Driver "Fan of Son Tung M-TP" exchanged wages for books to send to students in flooded areas

(Dan Tri) - A technology car driver in Ho Chi Minh City decided not to accept fares for 10 days. Instead, he called on customers to donate books to students in the Central region after the storm and flood.

In recent days, on many roads in Ho Chi Minh City, many passengers have seen a male technology driver wearing a sign: "Dear brothers and sisters! I do not accept the fare, please exchange the notebooks and pens for the children to go back to school or transfer the money to the Fatherland Front account number. Please share with the people of Central Vietnam."

The driver was Le Tuan Em (26 years old), from An Giang .

Image of driver Le Tuan Em was recorded by a passerby and posted on social media (Photo cut from clip).

“I still wake up in a peaceful place, but you don't.”

Tuan Em shared that he used to be a factory worker, but after a family incident, he temporarily quit and switched to driving a technology car to earn income and save money to learn photography or driving - his great passions.

However, when he witnessed the images of people in the Central region struggling after the storm, especially the scene of mud-filled classrooms and lack of books, Tuan Em felt he “could not stand still”. The image of students soaked but still sitting to dry each book touched his heart.

“I am still young, the future is long. I can do my dream later. As for the people out there, the children often have to stay up all night, go without food for 3-4 days. I can still sleep in a safe house. Thinking about that, I want to do something, even if it is very small,” Tuan Em said.

During the 10 days of this action, every day, Tuan Em informed customers that he would not accept fares, but instead asked them to transfer the corresponding amount to the Vietnam Fatherland Front or spend a few minutes stopping by a nearby grocery store to buy books to send to children in flood-affected areas.

At first, Tuan Em was worried that people would be suspicious, but the customer's reaction surprised him.

“There were trips that only cost 20,000-30,000 VND, but customers sent 2-3 times more into the donation account,” Tuan said.

Tuan Em's boxes of goods are being arranged to be moved to Dak Lak (Photo: NVCC).

Another female student traveled 24,000 VND, but still saved up enough money to buy 10 notebooks.

"I looked at you, knowing that you are a student and don't have much money, but when you said you wanted to support notebooks for students in flooded areas, then stopped by the store to buy 10 notebooks. Surely the cost of buying notebooks would be more than 24,000 VND. I felt very happy," the male driver shared.

Many other passengers also asked, encouraged, and expressed their desire to contribute a little to help the Central region.

“There are so many cute people that make me happy all day,” Tuan laughed.

A little makes a lot - just hope to spread the good things

Tuan Em affirmed that he did not want to show off or attract attention. The sign he wore was simply to “spread kindness”, so that when someone saw it, they would think: “Why don’t I also contribute a little to help people?”.

The driver thought that one person is little, but many people together make a lot.

Another thing on Tuan Em's sign that caught attention was the words "Fan Son Tung M-TP".

When asked about the meaning of this line, Tuan Em said he has been a fan of singer Son Tung M-TP for 13 years.

“Many people may think, 'If you're a flop, just write my name down' - a famous quote by singer Son Tung M-TP - but I'm not writing this to attract attention. I just want to say that this is what an inspired young person is trying to do for the community,” he said.

For Tuan, his idol is someone who inspires him to live positively, love the community and strive for good things.

Bao Anh (31 years old, HCMC) - a passenger who contributed books on Tuan Em's bus - shared: "He did not solicit or suggest anything. He just quietly wore a sign, and whoever could read it and wanted to contribute could contribute. When I suggested transferring money to his personal account, Tuan firmly refused. That way of doing things made me very confident."

Even though the distance traveled was only over 20,000 VND, Bao Anh still proactively bought more notebooks to send back.

“Seeing a young driver driving a technology car do such an action, I find it very admirable. Tuan Em’s work, though small, spreads good things that many of us sometimes forget,” said Bao Anh.

Tuan Em on a volunteer trip to the flood-hit area of ​​Dak Lak last weekend (Photo: NVCC).

Not only that, a pharmacy owner - also a customer of Tuan Em - when hearing the story connected him to go to the Central region to give gifts on a charity trip last weekend.

"Hearing her say let me go with her made me so happy I wanted to cry," Tuan said.

After 10 days of campaigning, he collected the school supplies, took a part to Dak Lak on his charity trip, and sent the rest to a friend living in Quang Nam - who used to do charity work with him - to deliver to students in the flood-affected areas there.

Le Tuan Em on a charity trip in Dak Lak last weekend (Photo: NVCC).

Sending a message to people in the storm-hit areas, Tuan Em expressed: "I hope everyone will be strong to overcome this period. As long as you have health, you have everything. Vietnamese people always look towards the Central region, we will overcome everything together."

Every evening, Tuan gets back on the bus to continue driving. During the day, he drives to earn money, and at night, he spends time with the volunteer group helping to load relief goods. As for the money he pays the company after each trip, Tuan Em said he will borrow from friends and pay it back gradually.

A small gesture, but it brought great warmth in the days when the Central region was struggling after the storm. A young man, in the middle of bustling Saigon, chose to turn his normal motorbike trips into a journey of sharing.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/tai-xe-fan-son-tung-m-tp-doi-tien-cong-thanh-sach-vo-gui-hoc-sinh-vung-lu-20251209140027820.htm