So, it took several attempts to schedule an appointment to meet her. Every day she's busy working on rural bridge projects, charity houses, houses for comrades, donating gifts and wheelchairs to comrades, poor and sick families, and providing school supplies to poor students through donations she solicited from benefactors.
Volunteering requires a certain "affinity."
"Today the workers just finished pouring the concrete, so they're taking a break. I'll stay home to meet you and then quickly water the coconut trees (1 công equals 1,000 m² ), it's so sunny," she planned out the day like that.
The woman is 72 years old, but her sun-tanned skin is strong and agile, like someone in their sixties. She is still healthy enough to ride her motorbike dozens of kilometers to construction sites, working under the sun all day without a single complaint.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lanh (far right) receives a certificate of commendation from the Ben Tre Provincial People's Committee for her participation in the movement to build new rural areas. |
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lanh's involvement in volunteer work was a matter of fate. Coincidentally, during a reunion of former Youth Volunteers, she met Comrade Do Thu Thao, Secretary of the Ben Tre Provincial Youth Union (now Vice President of the Vietnam Women's Union). She presented the plight of several former Youth Volunteers who were struggling, living in dilapidated houses. A few days later, the Provincial Youth Union Secretary called to offer support for six houses for her comrades and tasked her with compiling a list and completing the disbursement paperwork. That was her first fundraising effort and it firmly bound her to volunteer work.
Then, during her trips back to her roots, visiting her comrades, and crossing many rickety monkey and coconut bridges, she thought, "Why don't I ask sponsors to build concrete bridges for the people to alleviate their suffering?" Thinking is doing, so she sought out philanthropists and proposed building rural bridges to help people travel more easily and conduct business more conveniently. As a result, hundreds of rural bridges have been built throughout the disadvantaged communes of the province.
While her comrades had found warm homes and easy access to transportation, she discovered that some of them were ill and unable to move around. She continued to solicit donations and contributed her own money to purchase over 120 wheelchairs and mobility aids, helping them to have "legs" to move around and carry out daily activities more easily.
Being honest, simple, and kind-hearted, she connected with many philanthropists. Every year, she mobilizes tens of tons of rice, thousands of essential goods, and Tet gifts to donate to the poor in Chau Thanh district and some communes of Binh Dai district (Ben Tre).
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lanh (third from the left) during a visit to a rural road construction site. |
During the annual military recruitment period, she organizes donations of gifts for young men enlisting in the army. At the beginning of each school year, she mobilizes hundreds of gifts and scholarships for poor students at risk of dropping out, enabling them to continue their education. What is particularly touching is that she not only does good for those in need but also provides thoughtful and timely assistance to the deceased. Notably, she connects with philanthropists to donate coffins and help with funeral arrangements for over 300 people whose families are facing extreme hardship.
That's why people in the local areas liken her to a "fairy godmother" who always appears when they need help. What's truly admirable is that she always keeps her promises; once she agrees to help, no matter how difficult the task, she finds a way to fulfill it...
With her boundless generosity and pure heart, she has connected with philanthropists to maintain charitable activities for many years, contributing to alleviating the difficulties of her comrades and the local people.
A heart of charity - giving away love.
As of March 2025, Ms. Lanh had mobilized philanthropists to help localities in the province build 233 rural traffic bridges, with a total cost of nearly 29 billion VND; 16 houses of gratitude, compassion, and camaraderie with a cost of nearly 1 billion VND; over 300 wheelchairs and mobility aids for people with disabilities; thousands of gifts for policy beneficiary families and poor households; and thousands of scholarships and school supplies for poor students. These projects and initiatives were facilitated by her connecting with former comrades and superiors from the war, now successful entrepreneurs, veterans, and former Youth Volunteers.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lanh (far left) donates a wheelchair to a disabled person. |
After hearing us share about the good deeds and noble actions of Ms. Nguyen Thi Lanh, a former comrade of Ms. Phan Thi Thanh, a retired official and former Youth Volunteer of Ward 2, Binh Dai town, said: “I have known Ms. Lanh since the war. She is an energetic, hardworking, dedicated, and devoted person who wholeheartedly cares for her comrades. In peacetime, she wholeheartedly shares and helps the poor, especially in remote areas. In particular, in the difficult communes of Binh Dai district, Ms. Lanh has mobilized benefactors to build nearly 80 rural bridges, helping people travel easily, transport agricultural and aquatic products conveniently, and ensuring the safety of students going to school… The people here are always grateful for her charitable heart.”
Ms. Nguyen Lan Chau, President of the Ben Tre Provincial Association of Former Youth Volunteers, spoke enthusiastically about her comrade: “Comrade Nguyen Thi Lanh is one of the exemplary grassroots Youth Volunteer Association presidents in Ben Tre province. She was trained and tested in practice, among the people, in the resistance war against the US, and in building and protecting the Fatherland. Therefore, she possesses all the qualities of a leader: courage, confidence, creativity, willingness to act, willingness to take responsibility, and the ability to listen… wholeheartedly loving her comrades and working together for the community and for the prosperous development of her homeland.”
Not only in her work with the Association of Former Youth Volunteers, but Ms. Nguyen Thi Lanh is also one of the outstanding and exemplary members of the Veterans Association and Women's Association, leading the emulation movements of the association and revolutionary action movements in the locality. She is one of the typical exemplary figures in "Studying and following the example, morality, and style of Ho Chi Minh " for many consecutive years in Ben Tre province.
For her exceptionally outstanding achievements in social work, humanitarian aid, and charity over the years, Ms. Lanh has been awarded a commemorative medal by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and numerous Certificates of Merit from the People's Committee of Ben Tre province; as well as many other certificates and awards from various sectors and levels.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lanh's actions are deeply humane, touching the hearts of many, inspiring a spirit of mutual support and compassion in the community, and reflecting the beautiful tradition of the Vietnamese people: "the healthy leaf protects the withered leaf."
KIM LOAN
Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/cuoc-thi-nhung-tam-guong-binh-di-ma-cao-quy-lan-thu-16/chi-lanh-ba-gioi-823622
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