A heart that never stops giving.

I came across Vu by chance while browsing online. My eyes fell upon a picture of a delivery driver distributing food to poor patients and their families at the Central Oncology Hospital. His face, glistening with sweat, radiated kindness, quick wit, and, most notably, bright eyes.

After following him for a while, I proactively messaged him to ask about the charity program he was working on. I needed a plan for my own charity project. Even though we weren't close, Vũ always answered my questions attentively. Curious why a delivery driver could have so many followers, I went online to learn more about Vũ.

The results shocked me. I assumed that someone who gave so much would be financially secure or at least have a peaceful life. But Vũ had once had nothing, not even identification documents like a birth certificate.

Vu was born into a family with unusual circumstances. His parents lived together and had a child without being legally recognized. Vu's childhood was a series of days lacking basic necessities like food, clothing, and money, as well as the essential documents needed for social recognition. Vu was born in 1993. He has no birth certificate, no household registration, no health insurance card, and no citizen identification card… To society, he is "invisible." To attend school, Vu had to borrow a worthless birth certificate under the name Nguyen Viet Thang.

Later, Vu dropped out of school. Lost in life, he sought refuge in internet cafes. For a long time, Vu immersed himself in the virtual world as a way to escape reality. When the gaming craze subsided, he started selling iced tea and roasted corn and potatoes by the roadside to make ends meet.

Every month, Vu regularly visits the dialysis patient community to give gifts to the patients - PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR.

At the age of 24, a major event struck. Due to his naivety and gullibility, he was exploited by criminals who asked him to hold a small package for them. When searched, the package turned out to contain 0.5 grams of drugs. This fall was not only a blow of fate but also a door slammed shut on his future. In prison, Vu understood for the first time the feeling of someone stripped of all hope. It was in that very place that he learned to reflect on himself and silently vowed, "I must get back on my feet, at all costs."

Upon his return, he sought out industrial zones and factories, hoping to find a stable job. But each time, upon hearing he lacked a birth certificate and identity card, people shook their heads. Some even bluntly told him, "Who would hire someone without papers and with a criminal record like you?" That remark was like a slap in the face, shattering his hopes for a future with a "legitimate" job.

To make ends meet, Vu began with days of relentless labor. Every early morning, on his old bicycle, he traversed long streets, covering nearly ten kilometers from Minh Khai to Cau Giay. Wearing his faded uniform, he hurriedly served food at a restaurant, sweat pouring down beneath his mask, his hands never resting. After his lunch break, he turned his bike around and returned to Minh Khai. He continued with another manual labor job, arduous but regular, to supplement his income. In the evenings, as the streets lit up and people gathered for warm dinners, Vu would strap his bag onto his bike, throw on a windbreaker, and speed off into the bustling traffic. He delivered goods until late at night...

Vu distributes meals to impoverished patients at K Hospital - PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

He did all that work to fuel his dream: to buy his own motorbike. He hoped to have a better vehicle than his current rickety one, so that his struggle to make a living would be less arduous. Every night, the motorbike's headlights shone through the small streets, casting the shadow of a man silently starting over. From those days of wandering, he began to realize something: out there, countless people were struggling with poverty and hardship, just like he had in the past.

Unexpectedly receiving and then giving.

In his free time, he filmed food review videos and posted them on TikTok. Unexpectedly, his videos went viral and gained a lot of attention. Phong Vu became a beloved TikToker because of his down-to-earth and sincere personality. With additional income from the restaurants he reviewed, the burden of making ends meet eased, and Vu joined charitable groups.

Since 2019, Vu has not only been a delivery driver but also a companion to those facing hardship. He told me that on the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, he regularly brings a hot meal and a small gift to the homeless. To many, that's nothing, but to them, the homeless, that small gift is filled with warmth and love. Not stopping there, he also mobilizes friends and kind-hearted people to collect donations and weekly deliver these compassionate meals to poor patients at the Oncology Hospital and Thanh Nhan Hospital.

Vu also recounted: "Visiting the dialysis patients' neighborhood made me realize how much God has favored me in life. Here, patients often have to go to the hospital three times a week. Each time is a painful ordeal, a struggle to pay the price for survival. Every month, I regularly go there to give gifts and I see the suffering of these patients... Despite their illness and hardship, they still try to make a living by driving motorbike taxis, selling iced tea, collecting scrap metal... One day, I brought 110 gift packages but was told that only 109 were needed. Sister, each time that happens, I'm left speechless... because I understand... that one person is no longer here."

While doing volunteer work, Vu also felt sad when people said, "He doesn't take care of his parents, yet he's meddling in other people's affairs." They didn't know: "My parents are gone. I don't have much money, but I see so many people in hardship that I can't help but share." For him, just a thank you, a nod, is enough to make all the weariness in his heart disappear.

Vu distributes meals at Thanh Nhan Hospital - PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

Behind his charitable work, his warm laughter, and his heart always focused on helping others, Vu also has a private life full of sorrows. He once loved, once opened his heart to a girl. But then, she also left him.

He didn't resent her, because deep down, he understood she wasn't wrong. It was just that the truth was too cruel: he wasn't enough to be a support for the woman he loved. The pain wasn't loud or screaming, but seeped in, smoldering, gnawing at every vein, every empty space in his soul.

A turning point came in his life when journalist Gia Hien – who happened to learn about his story through social media – investigated and made a short documentary about Vu. Local authorities then got involved. They verified his information, provided support, and guided Vu through the necessary procedures.

May 8, 2025, was an unforgettable milestone for Vu. For the first time in his life, he held a birth certificate in his hands. He officially had a name, a family, and was present in this world with the recognition of the government and society. He said tearfully, "Nguyen and Tran are the surnames of my parents combined. And Phong Vu is the name I chose myself." Vu chose that name as a declaration for his life: no matter the storms, he must stand firm and maintain a kind heart.

Nguyen Tran Phong Vu is a name that has only recently gained recognition, but the soul of the person bearing that name has lived beautifully and meaningfully for a long time. He is not a hero, nor does he seek fame or glory. He is the embodiment of small, enduring, and warm acts of kindness, gathering them together to create miracles for lives that seemed to have lost all hope.

The 5th "Living Beautifully" writing contest was organized to encourage people to write about noble acts that have helped individuals or communities. This year, the contest focuses on praising individuals or groups who have performed acts of kindness, bringing hope to those in difficult circumstances.

A highlight is the new environmental award category, which honors works that inspire and encourage action for a green and clean living environment. Through this, the organizers hope to raise community awareness in protecting the planet for future generations.

The competition features diverse categories and prize structures, including:

Article categories: Essays, reports, notes, or short stories, not exceeding 1,600 words for essays and 2,500 words for short stories.

Feature articles, reports, and notes:

- 1st prize: 30,000,000 VND

- 2 second prizes: 15,000,000 VND

- 3 third prizes: 10,000,000 VND

- 5 consolation prizes: 3,000,000 VND

Short story:

- 1st prize: 30,000,000 VND

- 1 second prize: 20,000,000 VND

- 2 third prizes: 10,000,000 VND

- 4 consolation prizes: 5,000,000 VND

Photo category: Submit a set of at least 5 photos related to volunteer work or environmental protection, along with the title of the photo set and a short description.

- 1st prize: 10,000,000 VND

- 1 second prize: 5,000,000 VND

- 1 third prize: 3,000,000 VND

- 5 consolation prizes: 2,000,000 VND each

Prize for the Most Popular Song: 5,000,000 VND

Prize for an outstanding essay on the topic of the environment: 5,000,000 VND

Honored Person Award: 30,000,000 VND

The deadline for submitting entries is October 16, 2025. Entries will be judged in a preliminary and final round by a panel of renowned judges. The organizers will announce the winners on the "Living Beautifully" special page. See the detailed rules at thanhnien.vn .

Organizing Committee of the " Living Beautifully" Contest

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/mot-trai-tim-khong-ngung-cho-di-185250918115149259.htm