From the moment he was born, Mr. Pham Van Hoc (born in 1963) was blind. Optic nerve atrophy has left his world perpetually shrouded in darkness. While other children's childhoods are filled with sunshine and learning, his was marked by hesitant steps and the familiar calls of others to find his way in a dilapidated house in a remote mountainous village.
His parents carried him everywhere, clinging to the faint hope that medicine could restore his sight. But the only answer they received was a helpless silence, as his eyesight was incurable. From a very young age, Mr. Hoc was forced to accept a harsh reality: to live his entire life in darkness.
Growing up, he learned to remember everything using his mind and senses. Every corner of the house, every path was etched into his memory. He did the smallest things he could to help his family, because more than anyone else, he understood that if he gave up, darkness would not only affect his eyes but also engulf his entire life.
In 1990, when he was nearly 30 years old, his life took a different turn. Encouraged by officials from the Association of the Blind in Huong Son district (formerly), Mr. Hoc joined the association, learned Braille, learned beekeeping, and received preferential loans. For someone who had never seen the light, starting an economic model was not easy at all. Every task had to be learned by hand, by ear, and by memory. He was stung by bees and fell in the garden many times, but he never thought about giving up.
He meticulously examined each beehive, memorizing the exact location of the bees and every path in the garden. It took a long time, but eventually, he mastered the task. While others observed the bees with their eyes, he "saw" them through experience and intuition.
“I think it’s very simple. Not being able to see is already a disadvantage; if I give up, I’ll only suffer more, and my loved ones will suffer too. I told myself, if my eyesight isn’t good, I have to make my mind and hands ‘brighter’ than others. As long as I’m alive, I have to work every day,” Mr. Hoc shared.
Just as life had begun to stabilize, another challenge struck. In 2000, his wife, Nguyen Thi Minh (born in 1961), suffered from depression and her health deteriorated significantly. In the years that followed, she underwent continuous treatment and multiple gallbladder surgeries, eventually having her gallbladder completely removed in October 2025 at the Nghe An Friendship General Hospital. From then on, almost all the burdens of the family fell on the shoulders of the blind man.
In the darkness, he tended to his bees, raised buffaloes and chickens, and cared for his ailing wife. He remembered every location in the house, every place where things were kept, every step he took so as not to disturb his sick wife. No one guided him, only his memory and the patience he had cultivated over decades of living without sight.
For him, as long as he has the strength, he must keep working; as long as he can work, he feels useful. However, the market for his products, especially honey, is limited. Beekeeping is hard work, and if the harvest season doesn't bring in a good price, all his efforts are wasted.
To date, Mr. Hoc's integrated garden model, with 50 beehives and livestock, generates an income of approximately 60-70 million VND per year. This is not just an economic figure, but also a testament to a persistent journey of overcoming adversity. Furthermore, he is willing to share his beekeeping techniques with others in similar circumstances or local people who want to learn the trade.
Mr. Pham Van Hoc had never seen the light, but through sheer determination, he lived a life free from darkness. Darkness could not subdue him; on the contrary, it was within that darkness that he created light for himself and those around him.
In Son Hong commune, Mr. Pham Van Hoc is currently the only person who is completely blind but has still managed to develop a successful business. He is a truly admirable role model. Despite facing many disadvantages, Mr. Hoc has worked hard and built a comprehensive garden farming model, especially beekeeping for honey production, which provides a stable income for his family.
What is most admirable about Mr. Hoc is his willpower and spirit to overcome adversity. Despite being blind, he proactively learns, perseveres in his work, and does not rely on or expect support from the government or the community. He is also willing to share his experience with his neighbors, which is highly commendable.
Source: https://baohatinh.vn/nghi-luc-cua-ong-hoc-post301737.html
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