Hoa had to undergo a thyroid surgery in hospital. On the day she returned home, Binh had a stroke and had to be hospitalized. Three days later, he was diagnosed with brain death. Since her husband wished to donate organs after his death 14 years ago, she signed the permission form to donate her husband’s organs to the hospital.
Thanks to Hoa’s generous deed, the lives of four patients in dear need were saved through having been grafted with the heart, kidneys, and liver of her deceased husband. Hoa told vnexpress.net that she was happy to learn from the doctors that the health of the four patients receiving her husband’s organs was good. Two weeks after her husband’s death, she registered to donate organs after her death.
An eatery for the poor in town
Huynh De (Brotherhood) 3, an eatery serving meals for the needy at the price of just VND2,000 (about nine U.S. cents) each, has been opened at 77 Tran Huy Lieu Street, Phu Nhuan District, HCMC, since the end of the pandemic outbreak.
Run by Nguyen Thanh Bao, the husband, Tran Thi Thuy Hien, Bao’s wife, and some volunteers without any pay, the eatery serves some 200 portions for lunch (from 11:15 a.m.) and dinner (from 5:15 p.m.) every day, from Monday to Friday a week. It is worth noting that each diner is given a fish oil pill after lunch and a glass of Ensure milk after dinner.
Bao told thanhnien.vn that though costing just VND2,000, a portion is nutritious with rice, meat or fish, fried vegetables and soup. He added that the eatery is opened under the auspices of Father Nguyen Sang, head of the Caritas of the My Tho Diocese, parish priest of Ba Giong Church cum director of the Ba Giong Pilgrimage Center in Tien Giang Province.
Father Nguyen Sang said he opened two Huynh De eateries serving students and poor people in My Tho City eight years ago, and two similar eateries in HCMC (Huynh De 4 was opened at 124 Dien Bien Phu Street, District 1, in July this year). All the costs are covered by the sale of CDs of Catholic hymns and generous contributions of benefactors.
