People in Ho Chi Minh City flock to the metro station to send relief gifts to the Central region late at night.

Late at night in Ho Chi Minh City, there is a rare chill of late November, but Thao Dien station (An Khanh ward) is heated up by the constant flow of people. The clock has just passed 10 pm, the usually quiet station is now bustling, people are holding bulging bags of clothes, people are hurrying to carry a few boxes of instant noodles that they just bought at the supermarket, some people are bringing their children, their eyes are still sleepy but still eagerly watching the boxes of goods being loaded onto the cart. All are heading towards the Central region.

At 10 pm on November 21, the people of Ho Chi Minh City sent meaningful goods to the people of Central Vietnam. Photo: CAM NUONG

In that crowd, Ms. Nguyen Minh Tam (An Khanh ward) was struggling to adjust a bag of clothes that was almost as big as her. “Since the afternoon, when we heard the announcement in the community that Metro was receiving relief goods, my whole family searched through our closets, choosing the best things… adult clothes, children’s clothes, and gathered them to send,” she said, still breathing heavily from carrying heavy items.

Not far away, a petite woman was leading two small children, each trying to hold a box of instant noodles. Ms. Ngoc My (An Khanh ward) said: "My children and I went to the metro to play, and when we heard the loudspeaker calling, we immediately ran to the supermarket to buy 7 boxes of noodles. This money is the children's savings, and they asked to contribute."

The two children stood behind their mother, but their eyes shone with pride. “I believe in the receiving unit, so I just hope to share something with the people in their most difficult times, and also to help the children learn to love others.”

Ms. Ngoc My immediately bought 7 boxes of instant noodles to give to the people of Central Vietnam when she heard the call on the Metro loudspeaker. Photo: CAM NUONG

The amount of goods coming in increased day by day, Metro staff gathered together to help push carts, loading each bag of goods onto the train. Clothes, instant noodles, drinks, necessities… quickly filled a compartment. The sound of the train wheels rumbled softly in the late night station, like the heartbeat of a city sending warmth to the Central region.