The "zero-cost" clothing stall is "as beautiful as in a boutique."

Ms. Thuy Diem (far left) and Ms. Kieu Hanh prepare clothes at the "0-dong" (free) stall. Photo: DUY KHOI

The "0-Dong Clothing Stall" is located on Tran Minh Son Street, Thoi Nhut residential area, Tan An ward, Can Tho city, and is open day and night. The owner is Huynh Thuy Diem, a young woman born in 1991. The stall occupies the front of the house and is designed like a real clothing store, with rows of neatly arranged clothes, categorized into sections: children's clothing, jeans, autumn shirts, jackets, etc. Every day at 5 PM, the stall is restocked with new items, allowing customers to freely choose and pick up their orders. Thus, there are rarely any sellers; only buyers, who can take whatever they like without bargaining or paying – everything is free.

Speaking about the origins of this charitable model, Ms. Huynh Thuy Diem recounted that about two years ago, at her wedding dress shop on Mau Than Street, Cai Khe Ward, she organized a charity program to give 500 gift packages to people in difficult circumstances, including noodles, rice, and essential goods, in addition to donating food and used clothes. The program was very popular, with the clothing stall donating 10 tons of clothes in just two days. Many people came to receive items, and many also brought things to donate. From then on, she thought about maintaining this model long-term. In addition, Ms. Diem has organized many more donation drives of used clothes to people in flood-affected areas and mountainous regions… “Currently, in Lai Chau province, I have coordinated with local people to open three free clothing stalls, which are operating effectively,” Ms. Thuy Diem said.

"The act of giving is more important than receiving," so Ms. Diem is very careful in every step, from sorting and processing to hanging and serving customers. Dirty items are washed thoroughly, and items in poor condition are not displayed. Although she doesn't sell, she refers to them as customers to remind everyone that "the customer is king," and she must serve them to the best of her ability. Therefore, the clothes are hung neatly and respectfully, and many people hesitate and repeatedly ask, "Are you really giving them away for free?" Ms. Huynh Thi Mo, who is very proactive in sorting, washing, and hanging clothes at the stall, said: "I think that since I'm doing it for my own family, I'll do it best. If people are happy receiving the clothes, I'm happy too."

At this stall, there's a special case: Ms. Truong Thi Kieu Hanh, a resident of An Binh ward who sells lottery tickets on the street. Ms. Hanh regularly receives clothes from this stall for her whole family to wear, so more than anyone else, she understands the significance of the initiative. For the past few months, whenever she has free time, Ms. Hanh comes here to help sort and hang clothes for the community. Ms. Hanh said: “What Diem is doing is very meaningful, so I want to help in some way. For people like us who are struggling, buying a set of clothes is a difficult decision. At this 0-dong stall, many clothes are still as good as new, and my family always wears clothes from here.”

Another interesting point is that Ms. Diem has successfully conducted many online charity sales via livestream. This means that among the clothes she received, many were fashionable items like dresses and skirts that couldn't be given away to the needy because there was little or no demand. So, she livestreamed them for sale at low prices, and the money raised was used to buy noodles, rice, and other necessities to donate to people in difficult circumstances.

Ms. Huynh Thuy Diem's "0-dong" (free) stall is operating effectively and is gradually expanding. Ms. Diem encourages anyone who doesn't use something to bring it in, and anyone who needs it to come and receive it. Donors don't necessarily have to give a lot, but they should give us usable items – a few but high-quality items. "One person's old is another person's new," and the clothes at this "0-dong" stall bring joy to many and beautify their lives.

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