Finding each other
Through sign language interpretation of his mother, Nguyen Thi Gai, Vo Hai Thanh (born in 1994) said that after arduous and dangerous sea voyages, the peaceful haven of his life is his small house filled with the lively voices and laughter of his beloved daughter Vo Le Bao Han (born in 2017), his son Vo Le Hoang (born in 2022), and the loving gaze of his deaf and mute wife, Le Thi Huong (born in 1991).
Ms. Nguyen Thi Gai said that even now she doesn't know when her son met and developed feelings for her daughter-in-law. She only knows that around June 2015, a group of deaf and mute friends of her son visited their house. Among them, Ms. Gai noticed a girl standing in the corner of the yard, looking at her and then at Mr. Thanh affectionately. A mother's intuition told her that there was something going on between her son and that girl. Ms. Gai immediately asked some of her son's friends and learned that the two were getting to know each other. The girl's name was Huong, and she lived in Tien My 2 village, Vinh Thuy commune.
Then, Mrs. Gai gestured for Huong to come into the house and asked about the two of them. Despite her persistent questioning, Huong only smiled shyly... A few days later, Mrs. Gai and her husband visited Huong's parents. The two families met for a warm meal, discussing the future of their children.
In 2016, the wedding of Mr. Vo Hai Thanh and his wife took place amidst joy mixed with a little apprehension from relatives and neighbors, who wondered if their family life would be complete and happy since both husband and wife were born deaf and mute.
After nine years of living together under one roof, that initial apprehension was completely dispelled as the couple's life became stable and harmonious thanks to the husband's work at sea and the wife's job as a garment factory worker in Nam Dong Ha ward. This disabled couple continues to hold hands and overcome all difficulties, providing vivid proof of the power of love and perseverance.
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| The happy little family of Mr. Vo Hai Thanh - Photo: SH |
Become a "master swimmer"
Around 2007, after four years of studying at the Provincial School for Children with Disabilities, Thanh asked to leave school to help his father with his fishing work. When his parents learned of his intention to pursue a career in fishing, they were worried about their disabled son and didn't want him to follow this arduous and dangerous path. However, seeing Thanh's determination, his father, Vo Minh Toan, reluctantly agreed.
Back then, Mr. Toan's family's 410CV offshore fishing vessel specialized in catching tuna for export. During their days at sea, Thanh would use sign language to ask his father and the other crew members about their tasks. At the time, only Mr. Toan understood, while all the other crew members just shook their heads.
Worried that his disabled son would become discouraged, Mr. Toan patiently explained and guided him through every step of the fishing process, from pulling in the nets and raising the anchor to recognizing wind direction and predicting the direction of ocean currents carrying schools of fish in the vast sea. After only a short time at sea with his father, Thanh became a truly skilled fisherman. The tuna fishing season begins around August (lunar calendar) this year and lasts until the end of March (lunar calendar) next year.
The peak season for catching grouper often brings storms and typhoons at sea, requiring fishermen to be highly experienced. A single mistake can lead to serious consequences. Despite the difficulties and dangers, even when Mr. Toan fell ill on many fishing trips, Thanh still asked his father for permission to join the other crew members. He did not disappoint his father's expectations, bringing the boat safely back to shore after many long voyages.
Five years ago, Mr. Vo Minh Toan's offshore fishing vessel switched to the tangle-net fishing method due to its high economic efficiency. Mr. Vo Hai Thanh, meanwhile, began familiarizing himself with modern fishing gear, such as: marine radar, fish finders, net identification systems, walkie-talkies, E-com systems, tangle-net retrieval systems… along with longer offshore fishing trips.
Mr. Thanh "revealed" some fascinating aspects of the tangled-net fishing profession. For example, he has learned that by spotting a rotten log (usually about 1-2 meters long) floating in the sea, he can predict the type and quantity of fish beneath it. Typically, from February to September each year, the sea is clearer and calmer... and many logs from the mountains and forests, swept away by floods during the rainy season, begin to absorb water and rot, creating an ideal environment for various types of seaweed and algae to attach and thrive.
The seaweed and algae growing on the decaying log attract small fish to feed, and following these small fish are schools of larger fish such as grouper, snapper, greenfish, black pomfret, and barramundi, which come to hunt the smaller fish.
The sea is vast, so finding rotting logs with schools of fish swimming around them is rare. Each fishing season, a lucky fisherman might encounter 3-4 such logs. Experienced fishermen will use the color of the seawater to determine the type and quantity of fish beneath. Typically, there are at least 1-2 quintals (100-200 kg) of various fish such as grouper, snapper, sea bass, black pomfret, and barramundi... sometimes even up to a ton. At that point, a tangled gillnet will be quickly cast around the log to catch the school of fish…
Vo Hai Thanh's love for his small family and his profession at sea, though silent, is intensely powerful. And the story of Thanh and Huong is a strong affirmation that, with willpower, determination, and love, people with disabilities can absolutely live independently, nurture their dreams, and build a bright future for themselves.
Sy Hoang
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202512/tinh-yeu-vo-thanh-3e67bfa/
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