Fathers in peacetime

Fathers bear a noble mission.

Decades have passed since the war ended, but the responsibilities and duties of soldiers in mountainous regions, border areas, and islands have never been lighter. Bearing the noble mission of the Ho Chi Minh Army, these soldiers continue to dedicate themselves day and night, serving the people and for the people, ready to sacrifice themselves to build and protect the Fatherland.

Despite bearing immense responsibilities, they are also fathers and husbands. In their daily lives, when they return home to their families, they always shower their wives and children with love. Whether on the border, on remote islands, or in the heart of an epidemic, their families remain a strong support system, sending them love, encouragement, and motivation.

In early 2025, the story of Ms. Dang Thi Thom's family, residing in Nam Dinh province, attracted much attention. Ms. Thom is an accountant at the commune's health center, while her husband, Mr. Chu Van Kha, is a professional military officer and communications officer in Brigade 146, Region 4 of the Navy, currently stationed on Da Tay C Island, Truong Sa Archipelago, Khanh Hoa province. Mr. Kha has dedicated over 15 years to protecting the sea and islands.

Ms. Thom met Mr. Kha in 2012, and they got married. Shortly after the wedding, Mr. Kha was assigned to return to his unit for an extended period. Ms. Thom stayed home, working and taking care of her husband's parents. Back home, she became a strong support system for Mr. Kha, going through two childbirths without her husband by her side. Their second child didn't meet her father for the first time until she was four years old. At first, she was unfamiliar with him, but later, she eagerly awaited his return, even tearing off pages to count down the days. Ms. Thom herself missed her husband dearly, but she always put aside her personal feelings so that Mr. Kha could focus on serving the country and its people in the remote island.

There are also fathers who have to "go to war" when epidemics rage to protect their people and families. A few years ago, when the COVID-19 pandemic was raging across the world , including Vietnam, many soldiers, police officers, doctors, and nurses bravely volunteered to be on the front lines fighting the disease. Behind them were families, wives, and young children who day and night showered their fathers with affection, encouragement, respect, and love.

The story shared by Do Hoang Lan, then a 7th-grade student at Ly Nhon Secondary School in Can Gio District (Ho Chi Minh City), about her father's work in COVID-19 prevention and control at the Vu A Dinh scholarship award ceremony and the "For the Beloved Hoang Sa - Truong Sa" Club scholarship award ceremony, moved many people.

Do Hoang Lan's father works at the Long Hoa Border Guard Station in Can Gio District, under the Ho Chi Minh City Border Guard Command. Holding the scholarship in her hands, Hoang Lan emotionally shared that this is a spiritual gift that helps her feel more confident and strive harder in life because she knows that there are always kind hearts supporting her on her educational journey. She promised to always try her best in her studies, be a good child and an excellent student, so as not to disappoint everyone who has shown her love and support.

Back in 2021, Dr. Nguyen Huu Nghia (then only 28 years old, from the Intensive Care and Toxicology Department, Bai Chay Hospital, Quang Ninh ) set off to support the COVID-19 outbreak in Bac Giang province from the beginning of June. At that time, his wife was at home giving birth to their first daughter. After nearly a month in the epicenter of the outbreak, he returned and is currently in centralized quarantine at the Quang Ninh Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, longing to see his wife and child in person.

When the COVID-19 pandemic intensified, his wife was pregnant, but she still supported him in going to the epicenter of the outbreak. He was deeply moved by his wife's encouragement. He quickly set off, and in the affected area, he was a passionate and dedicated doctor. But when his shift ended, he returned home to his wife and child. Upon learning of his wife's successful delivery, as a father and husband, he wept with emotion and happiness. He also expressed his wish to be with his wife and child on such an important day, but for the sake of the country and its people, Dr. Huu Nghia returned to reunite with them as soon as the pandemic ended.

Dad is always a "superman".

The ancients had a saying, "A father's love is like Mount Tai, a mother's love is like a flowing spring," to describe the unwavering strength and willingness to sacrifice oneself to protect one's wife and children, becoming the pillar of the family. Therefore, many fathers have chosen to suffer hardship to ensure their children's future is prosperous and happy.

Dad is always a "superman".

Perhaps, in the eyes of wives and children, fathers are always "superheroes," even without military ranks or white uniforms, as they have strived and continue to strive to bring happiness to their families.

This is the story of Mr. Nguyen Huu Dinh (from Dong Phu village, Phuong Tu commune, Ung Hoa district, Hanoi), who has spent over a decade working in the city, repairing bicycles and doing whatever jobs he could find. His work as a freelance laborer is precarious, with unstable income; on sunny days he might earn over a hundred thousand dong, but on rainy days he sometimes earns nothing at all. Mr. Dinh accepts additional jobs as a motorbike taxi driver or as a porter, earning a few tens of thousands of dong to save for his children's education. With such a meager income, Mr. Dinh is quite unconventional about his living arrangements: sometimes on the sidewalk, sometimes sleeping at a building's security guard post, under a bridge… even in a public restroom or a makeshift shack. His living situation is even more unusual: an abandoned sewer pipe has become his "home" in the city.

Mr. Dinh's family in his hometown owns 8 sao (approximately 0.8 hectares) of rice paddies, barely enough to feed seven family members and his elderly mother, who is over 90 years old. His wife stays in the village, earning only a few hundred thousand dong a day plucking chicken and duck feathers for hire. For Mr. Dinh, not being able to be close to his family and witness his children's growth is regrettable. But he is happy to have raised children with ambition and determination to overcome difficulties. In 2013, when his twin sons passed their university entrance exams, Nguyen Huu Tien topped the Hanoi Medical University with 29.5 points, and Nguyen Huu Tien also passed the Hanoi University of Technology with 26 points. His two older daughters also graduated from university. Mr. Dinh cherishes and loves his children dearly.

In 2024, the story of Pham Ngoc Huy, a 12th-grade student from Yen Dinh 1 High School (Yen Dinh district), who excelled and became the top student in the A1 group of subjects in Thanh Hoa province, is remarkable. Huy is also the top student in the natural sciences group in Thanh Hoa with a total score of 55.95 in the 2024 high school graduation exam. It is known that Pham Ngoc Huy's family is in difficult circumstances, with four siblings. Huy's father is the breadwinner, working as a construction laborer, often away from home. Besides attending school, Huy also helps his parents with childcare, farming, and household chores.

Mr. Pham Van Hao (40 years old, father of the top-scoring student) said he was very proud and happy that his son had always strived and persevered in pursuing his dream. When he received the news that Huy was the top-scoring student in a double category, he was working as a construction laborer at a construction site. He only found out when relatives called to inform him. He was very surprised because it was something the whole family had never imagined. He thinks that his son has compensated for all his hardships and struggles. Despite his busy work schedule and the heavy burden of making a living, Mr. Hao still decided to take time off to congratulate his son and accompany him to watch the "Echoes of Thanh Hoa" program as a small gift for Huy's efforts.

Without expecting anything in return, fathers silently care for, protect, and are willing to sacrifice everything to give their children the best. Regardless of their profession or personality, fathers are always hesitant to express their immense love for their children. Those who serve as the pillars of the family often choose to silently sacrifice, quietly caring for and nurturing their children. The love of fathers is considered that of "silent heroes," not only as the strong foundation of the family, bearing countless hardships, but also as lifelong protectors, always watching over and worrying until their children truly grow up.

Anh Nhi

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/nhung-nguoi-cha-thoi-binh-post551751.html