Child cancer patients celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) early.

With the Lunar New Year of the Snake 2025 fast approaching, a journey to explore Ho Chi Minh City by double-decker bus and experience Metro Line 1 was recently organized on the morning of January 10th by the "Thuy's Dream" program (Tuoi Tre newspaper) for a number of child cancer patients in Ho Chi Minh City.

Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union, Trinh Thi Hien Tran, presents Tet gifts to child patients participating in the program on January 10th - Photo: TTD

The feeling of being loved, cared for, and supported will be a powerful source of motivation for child patients to continue striving and overcoming their illnesses.

Journalist TRAN GIA BAO

Activities within the framework of the "Sharing Tet" program, aimed at providing Tet support for sick children and disadvantaged students, organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union and Tuoi Tre newspaper, kicked off yesterday morning.

First-time experiences

Temporarily forgetting their pain, the young patients were all very excited about the trip. For the first time, the children and their relatives had breakfast at the Kim Do Hotel right on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street (District 1). Afterwards, they boarded a double-decker bus and then the Metro Line 1 train from Ben Thanh station to Tan Cang station.

Before boarding the train, the children received 40 lucky money envelopes (worth 12 million VND) from the Trade Union and Youth Union of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Company No. 1 (HURC), along with wishes for a lucky new year. Sitting on the double-decker bus touring the city center of Ho Chi Minh City, 10-year-old Nguyen Van Viet Nam smiled throughout the journey. This was also a rare opportunity for him to escape the confines of his home and hospital.

Ms. Phan Thi Tuyet Nhung (Nam's mother) recounted that she had originally planned to take Nam home to rest because the doctor had allowed him to return, but when she heard the nurses at the hospital talking about a city tour, the boy insisted on going. "I also wanted my son to breathe fresh air and get more exercise, so I let him go. Seeing him happy makes me happy too," Ms. Nhung said.

On the metro train from Ben Thanh Station to Tan Cang Station, the atmosphere was lively with laughter and chatter, and eyes intently gazing at the scenery outside through the windows. My Anh (14 years old, a bone cancer patient at the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, Branch 2) couldn't hide her excitement at experiencing the metro for the first time. "The train ran so smoothly, and the scenery outside was beautiful, but it stopped too early. I'm a little disappointed because I wanted a longer ride," My Anh expressed.

Sharing the same sentiment, Nguyen Ngoc Thao was equally excited because it was her first time using a mode of transportation she had only seen on the small screen before. The 12-year-old girl, fiddling with the red envelopes in her hand, said: "I can clearly feel the Tet atmosphere approaching, it's so much fun!"

Although it was only his second time riding the metro, 12-year-old Viet Hoang felt happier because this time he had many friends with him. Hoang fell ill in 5th grade and had to miss school, so this was the first time he had the chance to go out and play with so many friends. Meanwhile, Ms. Dao Thi Kim No (from Dong Nai province) said that her daughter, Anh Thu (6 years old), had been discharged from the hospital and her health had improved, so she decided to let her go on the trip to experience new things.

"Up until now, when we've been to the city, we've only focused on treatment and are only familiar with the hospital environment, never having had the chance to explore. I want to take this opportunity to let my child go out and experience the beauty of life instead of just staying confined to the hospital," Ms. Nở said with a smile.

Ms. Dao Thi Kim No (Dong Nai) and her daughter Phan Ngoc Anh Thu (6 years old) excitedly ride a double-decker bus, exploring Ho Chi Minh City for the first time - Photo: THANH HIEP

Providing additional motivation for treatment.

At the launch ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday morning, the program presented 440 Tet gifts to child cancer patients at the following hospitals: Ho Chi Minh City Blood Transfusion - Hematology Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital 2, and Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, with a total value of 220 million VND.

Speaking about the program, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Tuoi Tre newspaper Tran Gia Bao said that Tet is not only a time for family reunions but also a time to express affection, love, and responsibility towards those who are disadvantaged and less fortunate in society.

"These gifts, though small, contain a great deal of care, love, and generosity from the community, serving as encouragement and solace to give them strength in their fight against illness," journalist Gia Bao said.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Dung - Deputy Head of the Social Work Department (Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital) - expressed that the "Thuy's Dream" program is an extremely meaningful activity for child cancer patients through various activities, playgrounds, and gift-giving during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year).

This year, the program took the child patients to lay flowers at the Ho Chi Minh monument on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, toured the city center on a double-decker bus, and, most notably, experienced Metro Line 1 for the first time.

"These activities have contributed significantly to supporting child cancer patients emotionally. They get to visit, explore, and admire the city's new landmarks, which adds joy and motivation to their treatment," Mr. Dung shared.

4 billion VND for "Sharing Tet"

The "Sharing Tet" program will distribute 4,100 Tet gifts for the Year of the Snake 2025 to child cancer patients and disadvantaged students in flood-affected areas, with a total budget of 4 billion VND supported by Viet Thanh Plastic Company and readers of Tuoi Tre newspaper nationwide.

This is one of the activities under Thuy's Dream program, aiming not only to provide material gifts but also to show care and sharing from the community. Through this, we join hands to share with sick children and disadvantaged students as they welcome the upcoming spring season.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/benh-nhi-ung-thu-vui-tet-som-20250110232436028.htm