Journalists doing 'good deeds'

If the mission of a journalist is to truthfully record what is happening in life, to find more "pieces" of lives that need help, then the stories of journalist Hoang Truong Giang have demonstrated that mission through the empathy of a soldier wielding a pen.

Journalist Hoang Truong Giang (far right) and diver Phan Duc Phuong (far left) in Truong Sa in 2014. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

From the life story of a soldier on a remote island.

I met Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Truong Giang, Head of the Publishing and Communications Department of the People's Army Newspaper, one of the exemplary figures in the "Acts of Kindness" program implemented by Vietnam Television (VTV), after my trip to Truong Sa in May 2026.

Our story begins with the life of a diver when Mr. Giang arrived in Truong Sa in 2014: “Mr. Phuong, from Nghe An province, spent eight years in Truong Sa, enlisted three times, but was never recruited because he was too old. He was a skilled diver, but his family circumstances were very difficult. He accepted being far from home to earn a living and send money back to his family to support his wife and two children who were of school age, the youngest of whom had Down syndrome.”

Upon returning to the mainland, journalist Hoang Truong Giang wrote an article titled "The Unfulfilled Wish of a Diver in Truong Sa," published on the "Soldier's Opinions" page of the People's Army Newspaper on June 8, 2014, reflecting the difficult circumstances of Phan Duc Phuong, a contract worker of the 129th Naval Squadron (Navy) on Da Tay Island.

Journalist Hoang Truong Giang's "Light a Match" project was awarded the 2025 Community Action Award in the Inspirational category by the Nhan Dan newspaper. On June 10th, on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's call for patriotic emulation, at the Presidential Palace, General Secretary and President To Lam met with, exchanged ideas with, and presented gifts to 100 exemplary individuals participating in the "Acts of Kindness" program organized by VTV; journalist Hoang Truong Giang was honored to be among them.

Following the article, deeply moved by the diver's plight, journalist Hoang Truong Giang and his colleagues repeatedly requested the Navy Command and the Department of Military Personnel ( Ministry of National Defense ) to recruit Phuong, and their request was approved. Thanks to this, Phuong received better benefits from the State, becoming a solid support for his family. Later, Giang visited Phuong's wife and children in Ba Ria - Vung Tau, providing additional financial assistance and encouragement to the children.

Also in 2014, acting as a connector, journalist Hoang Truong Giang continued to help a military family at the DK1 platform. “In July 2014, I happened to learn about the story of Mr. Pham Van Huong, a military medical officer at the DK1 platform, Region 2 of the Navy. Mr. Huong had been with the platform for 30 years. His child was suffering from a brain hemorrhage. I went to the National Children's Hospital hoping to help, but Mr. Huong refused to meet me…,” Giang recalled.

At this point, journalist Hoang Truong Giang's voice softened: "Having spent his whole life working on the offshore platform as a military medic, saving countless fishermen at sea, and now his son is seriously ill, yet Mr. Huong still refuses help, which makes me even more troubled..."

Lieutenant Colonel, journalist Hoang Truong Giang (People's Army Newspaper) receives the award in the Inspirational Project category. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Unable to bear the sight of Mr. Huong's difficult situation, Mr. Giang contacted the Naval Region 2, the unit managing the DK1 Battalion, to write an article, hoping to help Mr. Huong. After the article about Mr. Huong's plight was published, the then Minister of Health waived all hospital fees for his child...

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“It’s truly miraculous that, three years later, Mr. Huong’s child has gradually recovered thanks to the family’s perseverance and the support of his comrades. My story about Mr. Huong’s family is also one of VTV’s ‘Acts of Kindness’,” journalist Hoang Truong Giang expressed.

Also that year, a medical examination and treatment program for the relatives of soldiers from the 126th Naval Special Forces Brigade who participated in missions in the Spratly Islands, successfully coordinated with Bach Mai Hospital by journalist Hoang Truong Giang, exceeded expectations. Among these cases, some required surgical intervention with financial support reaching hundreds of millions of dong.

Journalist Hoang Truong Giang is also known for his "Light a Match" project, a charitable journey from remote highland classrooms to struggling military families. The highlight of "Light a Match" is the combination of community strength, the armed forces, and the press. This is a unique "collaborative" model that provides accurate information, builds trust, and ensures effective resource mobilization and utilization. The project not only improves living and learning conditions through concrete projects but also contributes to strengthening the spirit, belief, and motivation of students, officers, soldiers, and their families...

On June 10th, to commemorate the 78th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's call for patriotic emulation, at the Presidential Palace, General Secretary and President To Lam met with, exchanged views with, and presented gifts to 100 exemplary individuals participating in the "Acts of Kindness" program organized by VTV. Journalist Hoang Truong Giang was honored to be among them. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Extending the act of sharing

For nearly 20 years in journalism, journalist Hoang Truong Giang has also been involved in volunteer work. For him, faced with the hardships of soldiers, he told himself, "I cannot stand idly by." This is the story of soldier Nguyen Hung Linh (from Sam Son, Thanh Hoa).

Soldier Nguyen Hung Linh passed away in Truong Sa (Spratly Islands) with only two months left to complete his military service. Upon hearing this news, journalist Hoang Truong Giang visited Linh's home in Sam Son. Witnessing the difficult circumstances of Linh's family – his mother almost completely exhausted upon hearing the tragic news, his sister undergoing dialysis… – Giang couldn't help but feel heartbroken. He had only met Linh during a trip to Truong Sa, and they still had a photo together. And yet…

Three years ago, when the Navy brought the remains of soldier Linh back to Cam Ranh, journalist Hoang Truong Giang provided financial support and completed the construction of the tomb.

These children have had their lives and dreams extended thanks to journalist Hoang Truong Giang's help. On the right are the two sons of the fallen soldier, Major Lo Van Thep. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Another story is that of the two brothers, Lo Quang Viet and Lo Tuan Anh, sons of the fallen hero, Major Lo Van Thep. Major Thep worked at the Mu Ca Border Guard Post (Lai Chau province) and died while on duty fighting the COVID-19 pandemic at the headwaters of the Da River. At the end of 2020, Ms. Hao, Major Thep's wife, wrote a letter to journalist Hoang Truong Giang sharing her story: her husband's death had not yet been officially recognized, their old house was damaged by storms, and their second son needed emergency appendectomy surgery... All these difficulties piled up on the shoulders of the teacher in the highlands, who had to walk more than 20 km to school every day. Thanks to the connections and through journalist Truong Giang's article, many kind-hearted people helped Major Thep's family. The two boys, Quang Viet and Tuan Anh, were adopted by Ms. Pham Lien Huong, Director of Kinh Bac International School (Bac Ninh), who provided them with food and education until they finished 12th grade.

Whenever journalist Hoang Truong Giang has the opportunity to travel to Bac Ninh for work, he often takes the chance to visit the place where his two grandchildren are studying. Seeing that the children are well cared for, Mr. Giang feels somewhat reassured.

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"Tuan Anh is still young and doesn't have many dreams, but Quang Viet wants to become a soldier when he grows up. If he could become a border guard like his father, nothing would be better...", journalist Hoang Truong Giang recounted.

Phuoc Thang Primary School (Vung Tau City), where the teachers are wives of officers and soldiers serving in the DK1 Battalion, has benefited from connections with benefactors by journalist Hoang Truong Giang, enabling the maintenance of an evening literacy class. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Through his humane actions, journalist Hoang Truong Giang's acts of kindness have not only helped those in need find motivation in life, but also affirmed that the highest responsibility of a journalist stems first and foremost from the responsibility of "humanity towards humanity," with a heart that is always warm and full of empathy.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/nha-bao-viec-tu-te-20260618222922804.htm