Do Nam Khanh was born into a family with extreme difficulties. His mother, Nguyen Thi Thanh Tinh, is also visually impaired. The two of them have relied on each other and lived with the support of Khanh’s maternal grandparents in Nam Ha ward. Tinh recalled that when Khanh was born, her husband left upon discovering that their child had inherited the same blindness. Khanh was diagnosed with congenital cataracts, believed to be caused by third-generation exposure to Agent Orange. With her modest income from a small breakfast stall in front of their house, Tinh struggled to provide for her son.
By the age of six, Khanh had completely lost his sight. Simple daily activities like walking and eating, let alone the dream of studying like other children, became enormous challenges. There were no sunny playgrounds or blackboards full of writing in his childhood. Instead, he grew up with a thick pair of glasses and a small battery-powered lamp – his “companions” in those early years. With trembling hands, his blind mother still patiently guided him to school, overcoming one hardship after another.
Khanh’s journey to school was one of relentless perseverance. From his first days at Phan Dinh Phung High School, he faced countless obstacles. Unable to see the blackboard, he focused on listening carefully to his teachers' every word, memorizing each detail with his sharp mind. At home, he asked his grandmother to read his textbooks aloud and then reconstructed the lessons on his own.
There were times when exhaustion made Khanh think of giving up. But he always asked himself: if I stop, where will my life go? He didn’t want to be a burden to his mother or his family. That determination paid off. Throughout his 12 years of schooling, Khanh not only kept up with his classmates, but consistently earned top student honors. His efforts culminated in the 2024 high school graduation exam, where he received acceptance letters from six prestigious universities: University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University Hanoi), Hanoi University of Education, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, FPT University, Hoa Sen University, and Duy Tan University.
Khanh didn’t limit himself to academics. He also pursued the arts, studying piano and organ at Nguyen Du College, where he graduated with honors in December 2023. On the stage of Station of Love, when host Minh Hang challenged him to sing a line of folk music in a Northern accent, Khanh surprised the audience with his warm voice and rare confidence.
Khanh’s journey didn’t stop at self-learning. Upon enrolling at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Hanoi, he quickly adapted to his new environment and became a dynamic student. As class vice monitor and an active member of the Hoa Da Club, he took part in numerous charity events and youth movements, and was even honored with membership in the Communist Party in 2024 – an extraordinary milestone for someone just out of high school.
The program also brought Khanh a touching surprise – the appearance of two close friends: Dinh Mai, leader of the Hoa Da Club, and Vu Ha Tuong Vy, his classmate, who shared many heartfelt stories from Khanh’s daily life.
Khanh’s achievements are a testament to his strength and a source of inspiration for the community, especially people with disabilities. In the closing segment, Khanh shared his dream: “I want to tell blind friends in particular and all people with disabilities in general that there’s nothing you can’t do, as long as you have a positive outlook on life, smile every day, and love yourself. My future dream is to become an inspirational speaker, a social activist, and a television host”.
Khanh’s inspiring journey is encapsulated in a poem he wrote: “Ha Tinh, my beloved motherland / Gave birth to Khanh, brave and full of confidence/ Quiet, persistent steps / Darkness cannot cage the soul/ Diligent with books and light / Crossed six universities with firm resolve/ Words engraved in the heart / Though blind, dreams still soar/ A bright flame I hope to be / Spreading passion far and wide/ Hardships cannot deter me / Steady footsteps walk proud/ Do Nam Khanh, like the sun / Radiating faith and determination!”.
Do Nam Khanh is not just a role model who overcame adversity, he is living proof of the power of passion and perseverance. From the darkness of blindness, he found the light of knowledge through his heart and intellect. Life is fair and full of miracles. If you believe in yourself and follow your passion to the end, any limit can be broken.
Do Nam Khanh’s story will be featured in the program Station of Love with the theme The Light of Knowledge, airing at 10:00 AM on April 5, 2025, on VTV1.
