The group was formed in 2018 with just a few members. Today, the team has about 15 people aged 18-35, working in various professions such as mechanics, factory workers, delivery drivers, and ride-hailing drivers. By day, they struggle to make a living, and at night, they don reflective vests with the word "SOS" and travel along National Highway 13, My Phuoc - Tan Van, DT743, and industrial zones like Song Than and VSIP… to find people in need of help.
Operating hours are from 8 PM to midnight, sometimes extending to 2-3 hours depending on the situation. Whenever they spot someone pushing a vehicle, standing stranded in the middle of the road, or receive a distress call via the group's shared phone number on social media, the entire team immediately sets off. The rescue service is completely free and includes tire repair, inner tube replacement, refueling, minor repairs on the spot, or towing the vehicle home if it's severely damaged. Many members also carry bandages and antiseptic for temporary first aid for those who have fallen off their vehicles.
On the night of October 20th, following the SOS team as they assisted people in distress while traveling, we truly understood the hardships faced by the team members, but also the significance of their actions for those being helped in difficult situations late at night.
Mr. Nguyen Cong Minh, a worker at a company in An Phu ward, emotionally shared that around 9 PM, he and his wife finished their shift and had to push their motorbike because of a flat tire on My Phuoc - Tan Van road. While walking, they saw a sign offering free tire repair services from some young people and stopped. At first, he was scared because the road was deserted, but they pointed to their shirts which read 'SOS Team assisting people at night,' and while repairing the motorbike, they also inquired about their well-being. He was very touched. He expressed his gratitude to the team for their selfless help and hoped this model would be replicated in the future.
Tran Minh Tuan (35 years old), the team leader and founder of the group, was originally a mechanic at a motorbike repair shop in An Phu ward, so he often borrowed tools from his workplace in the evenings to help people on the road when they encountered problems.
Since 2023, he switched to working as a ride-hailing motorbike driver for more flexibility in his schedule. Tuan shared that he lives in an area with many factory workers who finish their shifts in the evening. Among them, many experience breakdowns, running out of gas, or getting flat tires on the road. Seeing them struggling to push their motorbikes at night without anyone to help, he came up with the idea to assist them. Every evening, after finishing work, he takes his motorbike and drives around, stopping to help anyone who needs assistance pushing a broken-down vehicle. Sometimes he works until morning before returning home.
According to the team's statistics, they handle hundreds of cases of vehicle breakdowns in the middle of the night each year. On peak days, a small team might have to deal with 5-7 cases in just a few hours.
“There are no days off. We just divide the work among ourselves to avoid overload. Whoever works during the day gets a break when they're tired, and whoever is free works. Rescue equipment such as walkie-talkies, flashing lights, reflective vests... some of it was donated by philanthropists, but most of the rest was provided by the team members themselves,” Tuan said.
Besides repairing vehicles, the team also has a special tool: a nail-collecting vehicle built by member Phung Huu Hiep. A large magnet is attached to the back of the vehicle, collecting nails and metal fragments wherever it goes. "Every thing we pick up is an accident prevented," Hiep said. His motivation for staying with the team for so many years is simple: he once found himself stranded in the middle of the night with no one to help. Now, he empathizes with people in similar situations. He only needs to stop for a few minutes to reassure those in need and allow them to continue their journey safely.
Expressing her appreciation for the activities of the SOS Team assisting people at night in An Phu ward, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thi Thanh Nga, Deputy Head of the Traffic Police Department, Ho Chi Minh City Police, said that currently, there are many models of community security - volunteers in the city, but the SOS Team assisting people at night in An Phu ward is one of the most persistent and effective groups. The group always enthusiastically supports the traffic police force at the scene of traffic accidents or incidents.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thi Thanh Nga highly appreciated the community spirit of the young people; and expressed hope that meaningful activities like those of the SOS Team would continue to be maintained and expanded further, within the framework of the law and with the inherent spirit of compassion.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/nguoi-tot-viec-tot/de-dem-khong-con-den-20251021133856445.htm
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