Trinh Van Hung, 22, is working for a company in HCMC. In early June this year, he asked for a one-month leave to start his journey from HCMC to Hanoi on foot.
Hung told thanhnien.vn that the trip was a birthday gift for him, adding that he would like to fight his own stress and to enjoy the beautiful sceneries of the country. Departing from HCMC on June 7 with some personal belongings in a backpack, he planned to walk along National Highway 1 and would arrive in Hanoi on July 7, his birthday.
Hung was almost exhausted on the initial days of his journey, but later he began to be accustomed to walking. He could then walk 70km or even 100km a day on average. On the way, he asked for staying overnight at local residents’ houses, or at gas stations. In Quang Nam Province, he was invited to attend a wedding, where he sang a song to congratulate the couple for their happiness.
Hung arrived in Hanoi on July 15, a week later than his plan, but he has had many new friends after his lifetime journey.
HCMC Post Office’s last letter writer passes away
Duong Van Ngo, the cherished letter writer for hire at the Saigon Central Post Office, passed away peacefully at his home on August 1 at the remarkable age of 94.
Ngo earned the esteemed title of “Vietnam’s longest-serving letter writer” in Vietnam’s Record Book back in 2020. Throughout his dedicated 30 years of service at the post office, he penned thousands of heartfelt letters in Vietnamese, English, and French, reuniting numerous families with his words.
Born into a humble Chinese family, Ngo attended Petrus Ky School (now Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted), where he honed his skills in several foreign languages. He embarked on a fulfilling career as an interpreter and later found his calling as a postman at the young age of 16. After retiring in 1990, he became one of the illustrious six public writers at the post office. As time went on, his fellow writers bid farewell, leaving Ngo as the sole remaining guardian of the tradition.
His son, Duong Minh Duc, told the VnExpress news site (vnexpress.net) that despite facing health challenges in recent years, Ngo showed immense resilience. He was taken to the hospital at the end of July but eventually returned home to spend his final moments on August 1, surrounded by love and memories, leaving behind a legacy of heartfelt connections through his letters.
Helping road accident victims for years
Kim Ngan, 29, is head of the 911 Rescue Team in Thu Duc City, HCMC. Ngan told vnexpress.net that she thought of establishing a rescue team 11 years ago after her elder sister had died by traffic accident. But she did not know what and how to do because she was just a high school student at that time. In 2017, after a few months participating in a volunteers’ team in Dong Nai Province, she decided to establish a rescue team to help road accident victims around Thu Duc City gratis. Many of her friends joined the team to lend her a hand.
Ngan spent part of her salary buying adhesive bandages, pain medication, gauze, disinfectants and neck braces for use during the team’s rescue trips every night. Such equipment was often replaced by the hospital where the victim was received. Some victims’ families contributed some money to the team as a way to appreciate what the volunteers had done to save the lives of their relatives.
Ngan said her team received 3-5 phone calls for help from 9 p.m. until midnight every day on average. The team members would take turns to go to the accident sites to help the victims. She added that saving the lives of road accident victims has been the great happiness for the team members over the past six years.
HCMC marathon unites 2,000 people in a run for a cause
On the vibrant morning of July 30, around 2,000 enthusiastic individuals from all walks of life gathered for the Marathon Dream Cup 2023 in HCMC. This charity run, themed “Conquering The Dream,” was a joint effort by the Vietnam Youth Federation of HCMC and Diamond Entertainment, bringing together professional athletes, couples, friends, and families from the city.
The Marathon Dream Cup 2023 wasn’t just about promoting the spirit of sports; it had a greater purpose. Ngo Minh Hai, chairman of the Vietnam Youth Federation in HCMC, emphasized that the event aimed to create a positive impact by supporting those facing tough circumstances. Runners, driven by determination, laced up their shoes to run for a cause and lend a helping hand to the underprivileged.
As the runners’ footsteps echoed through the city streets, a total of over VND453 million in registration fees was collected and donated to the Vietnam Youth Union of HCMC, dedicated to supporting those in need, reported the Tuoi Tre Online news site (tuoitre.com).
