A heart that never stops giving

After clicking "follow" for a while, I proactively texted to ask about the charity program Vu was doing. I needed a plan for my charity project. Just like that, even though we weren't close, Vu always answered enthusiastically every time I asked. Curious why just a shipper had so many followers, I went online to learn about Vu.

The results shocked me. I thought that a person who gave so much would be a person with material comfort or at least a peaceful life. But Vu had nothing in his hands, not even an identity document like a birth certificate.

Vu was born into a family with special circumstances. Vu's parents lived together and had children without legal status. Vu's childhood was a series of days lacking both food, clothing, money, and basic documents for a person to be recognized in society. Vu was born in 1993. He had no birth certificate, no household registration, no insurance card, no citizen identification card... To society, he was an "invisible" person. To go to school, Vu had to borrow a worthless birth certificate under the name Nguyen Viet Thang.

Later, Vu dropped out of school. The young man felt lost in life and sought refuge in internet cafes. For a long time, Vu was absorbed in the virtual world as a way to escape reality. When the game fever gradually cooled down, he started selling iced tea and grilled corn and potatoes on the roadside to make a living.

A heart that never stops giving - Photo 1.

Every month, Vu regularly goes to the dialysis neighborhood to give gifts to patients - PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

At the age of 24, a major incident occurred. Because he was gullible, he was taken advantage of by a bad guy, who asked him to hold a small package for him. When checked, the package turned out to contain 0.5 grams of drugs. That fall was not only a collision of fate but also a door that slammed shut on his future. In prison, Vu understood for the first time the feeling of a person who had all hope taken away. It was also at that very bottom that he learned to look back at himself and silently thought that "I must stand up, at all costs".

On his return, he went to industrial parks and factories, hoping to find a stable job. But every time, as soon as they heard he had no birth certificate or ID, they shook their heads. Some places even said to his face: "Who would dare accept someone without papers and who has been in and out of prison like you?" That sentence was like a slap in the face, making him lose all hope for a future with a "regular" job.

To support himself, Vu began his days of non-stop work. Every early morning, on his old bicycle, he crossed each long street, traveling nearly ten kilometers from Minh Khai to Cau Giay. In his faded uniform, he hurriedly served food at a restaurant, sweat pouring out under his mask, his hands never resting. After his lunch shift, he turned his bike around and returned to Minh Khai. He continued another manual labor job, hard but steady, to earn more income. Every evening, when the city lights came on and people gathered for cozy dinners, Vu tied his bag on his bike, put on a windbreaker and rushed through the crowded traffic. He delivered goods until late at night...

A heart that never stops giving - Photo 2.

Vu gives meals to poor patients at K Hospital - PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

He did all of that work to fulfill his dream: to buy a motorbike of his own. He hoped to have a better vehicle than his current old one so that his life would be less difficult. Every night, the motorbike's lights would shine through every small street corner, reflecting the silhouette of a person quietly starting over. From those wandering days, he began to realize one thing: out there, there were countless people struggling with poverty and hardship like him yesterday.

Unexpectedly "received" and then "given"

In his spare time, he recorded food review videos and posted them on TikTok. Unexpectedly, his videos became a trend and attracted a lot of attention. Phong Vu became a TikToker loved by many people for his simplicity and sincerity. With more income from the restaurants he reviewed, the burden of making a living was reduced, Vu joined volunteer groups.

From 2019 until now, Vu has not only been a shipper wandering the streets but also a companion to those with precarious lives. He told me that every first and fifteenth day of the lunar month, he regularly brings homeless people a hot meal and a small gift. For many people, that is nothing, but for them, the homeless, that small gift contains warmth and love. Not stopping there, he also mobilized friends and kind-hearted people to collect and bring meaningful meals to poor patients at the Oncology Hospital and Thanh Nhan Hospital every week.

Vu also said: "When I came to the dialysis village, I realized that God still favored my life. Here, patients often have to go to the hospital 3 times a week. Each time is a time of pain and struggle to pay the price for life. Every month, I regularly go there to give gifts and see the suffering of the patients... Despite illness and deprivation, they still worry about making a living by driving motorbike taxis, selling iced tea, collecting scrap metal... One day, I brought 110 gifts but was told that today only 109 were needed. Sister, each time like that, I was stunned... because I understood... a person was no longer there."

When doing charity work, Vu also feels sad when people say: "My parents don't take care of me, but instead they worry about other people's business." They don't know: "My parents are gone. I don't have much money, but I see so many miserable lives that I can't help but share." For him, just a thank you, a nod is enough to make all the tiredness in my heart disappear.

A heart that never stops giving - Photo 3.

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

Behind the volunteer trips, behind the warm laughter and the heart that always turns to others, Vu also has a private life full of sorrows. He once loved and opened his heart to a girl. But then, she left him.

He did not blame her, because deep down, he knew she was not wrong. It was just that the truth was too cruel: he was not enough to be the support for the one he loved. That pain was not loud, not screaming, but seeped deep, smoldering, gnawing at every vein, every empty space in his soul.

The turning point in his life came when journalist Gia Hien - who happened to know his story through social media - researched and made a short documentary about Vu. The local authorities got involved. They verified, supported and guided Vu to complete the necessary procedures.

May 8, 2025 is an unforgettable milestone for Vu. For the first time in his life, he held a birth certificate in his hand. He officially had a name, ancestry, and a presence in this world with the recognition of the government and society. He tearfully said: "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 storm, he must stand firm, must keep a kind heart.

Nguyen Tran Phong Vu is a name that has just been recognized, but the soul of the person with that name has lived beautifully and truly for a long time. He is not a hero, does not need fame or glory. He is the embodiment of small, enduring and warm kindnesses, gathered together to create miracles for lives that seem to have lost all faith.

The fifth Living Well Writing Contest was held to encourage people to write about noble actions that have helped individuals or communities. This year, the contest focused on praising individuals or groups that have performed acts of kindness, bringing hope to those in difficult circumstances.

The highlight is the new environmental award category, honoring works that inspire and encourage action for a green, clean living environment. Through this, the Organizing Committee hopes to raise public awareness in protecting the planet for future generations.

The contest has diverse categories and prize structure, including:

Article categories: Journalism, reportage, notes or short stories, no more than 1,600 words for articles and 2,500 words for short stories.

Articles, reports, notes:

- 1 first 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:

- 1 first 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 photo series of at least 5 photos related to volunteer activities or environmental protection, along with the name of the photo series and a short description.

- 1 first 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

Most Popular Prize: 5,000,000 VND

Prize for Excellent Essay on Environmental Topic: 5,000,000 VND

Honored Character Award: 30,000,000 VND

The deadline for submissions is October 16, 2025. The works will be evaluated through the preliminary and final rounds with the participation of a jury of famous names. The organizing committee will announce the list of winners on the "Beautiful Life" page. See detailed rules at thanhnien.vn .

Organizing Committee of the Beautiful Living Contest

A heart that never stops giving - Photo 4.