Following the Ba Diem SOS team as they provide free tire repair services throughout the night.

Every night around 9 PM, members of the Ba Diem SOS Team (part of the Ba Diem Youth Union, Ho Chi Minh City) quietly travel along various roads to assist travelers in the dead of night. Small acts such as providing free tire repair and initial first aid, and transporting accident victims to medical facilities when needed, are contributing to spreading acts of kindness in the community.

Báo Tin Tức•11/05/2026

Photo caption — The Ba Diem SOS team patrols the streets at night to assist travelers.

On the first night of May 2026, we followed the Ba Diem SOS team as they traveled along the roads, collecting nails and providing timely assistance to people experiencing problems while commuting. Around 9 PM, when many shops closed and traffic thinned out, the team members began their journey.

On streets like Nguyen Van Bua, Phan Van Hon, To Ky, Le Duc Anh, etc., the sight of young men wearing reflective vests on motorbikes carrying repair tools, flashlights, and other equipment has become familiar to local residents.

At approximately 9:30 PM on May 8th, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang, a worker near the Xuyen An Industrial Park, was on her way home when her motorbike suddenly had a flat tire. Because it was late at night and repair shops were closed, she had to walk several kilometers. Fortunately, a passerby contacted the Ba Diem SOS team for assistance.

Just a few minutes later, Mr. Pham Thanh Quang, the team leader, and his members arrived. After inspecting the tire and determining that the inner tube was severely damaged, Mr. Quang proceeded to replace it with a new one, while the other members assisted with lighting and ensuring traffic safety. After about 30 minutes, the tire was repaired, allowing Ms. Trang to continue her journey home.

Sharing her thoughts after receiving assistance, Ms. Trang said: “I am very happy and surprised to receive such quick help in the middle of the night. My job often keeps me working late, so I'm very worried at times like this. Your actions are truly meaningful, helping workers like me feel safer when traveling at night.”

According to Pham Thanh Quang, the idea to form the team stemmed from witnessing people whose vehicles broke down and had to walk home at night. "I've been in that situation myself, so I understand. Initially, there were only 3-4 of us, but now the group has 7 regular members," Quang said.

Previously, since 2023, Quang and several other members had participated in the SOS Xuan Thoi Thuong team. After the area was merged, the SOS Ba Diem team was officially established, under the Ba Diem Commune Youth Union, operating mainly within the commune.

The team members have diverse professions such as mechanics, ride-hailing drivers, students, and youth union members… Despite their busy daytime jobs, they still dedicate time in the evenings to supporting the community.

The Ba Diem SOS team operates from 9 PM to midnight every night – a time when the roads are empty and most repair shops are closed. Their main tasks include patching tires, replacing inner tubes, repairing simple problems, providing first aid to accident victims, and transporting them to medical facilities when necessary. Outside of these hours, if they receive a call, the team will still try to arrange assistance.

"The team's greatest joy is helping people who encounter problems at night get home safely. Every thank you, every smile from those we help motivates us to continue our work," Quang shared.

In addition to providing technical support, the members also divided up the tasks to ensure safety during the work: some repaired vehicles, others shone lights, some directed traffic, and others recorded the activity to spread positive information on social media.

However, the team's biggest challenge right now is funding. All expenses, such as fuel, equipment, and drinking water, are covered by the members' own contributions. "We take turns helping out, one person today, another tomorrow. Despite the difficulties, everyone is enthusiastic because they want to maintain the activity long-term," Quang said.

As a young member of the team, Thai Pham Minh Tien (a 11th-grade student) said: “Joining the team has helped me mature, learn to share and help others. My family also supports me because this is a beneficial activity.”

Sharing the same sentiment, Pham Trong Hieu, a youth union member from Ba Diem commune, said: “Initially, I joined because I wanted to help people in need. Over time, I learned more skills such as repairing tires, first aid, and how to interact with people.”

Commenting on the team's activities, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, a resident of Ba Diem commune, said: "I often see them driving around to help people in need at night. This is very practical, especially for workers returning home late at night. I hope there will be more models like this to support the community."

Sharing his plans for the future, Quang said that the team intends to expand its operations, collaborating with several service providers in the area to help transport intoxicated individuals home safely, contributing to reducing traffic accidents; this is also a way to generate additional funding to maintain operations.

Commenting on the activities of the SOS Ba Diem team, Mr. Tran Thanh Tan, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Ba Diem commune, said that this team previously belonged to Xuan Thoi Thuong commune, but after the implementation of the two-tiered local government model, it was reorganized and operates directly under the Ba Diem Commune Youth Union.

According to Mr. Tan, after nearly a year of operation, the team has effectively assisted many people in encountering problems while participating in traffic, especially situations involving flat tires, vehicle breakdowns, and traffic accidents, promptly repairing vehicles or transporting victims to medical facilities.

"The model is highly appreciated by the people, especially when operating during the hours from 9 PM to midnight every night - a time when the need for assistance is very high," Mr. Tan said, adding that the team currently has 7 members, including some local youth union members.

According to the Secretary of the Youth Union of Ba Diem commune, in addition to the members' own resources, the locality has mobilized social resources and benefactors to support equipment; at the same time, it has proposed timely commendations from the commune and city levels to encourage morale and create conditions for the team to maintain sustainable activities.

Assessing its scalability, Mr. Tan believes the SOS model is necessary in the context of the increasing need for support for people participating in traffic. "For the model to operate effectively, it needs the attention and guidance of the Youth Union and Associations, as well as timely support in terms of operating conditions, thereby creating motivation for young people to actively participate in volunteer activities for the community," he said.

The Secretary of the Youth Union of Ba Diem commune also expressed his hope that the members of the SOS team would continue to uphold their pioneering spirit and enthusiasm, while strictly adhering to the Party's policies and the State's laws, thereby spreading positive values and attracting more Youth Union members and young people to participate, contributing to the expansion of the model in the area.

The quiet but responsible work of the SOS Ba Diem team is contributing to building the image of a compassionate community, where everyone is ready to share and help each other in times of difficulty.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/theo-chan-doi-sos-ba-diem-va-xe-mien-phi-xuyen-dem-20260511130213635.htm