The compassionate heart of Vietnam's "Crescent Moon" Nguyen Thi Minh Tam

LIGHT FROM THE "CRESCENT MOON"

The Miss Crescent Moon Vietnam 2025 pageant, the first of its kind in Vietnam, offers a new perspective on beauty and courage, exclusively for Vietnamese women with partial physical disabilities, aged 18-45.

Ms. Minh Tam was crowned Miss Crescent Moon Vietnam 2025. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

This is a humane platform, seeking out girls who, despite physical disabilities, possess inner beauty and powerful, inspiring stories.

Following the preliminary rounds in the North and South, the Organizing Committee selected the top 21 contestants to advance to the final round. The contestants participated in various segments, including a traditional Vietnamese dress (áo dài) presentation, an evening gown presentation, and a challenging Q&A session.

After impressive performances, the judging panel selected the top 3 finalists to advance to the final Q&A round: Nguyen Thi Minh Tam (Dong Thap province), Ha Thi Nhu Quynh ( Hanoi city), and Nguyen Thi Hai (Ho Chi Minh city).

"I'm not perfect, but I'm happy because I'm living a meaningful life."
I once needed help, so when I can, I want to give love with all sincerity.

In the final results, the Miss Crescent Moon Vietnam 2025 crown went to Nguyen Thi Minh Tam. Teacher Minh Tam's victory is a vivid testament that the truest beauty lies in resilience and compassion.

Miss Nguyen Thi Minh Tam, born in 1986, hails from Dong Thap province and is currently a teacher at Thien Ho Duong High School (Cao Lanh ward). Ms. Tam has been passionate about teaching since childhood and has diligently pursued a degree in Mathematics Education.

In 2008, she graduated and was assigned to teach at Tan Thanh High School in a remote, border area (now Tan Thanh commune, Dong Thap province). With dedication and effort to overcome all obstacles, the young teacher quickly earned the respect of her colleagues and the affection of her students.

However, at the end of August 2009, while on her way to encourage students to attend class in preparation for the new school year, she was unfortunately involved in a traffic accident and permanently lost her left leg.

This was a huge shock, not only physically, but also mentally; the line between hope and despair became thinner than ever. And in the darkest days of her life, Minh Tam turned to books.

Teacher Minh Tam's resilience and quiet dedication have been recognized with prestigious awards: the "National Volunteer" Award in 2022; the "Shining Vietnamese Resilience" Award in 2020; the KOVA Award in the "Beautiful Life" category in 2022; and a Certificate of Merit from the Minister of Education and Training in 2025 for her efforts in overcoming difficulties and inspiring the education sector.

Reading and contemplating the life and career of President Ho Chi Minh—a man who overcame countless hardships and traveled extensively to find a way to save the country—ignited a new flame within her.

It was the flame of boundless pride and reverence, and an unwavering determination: We must learn from Uncle Ho's spirit of overcoming difficulties and finding ways to help people and society.

With her mother's encouragement, support, and comfort, she was determined not to give up teaching. Ms. Minh Tam found a way to get a prosthetic leg fitted and practiced day and night to get used to it. In the beginning, walking with the prosthetic leg was extremely difficult, causing her to fall many times.

There were times when she felt like giving up, but the encouragement from her mother, teachers, colleagues, and students helped Minh Tam regain her spirits, overcome her insecurities, and strive to improve her health through sports. In addition, she also took English classes to enhance her knowledge.

"Life presents many challenges to each person's destiny, but whether to stand up or accept defeat depends on each individual's choice. However, knowing that only effort can help me overcome my fate, I am determined not to lose heart," Ms. Minh Tam expressed.

Images of the teacher swimming and playing badminton with prosthetic legs have inspired and inspired admiration in many people. Despite the difficulties in mobility, Ms. Minh Tam continues to silently dedicate herself to her work.

She went to great lengths to reach out to victims of traffic accidents and those in similar circumstances, offering comfort, encouragement, and both material and emotional support to hundreds of unfortunate individuals.

A JOURNEY OF GIVING LOVE

In March 2015, Ms. Minh Tam founded the Nhat Tam Volunteer Group with the aim of inspiring generations of young people in Dong Thap province to strive together in their studies, work, and volunteer activities.

Ms. Minh Tam shared her volunteer work at the First Emulation Congress of Dong Thap Province, covering the period 2025-2030.

After 10 years of establishment, the group has become a professional and compassionate charitable organization. Since its inception, Nhat Tam has raised over 7 billion VND in funding and carried out a series of activities to support disadvantaged people.

In addition to providing hundreds of scholarships, each worth 5 million VND, the group also equips students with life skills, organizes free English classes; mobilizes resources to build houses for poor but academically excellent students; connects with major programs such as "Lighting Up Hope" and "Lighting Up Dreams" to award more scholarships; and organizes the "Boosting Your Spirit Before Exams" program to motivate underprivileged students.

Ms. Minh Tam, Head of Nhat Tam Volunteer Group (second from the right), visits and provides support to those in difficult circumstances.

In addition, the Nhat Tam Volunteer Group has developed a model of "Education through Action," "sowing the seeds" of kindness from an early age in school.

Instead of just making appeals, the group organizes activities for students to directly participate in visiting, cleaning houses, and cooking for Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, mothers of martyrs, and elderly people living alone, aiming to educate them about the moral principle of "drinking water, remembering the source" and gratitude.

Besides education, Nhat Tam also cares for health and the community through concrete actions such as: Donating hundreds of health insurance cards to people; organizing Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations and Tet (Lunar New Year) gift-giving with budgets reaching hundreds of millions of VND; providing nearly 600 million VND in support to over 100 teachers facing extreme difficulties and serious illnesses; providing loans of 5 million VND each to 30 poor women and people with disabilities; and organizing programs specifically for people with disabilities.

In addition, the group also provides monthly meals at the hospital and organizes a "Hospital Visit" program with activities such as flower pinning, musical performances, haircuts, and free hair washing.

In particular, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Nhat Tam became a valuable asset to the government and the people.

With their quick adaptation to technology and enthusiasm, the group helped sell over 40 tons of agricultural products, worth nearly 143 million VND, and connected with the market for over 200 tons of other agricultural products, providing timely assistance to farmers; at the same time, the members cooked nearly 1,000 meals, supporting the forces on duty at the anti-epidemic checkpoints.

DUONG UT

Source: https://baodongthap.vn/trai-tim-nhan-ai-cua-trang-khuyet-viet-nam-nguyen-thi-minh-tam-a234226.html