Spreading love from the small kitchen.

For the past 12 years, the Thien Tam Porridge Group has quietly accompanied many underprivileged patients at several hospitals in Hanoi with free meals filled with compassion. These bowls of porridge and packets of sticky rice not only help alleviate the financial burden of treatment but also instill hope and strength in patients as they battle illness and disease.

Members of the Thien Tam Porridge Group distribute free porridge at Bach Mai Hospital.

A journey of perseverance

At just 4 a.m., while many streets of the capital were still asleep, the small kitchen of the Thien Tam Porridge Group at 10/10/420 Khuong Dinh Street ( Hanoi ) was already brightly lit. The sounds of washing rice, chopping meat, and spoons touching the sides of pots filled the air. Steam rose from large pots of porridge, carrying the gentle aroma of fresh rice, simmered bones, and carefully selected ingredients from the night before. While gently stirring the porridge to prepare for distribution to patients at K Hospital (Tan Trieu branch) and Bach Mai Hospital that morning, Ms. Nguyen Thanh Phuong shared: “On days when we distribute porridge, we wake up early to cook. On days when we have sticky rice to distribute, we divide the tasks among ourselves, each person preparing it the night before, and then steaming it again the next morning to make it even more chewy.”

For the past 12 years, pots of porridge and sticky rice have been quietly and regularly delivered by members of the group to many major hospitals in Hanoi, such as Bach Mai Hospital, the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, E Hospital, and K Hospital... Each meal given not only warms the stomachs of patients but also provides comfort during long, tiring days filled with material worries.

From just a few dozen members at its inception, the Thien Tam Porridge Group now has over 300 members, both domestically and internationally. Operating on a voluntary basis, despite having diverse professions and occupations – some business owners, some civil servants, some small traders – all share a compassionate heart. Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngan, a member who has been with the group since its early days, shared while busily portioning porridge into containers: “Many in our group have had relatives hospitalized for extended periods, so we deeply understand the anxiety and struggle with countless worries. Witnessing patients having to go without food due to lack of money, and their families subsisting on instant noodles, we felt we needed to do something. Cooking a pot of porridge may seem small, but if done regularly, it becomes a great source of encouragement, and that's how the Thien Tam Porridge Group was born.”

Initially, the group's activities were small-scale, with funding primarily from voluntary contributions from members and companions. Many members still remember the days when they lacked money for ingredients, and members would quietly contribute extra. There were also days when it rained heavily, making transporting the porridge difficult, but the women still braved the weather to deliver it to the hospital in time for the patients' mealtimes.

Consistently and persistently, through transparency, dedication, and a systematic approach, the group gradually gained the trust of many philanthropists. As a result, the group's activities expanded. From 2025 to the present, the "Soup of Love" program has been regularly maintained on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays at many major hospitals in the city. In addition, the group distributes three extra meals of sticky rice per week at the National Children's Hospital, the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, and the National Endocrinology Hospital (Branch 2).

“To facilitate the group's activities, we assigned one team to cook porridge at 6/23/546 Tran Cung Street (Nghia Do Ward) to distribute to patients at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion and E Hospital. Another team is responsible for cooking porridge at the kitchen at 80/16 Hoang Cau Street (O Cho Dua Ward) to distribute to patients at Bach Mai Hospital. Yet another team is in charge of cooking sticky rice at the kitchen at 115/215 B4 Thanh Xuan (Thanh Xuan Ward) to distribute to patients at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion and the National Children's Hospital. In addition, a sticky rice kitchen at 31, Group 1, Yen So Ward is regularly maintained to distribute to patients at the National Endocrinology Hospital, Branch 2,” shared Nguyen Van Thuong, head of the Thien Tam porridge group. Along with this clear and specific division of labor, all donations and income/expenses of the kitchens are publicly disclosed in detail weekly on the group's Facebook and Zalo pages.

A small bowl of porridge , but it warms the patient's heart.

At the treatment ward of Bach Mai Hospital, Ms. Cao Thi Thinh Chien (from Nghe An province) has spent many days by the bedside of her son, who was injured in a traffic accident. The burden of hospital fees has left her almost completely exhausted, both physically and mentally. Receiving a bowl of hot porridge from a member of the Thien Tam Porridge Group, she emotionally said: “My son's treatment is expensive, and my family works in agriculture, so our finances are very difficult. When the hospital's Social Work Department gave us a voucher to receive free porridge, I was truly grateful. This bowl of porridge not only helps us with some of the costs, but also makes me feel less alone.” In another corner of the hospital, where the group was distributing porridge, Mr. Tran Van Huong (from Bat Xat commune, Lao Cai province), a long-time dialysis patient, slowly shared: “During long treatment periods, there are days when I'm so tired I don't want to eat anything. But the porridge the ladies cook is delicious and easy to eat. After eating, I feel warmer and lighter. We appreciate it very much.”

Not only at Bach Mai Hospital, but also at E Hospital and the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, the image of members of the Thien Tam Porridge Group, in their simple yellow uniforms, diligently carrying containers of porridge and sticky rice every weekend morning, has become familiar to many patients. For Ms. Le Phuong Hoa (from Phu Tho province, whose husband suffers from heart disease), who has been hospitalized many times for treatment, the image of the Thien Tam Porridge Group members has become very familiar. “For the past 3 years, every time my husband has been hospitalized, he has received support from the group. The porridge is very delicious, nutritious, and hygienic. We clearly feel the thoughtfulness in each meal,” Ms. Le Phuong Hoa shared.

In particular, what touched many patients and their families was not only the free meals, but also the caring attitude of the group members. “The women handed out the porridge with both hands, and some even took a few minutes while distributing the porridge to encourage and chat with the patients to ease their pain. Words of encouragement like, ‘How are you feeling today?’, ‘Try to eat so you have strength’… for patients from far away who come to the capital for treatment, sometimes mean more than a meal,” shared Mr. Le Van Thenh, a patient at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.

Besides cooking, the Thien Tam Porridge Group also assigns members to conduct on-site surveys and coordinate with the social work departments of hospitals to ensure the porridge reaches the right recipients. The group prioritizes patients with particularly difficult circumstances, those undergoing long-term treatment, and those who have traveled from distant provinces to Hanoi for medical care. Throughout this long journey, some members have been involved for 12 years, considering cooking porridge a part of their lives. Despite their busy schedules, they still make time to participate. For them, the greatest reward is not a thank you, but the smile on the patients' faces when they receive a hot meal. “We don’t expect recognition or reward. We only hope that patients gain a little more health and more faith to overcome their illnesses,” added Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Son, a member of the group.

In the context of many impoverished patients still requiring long-term treatment at medical facilities in the city, charitable activities like those of the Thien Tam Porridge Group are especially meaningful. A bowl of porridge may not be large in material terms, but it embodies empathy, sharing, and community responsibility. Amidst the hustle and bustle of urban life, the image of these people quietly waking up at dawn, diligently tending to pots of porridge and sticky rice, ensuring they are delivered to patients before their appointments, has become a quiet yet enduring beauty.

Twelve years isn't a very long time, but it's enough to prove that if it stems from a pure heart, good deeds will always find a way to survive and spread. From a few small pots of porridge at the beginning, the Thien Tam Porridge Group has now become a source of spiritual support for many poor patients in major hospitals in Hanoi. Every morning on designated days, while the city is still "asleep," pots of porridge and sticky rice are cooked. The warmth from that small kitchen follows the group members to the hospitals, where many lives are in need of sharing. Because more than anything, what they convey in each bowl of porridge or portion of sticky rice is not just rice, meat, and beans… but unconditional love – the special ingredient that creates a warm and deeply humane flavor.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/lan-toa-yeu-thuong-tu-gian-bep-nho-735390.html