Every September, the sound of school drums evokes memories of the teachers who first planted the seeds of knowledge. The September edition of Good Deeds, themed “A Season of Sowing Dreams”, introduces three such individuals: a retired teacher offering free English lessons to children in her hometown, a woman devoted to caring for hundreds of children with special needs, and a young musician preserving Vietnam’s musical heritage through free classes.
A teacher in his 60s travels hundreds of kilometres each week to teach English for free
Having served as Deputy Head of the Faculty of Foreign Languages at the People’s Police Academy for nearly 40 years, retired teacher Phung Viet Hoa returned to his hometown in Bat Bat Commune, Hanoi, to offer free English lessons.
Since 2018, he has taught around 150 students, helping them improve their English skills and discover new educational opportunities.
His classroom welcomes learners of all ages. In the Good Deeds studio, he is joined by two older students, Hoang Thi Minh and Kim Phuong, as well as three younger pupils, reflecting his enduring commitment to lifelong learning.
A “petite” teacher spends nearly a decade bringing education to children with special needs
In Hanoi, teacher Duong Thi Sinh, affectionately known as the “Petite Teacher”, runs a free classroom where disadvantaged children receive both education and care. Despite standing less than one metre tall, Sinh overcame childhood illness and financial hardship to pursue her passion for teaching.
Starting with just two children with intellectual disabilities, she taught herself teaching methods and gradually turned her small classroom into a place of learning, confidence and love.
In the September edition of Good Deeds, Sinh is reunited with Tran My Huyen and her daughter, Nguyen Tran My Anh. While Huyen spent two years caring for her husband during his battle with cancer, Sinh helped My Anh continue her education through her patient and dedicated teaching.
A 23-year-old musician has offered free instrument lessons for seven years
Inspired by Vietnam’s historic mass literacy campaign, 23-year-old dan bau (monochord) artist Le Ha Thu hopes to make music accessible to all.
A graduate of Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted and the Vietnam National Academy of Music, she founded the Cam Ca project, offering free “Music Literacy for All” classes. Over the past seven years, more than 600 learners have graduated, gaining musical skills and a deeper appreciation of traditional Vietnamese music.
Ha Thu and her club have also created hundreds of arrangements that blend the dan bau and the bamboo flute with contemporary pop music, introducing traditional sounds to younger audiences.
In the September edition of Good Deeds, Ha Thu reconnects with Cong Duc, one of Cam Ca’s students. Duc had never played a musical instrument before. After receiving a dan bau signed by Soobin, People’s Artist Huynh Tu and Binz at the All-Rounder Day 2 concert, he decided to learn how to play it. The early days were far from easy. But with Ha Thu’s teaching materials and guidance, he can now play his favourite instrument with confidence and fluency.
Each of these individuals has a different approach to teaching and learning. Yet through their shared dedication to knowledge, compassion and passion, dreams continue to take root and grow.
Vietnam Television produces Good Deeds in cooperation with PSC Media Joint Stock Company. With the support of THACO - Truong Hai Group Corporation over the years, the programme has continued to highlight acts of kindness and inspire individuals while helping implement meaningful, practical projects for communities across Vietnam.
