For over 10 years, they quietly sowed seeds of compassion.

thien-nguyen-1(1).jpg — Ms. Lang Thi Tam presents gifts to children in the mountainous region at Dong Sang Kindergarten ( Son La province).

A bowl of porridge, a symbol of compassion.

Ms. Lang Thi Tam (born in 1986) hails from a mountainous commune in Thanh Hoa province. Her childhood was marked by hardship in the highlands, leaving her with vivid memories of poverty and difficulty. This understanding nurtured her compassion and empathy, leading her to silently but persistently sow seeds of kindness.

Since the 2010s, while working in Hanoi, Ms. Tam participated in many student volunteer groups, donating clothes and supplies to children in mountainous areas. In 2012, she got married and moved to Hai Duong City (formerly Hai Duong Province), now Hai Phong City. Her new life did not interrupt her philanthropic journey; on the contrary, she continued to work with many charitable organizations, supporting those in need.

In mid-2014, driven by very ordinary concerns, Ms. Tam came up with a simple idea: instead of giving money, she would directly cook meals and porridge for patients being treated at the hospital. From that, the Hai Duong Smile Club, which she founded, was officially established.

At that time, her family was renting a room near Hai Duong General Hospital. And the small kitchen in their rented room became the starting point for the first pots of porridge. From early morning, each serving of porridge was prepared with the sincerity of strangers who shared a common desire to share some of the burden with the patients.

From 2014 to 2018, every Thursday morning, she and the club members cooked and distributed free porridge at the Rehabilitation Hospital, Hai Duong General Hospital, and Traditional Medicine Hospital.

At 4 a.m., the stoves were already burning. From 7 to 7:30 a.m., the porridge was delivered to the hospital. Ms. Tam said that there was never a shortage of food because people donated so much; the only shortage was manpower and resources.

To ensure the porridge was distributed to the right places, Ms. Tâm personally contacted, obtained permission from, and connected with hospitals. Through her perseverance and sincerity, she gradually gained the trust and support of many people.

The early years of volunteering were a challenging time: lack of experience, lack of connections, and lack of a voice. Everything had to be figured out on my own, sometimes I felt awkward, and unexpected situations arose. But with faith in doing good, each program continued and was completed.

Enduring

Not only did she provide porridge at the hospital, Lang Thi Tam's charitable journey extended to many mountainous provinces in the North such as Tuyen Quang, Son La, Lang Son… and then to many provinces in Central Vietnam during periods of heavy rain and flooding.

These volunteer vehicles travel across the mountains to the highlands.

Ms. Tâm still vividly remembers her volunteer trip to Trạm Tấu (Lào Cai). It was raining, bitterly cold, and even snowy that day. Two trucks carrying nearly 7 tons of goods couldn't get deep into the village, forcing the team to split the supplies and transfer them to a materials truck to navigate the slippery mountain roads. "The more I travel, the more I see how many places people still struggle," Ms. Tâm recounted. These hardships fueled her perseverance on her chosen path.

The Hai Duong Smile Club's approach to charity is very simple. Each person is responsible for mobilizing resources and preparing a different type of gift. Some prepare rice, others warm blankets, and some instant noodles… Thanks to this, the charity trips are practical, avoiding duplication, supplementing what is needed, and adjusting any surplus accordingly.

What Ms. Tâm always emphasizes is transparency in her charitable activities. She frankly shared that core members are always ready to cover any shortfalls when the program concludes. If there is any surplus, even a small amount, that money is used for the next activity. She said, "I'm still poor right now," but her eyes always shine with the joy of someone who chooses to give more.

In late December 2024, Ms. Tam connected with several charitable groups to award scholarships to underprivileged students at Cam Ba Thuoc High School (Thuong Xuan commune, Thanh Hoa province); donated 100 light bulbs to the dormitory area, along with many gifts including rice and cooking oil for disadvantaged students.

According to Mr. Hoang Van Lan, Principal of Cam Ba Thuoc High School, the school acknowledges Ms. Tam's charitable activities, which have made a practical contribution to supporting the school and students in difficult circumstances, helping them to have more motivation to strive harder in their studies.

Presenting gifts to students of Huu Le Ethnic Boarding Primary and Secondary School, Tri Le commune (Lang Son province)

In July 2025, Ms. Tam connected with and mobilized donations of televisions, water heaters, 50 bunk beds, blankets, cash, and rice for Huu Le Ethnic Boarding Primary and Secondary School in Tri Le commune (Lang Son province), with a total value of over 133 million VND.

For Ms. Lang Thi Tam, each person in need of help is a journey of spreading love.

For over 10 years of volunteer work, what Ms. Tâm cherishes most is the unwavering trust and support of her family, friends, and community. Each year, she assists approximately 10 cases of sudden hardship; some months she carries out 2-3 activities. Needs are received through multiple channels and verified when necessary. Her activities are increasingly diverse, ranging from giving gifts and providing financial assistance to building charitable homes, donating livestock for livelihood development, and supporting tuition and medical expenses. Each act of sharing is the result of a persistent and heartwarming journey of someone who always chooses to give.

Comment (0)