For nearly two decades, they have found happiness by living for others and planting seeds of love.
The Woman Who “Cooks Every Meal” for Strangers
In Co Le commune, there is a shelter where people come and choose to stay, not because of material abundance, but because of love. The one who keeps the kitchen warm is Nguyen Thi Hien, affectionately known as Aunt Hien.
For almost 20 years, she has cared for lonely elderly people, orphans, and single mothers at the Vinh Son - Phao Lo shelter in Ninh Binh. She has set aside her own life to prepare daily meals and ensure that everyone has a place to sleep, quietly fulfilling the role of a mother in a large, unconventional family. During the hardest times, when food ran out, she would go to the market to sell vegetables or ask for small donations of rice and sweet potatoes. Over time, these struggles became part of her routine – no longer seen as hardships, but as a natural expression of love.
After nearly 20 years, the kitchen fire still burns. Though the household items have aged and worn out, the warmth remains unchanged. During this visit, Kindness Bus brought new kitchen equipment to the shelter. The team, together with the children, also made drawings and small flowers as a surprise gifts.
In that moment, the woman who was always strong fell silent. Her eyes lit up as she held the flowers. After years of only giving, perhaps this was one of the rare times she received something so simple yet filled with love.
The “Glass Bone” Teacher Who Has Been Teaching Poor Students for 20 Years
Also in Ninh Binh, inside a modest 10-square-meter room in Y Yen commune, there is a special classroom known as the “five-no class”: no chalk, no board, no podium, no formal lesson plans, and no tuition fees. The teacher is Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tam, a woman weighing less than 15 kilograms yet possessing extraordinary willpower.
Once a little girl who longed to learn how to read, Tam has now become a teacher of literacy for hundreds of children. She patiently guides her students through every letter and calculation, just as she has patiently overcome the limits of her own life.
During the visit, Kindness Bus gifted the class a new laptop to replace the outdated one, along with notebooks and school supplies to support the children’s education.
Kindness Bus is produced by the Center for Digital Content Production and Development (VTV Digital) in collaboration with PSC Media, with long-term support from THACO Group, aiming to spread positive values and meaningful community initiatives.
