Her name is Nguyen Hong Ha. Dan Ha is her pen name: Red River.
I visited journalist Dan Ha when she had just returned from a field trip to the southern border posts to celebrate the 64th anniversary of the border guards' tradition day. Difficult and harsh trips due to the weather and loneliness when sitting alone behind the wheel on deserted roads were not uncommon for Dan Ha.
Brave warrior in the epidemic center
Even though her main job is to organize articles, direct, implement content, topics… traveling and writing is still her passion. Therefore, her works are always full of life, authentic and touching the hearts of readers.
As someone who loves social work and has regularly participated in charity programs, Dan Ha could not sit still when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. In addition to contributing to the Government's COVID-19 vaccine fund, she also came up with the idea of being a bridge, combining 3 units: where she is working, the Southern Office of Cong Ly Newspaper, with the Political Department of Military Region 7 and the Ho Chi Minh City Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs - where she is the vice president of the association - to initiate the "Zero-VND stall" model. This coordination has contributed to solving the immediate food difficulties for some people with more than 10 tons of goods for each market session.
Journalist Dan Ha on the way to the people during the COVID-19 pandemic
The pandemic is getting more and more fierce every day, Ho Chi Minh City is entering the phase of implementing social distancing according to Directive 16, the city has never been so desolate and deserted. Ropes are stretched, barbed wire barriers are erected... Along both sides of the street, rows of houses are closed silently. But there are places that are not quiet and hardly sleep. Engine noise, sirens and lights are on all night. Those are field hospitals. There, the "angels in white" are fighting with the brave spirit of a warrior, working day and night with 200% of their strength to save patients. They really need nutritious meals, ensuring food hygiene and safety to have enough health to save people.
Talking about 36,475 salty and sweet meals for doctors; More than 10,000 servings of porridge she cooked for sick children and pregnant women F0 during the epidemic season, Dan Ha confided: "When I did it, I didn't think about anything, I just felt pity and admiration for the sacrifice of the frontline medical staff. They are no different from soldiers on the front line. The "angels" no longer have white wings, they wear tight blue protective suits that have to write their names on the back of their shirts to call each other; hasty meals, restless sleep... those images evoked compassion in me. So when the ladies at the Mothers' Club asked me to cook 2 "watery" breakfasts for the doctors to swallow easily, I immediately accepted. Unexpectedly, the recipient was Field Hospital No. 8 run by doctors and nurses from Binh Dan Hospital. I think maybe it was fate that brought me the opportunity to show gratitude to the doctors at Binh Dan Hospital, because here, my father spent a long time being treated for illness. I decided to continue cooking, not just two meals. I I think my dad in heaven will be very happy. And I believe I can do it because this is my forte, my passion...".
Be loved, wholeheartedly supported
Dan Ha also said that this is the time when "everyone stays where they are", circulation and distribution are almost stagnant. Where will the kitchen and staff be located to prepare 300 meals for doctors and nurses and 100 porridge portions for F0 children every morning? The difficult problem was quickly solved: Her house, an apartment in District 7, will become the kitchen and her and her three children will be the "chefs".
The second problem is kitchen utensils, all must meet the criteria: "Huge", where do they come from? Next is the source of food? The solution lies in her relationships and diplomatic skills, that's what everyone commented. As for Dan Ha, she has a strong belief that there is an invisible energy that has helped and blessed her. When she asked, Tan Son Nhat Hotel was willing to lend specialized tools to serve the unit's collective kitchen. The source of food and food supplies is two food companies that she is familiar with, selling delicious food at cheap prices.
Mother and child join hands to cook charity rice
So her day begins when the stoves are lit at 2am. Around 4am, her children help her divide the food into equal portions. At 6:30am, she drives the pickup truck to the hospital while it is still hot. Then she comes home to clean up, eat a quick meal, rest, and order ingredients to prepare for tomorrow's breakfast. Next, she starts dividing the relief gifts and distributing them to the people. Every night, she has two hours left to sleep. And there are many nights when she stays up all night.
Being a member of a charity group that specializes in providing food and supplies to people has brought her many advantages in her work. In addition, as a journalist, Dan Ha was granted a travel permit, thanks to which she can also deliver food and medicine to F0 anywhere, at any time.
She said, once she went to distribute rice and food to people in District 8 in the middle of the night. All around her, there was a blanket of darkness. The road was so deserted that she could hear the chirping of insects. In front of her, there was only the light of the car's headlights sweeping across the empty road. Sitting on the steering wheel, she didn't dare to think about anything, she just wanted to get there quickly. She had been there once, but now that she was back, she didn't know why she kept fumbling. She opened Google Maps, but Google couldn't locate the place with ropes and barriers. So she kept "going for a few minutes and then returning to the same place...". At 2am, she stopped by the checkpoint to ask, the militia said she saw the car driving around, thinking it was a practice car...
For three months, she diligently searched through her culinary repertoire to create a miracle: Except for pho and beef noodle soup requested by "diners", her menu was never repeated.
Back to normal life
Today, the pandemic can be considered over, life returns to normal. She also returns to... "normal life".
In her daily life, she is a woman who loves to travel, is full of energy, works hard and "loves" with all her heart. This includes her love for writing, fashion, cuisine... She used to be the General Director of Global Investment and Communication Joint Stock Company, which launched Lifestyle magazine specializing in lifestyle. She was also in the top of a beauty pageant for ladies. In 2018, she was invited to be a judge in the "Entrepreneur in the Kitchen" contest organized by Young Media Company...
Journalist Dan Ha and representatives of associated units carry out the "Zero-VND Booth". (Photo provided by the character)
Her daily life consists of days of traveling and writing, endless editing, and endless volunteer trips.
Her daily life consists of sweaty mornings with strenuous exercises to maintain a healthy and beautiful body, and leisurely moments sitting and admiring flowers and wine, the two "favorites" that occupy the most space in her living room. Now, after the pandemic, there are also more certificates of merit placed solemnly, the most honorable of which is the certificate of merit awarded by the Minister of National Defense for her contributions during the pandemic.
Once, she heard her little daughter ask her sister: "When will mom stop cooking?". The older sister answered as if she could see through her mother's heart: "When mom runs out of money". I asked Dan Ha: "Is that right?". "Yes, sister! Luckily, I just ran out of money and the epidemic had just subsided". I had to ask her for a long time before she told me: In addition to the approximately 800 million VND donated by friends and relatives, the 6 billion VND in her account had just run out. Many people would have been skeptical if she had not shown them the statement and the pile of bills she had saved as a... souvenir: In addition to the meals, she also bought medical supplies, protective gear, medicine, oxygen generators, etc. for field hospitals such as the Eastern Military Hospital, Hospital 7A, the Military Medical Academy, the Army Field Hospital and F0 patients, along with many other expenses.
She said lightly: "The epidemic is fierce, human lives are hanging by a thread, what's the point of keeping money, I just want to contribute to ending the epidemic quickly, life returns to normal."
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