Here, this special journey helped illuminate many stories of kindness, spreading goodness, and bringing encouragement to the humble yet compassionate people of the city.
April is a time of glorious memories and national pride. Fifty years have passed since April 30, 1975 – a historic milestone marking the complete liberation of the South and reunification of the country.
In this flow of remembrance and gratitude, the “Kindness Bus” chose Ho Chi Minh City as its next stop on the journey of spreading love. The bus carried not material gifts, also deeply emotional stories of human kindness – a continuation of the flame of compassion that has been fanned across generations, from wartime to peacetime.
Honoring Former Cu Chi Guerrilla Women with Traditional Ao Dai
Although the war has receded into the past, the memories of those years of life and death remain vivid in the hearts of the former guerrilla women who fought in the Cu Chi battlefield, filled with emotion and pride. Each year, on special occasions, they return to the “iron land, copper wall” to light incense in memory of comrades who fell deep in the jungle and red soil.
Former guerrilla women lighting incense at the “Memorial of Cu Chi Heroic Female Guerrillas”.
Former guerrilla women lighting incense at the “Memorial of Cu Chi Heroic Female Guerrillas”.
On this occasion, the Kindness Bus partnered with the “Zero Dong Ao Dai Store” to organize a meaningful event: presenting each veteran woman with a traditional Ao Dai – a small but .profound gift of respect and gratitude
The Kindness Bus and representatives from the “Zero Dong Ao Dai Store” presented gifts to war veterans.
The presentation ceremony took place in a warm atmosphere. The flowing purple, pink, and blue Ao Dai dresses evoked the image of resilient, diligent Vietnamese women during the war, now returning to daily life with a graceful, gentle beauty.
Former Cu Chi female guerrillas beamed brightly in their traditional Ao Dai dresses.
The joyful smiles of the former Cu Chi female guerrillas on this special day.
For these women who dedicated their youth to the nation, the gifts were not merely material but a heartfelt acknowledgment from the younger generations.
The “Worker Teacher’s” Night Classes
In a small rented room on Tang Nhon Phu B Street (Thu Duc City, HCMC), a special classroom lights up every evening after the end of the work shifts.. For the past 15 years, Hoang Trong Khanh – a laborer – has volunteered to teach free evening classes for dozens of students from grades 6 to 9, mainly children of low-income workers.
The “Worker Teacher’s” home classroom.
His journey began with a simple act of compassion after witnessing a group of kids struggling with homework without guidance. In response to their plight, Khanh decided to teach them from the most basic knowledge. Starting with just four students in the Go Ma area (former District 9), today the class welcomes dozens of kids, a steadfast and warm academic support for underprivileged children.
The Kindness Bus helps Khanh fill up his special cabinet.
Teacher Hoang Trong Khanh – the beloved “worker teacher” of many disadvantaged children.
Moved by his silent dedication, the Kindness Bus visited the classroom, bringing books, notebooks, pens, and small treats like candy, milk, and sausages to support both the teacher and students.
The children joyfully saw their cabinet filled with study supplies and snacks.
It is hoped that these new notebooks and pens will be tools for the children to write their dreams, and that Khanh’s silent teaching journey will continue to grow and inspire even more lives.
The children joyfully saw their cabinet filled with study supplies and snacks. The Martial Arts Master Teaching Life Skills to Disabled Children
At nearly 80 years old, while many others are enjoying retirement, every Saturday morning, Master Nguyen Thi Thanh Loan puts on her white gi and heads to class – a special class named “Aikido – The World is Love”. For over 20 years, she has quietly taught Aikido to hundreds of children with disabilities: visually impaired, autistic, with Down syndrome, and others.
Master Nguyen Thi Thanh Loan – Founder of “Aikido – The World is Love” class.
For her, martial arts is not about winning in competition, but about helping the children find balance, manage emotions, and, most importantly, learn to get back up after each stumble in life. Every movement is taught with gentleness, patience, and get back up unconditional belief in the children’s potential.
A training session at “Aikido – The World is Love” class.
Visiting on a Saturday morning, the Kindness Bus gifted the students brand-new martial arts uniforms, so every class trip would feel even more special.
But Master Loan’s class is not just about martial arts. She teaches the children a complete life: playing musical instruments, painting, swimming, learning English, reciting poems, cooking, riding bicycles… She smiles gently, saying, “I want my children not only to be strong but also to know how to love life”, as she watches the kids strumming guitars or riding their first bikes.
Alongside, the Kindness Bus and Fly To Sky Club continued their support, bringing fun and colorful musical instruments and two cute bicycles to the class.
The classroom that day was filled with laughter, melodies, and sparkling eyes – a truly heartwarming scene.
Surely, the greatest gift was not material, but the faith – faith that kindness is lives and flourishes every day, and that Master Loan’s journey of love will continue to be nurtured and spread further.
Amidst the nationwide celebrations of the historic April 30 victory – the sacred milestone of the nation, the “Kindness Bus’s” journey to Ho Chi Minh City stands as a touching reminder: Peace is not merely the end of war but a journey of living in love, sharing, and compassion. From small classrooms and silent acts of kindness to heartfelt gifts, each story paints a new portrait of a city that once endured fire and bombs – a city now vibrant with humanity. And the journey of kindness will continue, nurturing a Vietnam filled with love, unity, and warmth.
Kindness Bus in Ho Chi Minh City.
Watch the “Kindness Bus” with the companionship of THACO – Truong Hai Group, in the program “Kind Deeds” airing at 8:10 PM on the second Saturday of each month on VTV1 – Vietnam Television and on the Kind Deeds fanpage to share meaningful moments in life.
