Under the blazing sun of Yen Bai's highlands, ice creams from the Kindness Bus became a special gift for students of Van Chan District Secondary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities.
For the first time, the Kindness Bus climbed winding mountain passes and “transformed” into a giant ice cream truck, bringing treats to 418 children at the school. More than 95% of the students here belong to ethnic minority groups such as Thai, Muong, Tay, Hmong, and Dao. Some children come from remote villages, traveling up to 80 kilometers just to reach the school.
Editor Ba Thang and the Kindness Ice Cream Bus.
For children in cities, enjoying an ice cream is as easy as getting their parents' permission. But in the mountainous areas of Yen Bai, for many kids, that is a distant dream. In these remote villages, where life remains challenging, even simple gifts like ice cream are scarce. That is why the arrival of the Kindness Bus brought pure joy and excitement, clearly visible in the bright smiles of the children.
Editor Ba Thang joined in the excitement with the children.
That day, groups of students lined up in the schoolyard. Every shaded spot under the trees and on the stone benches was filled with laughter and smiles, as if the school were celebrating something wonderful. The kids said it was the most delicious ice cream they had ever tasted, and for many, it was their first ice cream of the summer. Some shivered cold while eating it, others cradled their ice cream as if it were a precious gift, and some ate slowly to savor the moment of happiness.
These ice creams “melted” happy hearts and became “sweet” memories for the children.
Thanh, a sixth-grade student, shared innocently: “My home is 30 km from here, closer than some of my friends, but I still do not go home often. Today, I got to eat ice cream and talk with the older siblings. I'm happy. This is the first time I've met people from Hanoi. I want to pass the university entrance exam, go to the capital, and become a helpful person in the future”.
Huong, an eighth-grade student, said: “I have never had an ice cream so good. When I held it in my hand, I thought I was dreaming. I ate slowly so it would not melt too fast,and I could enjoy it a little longer”.
The children shared many dreams. Some wanted to become local officials to help their communities, others aimed to become police officers to protect others, and still others dream of passing the entrance exam to Vietnam National University in Hanoi, hoping to see the bigger world and bring knowledge back to their hometowns. Their dreams may be different, but they all share one hope: to build a school closer to home, so no one has to travel far to study again.
The ice cream erased all distance and brought the children closer to us. As a result, we were fortunate to hear their beautiful and dreamy stories.
The ice creams may seem like simple summer treats, but for children in these highland areas, they carry profound meaning. They not only cool the heat but also bring the flavor of care, kindness, and love from people far away. They become a bridge between strangers, connecting distant lands through empathy and compassion.
The Kindness Ice Cream Bus brought joy, encouragement, and motivation to the children, helping them overcome difficulties, continue learning, and nurture their bright dreams. The mission of the Kindness Bus is not only about giving material gifts, but also spreading love and connecting kind hearts across the country.
That summer afternoon was a special day when happiness came from the simplest things. The children's clear eyes revealed surprise, excitement, and pure joy. Hopefully, they understand that even though life may still be complex and the road ahead may not always be smooth, there are always good things around them. As the poet Luu Quang Vu once wrote: “If life is full of cruelty/Why does the apple tree still bloom?/Why is the water so clear in the ditch?”.
You can watch “The Kindness Bus” in the program “Kind Deeds”, broadcast at 20:10 on the second Saturday of each month on VTV1 – Vietnam Television, and on the Kind Deeds Fan Page to share meaningful moments in life. Additionally, the “10-Year Gala of Kind Deeds”, with the theme “Kind Vietnam”, airs at 21:00 tonight (June 1) on VTV1 and the VTVgo app. The Kind Deeds program is produced by the Center for Digital Content Production and Development, with the support of THACO Group.
Please stay tuned!
