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Early each morning, riding an old motorbike through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, 67-year-old Pham Van Tung heads to a small alley on To Hien Thanh Street to support the “1,000 VND Rice Meal” charity program founded by Vu Quang Thuc in 2016.
Today, Tung serves as deputy leader of the volunteer group.
Few people know that behind his tireless charity work lies a life marked by hardship, loss and resilience.
Once a homeless street child
Tung participates in the “1,000 VND Rice Meal” charity program. Photo by Ha Nguyen.
Born into poverty in the former Lam Dong Province, Tung’s parents could not afford to raise him and sent him to live with an adoptive family in Nha Trang in the former Khanh Hoa Province.
There, he was given the chance to attend school.
But during his rebellious teenage years, he ran away from home and drifted into life as a street child.
Like many homeless children at the time, he survived by selling newspapers and lottery tickets, shining shoes and guarding parked motorbikes.
“I experienced extreme hunger,” Tung recalled. “But even then, I only begged for food, asked for leftovers or searched through garbage bins. I never stole or robbed anyone.”
In 1972, he wandered to Ho Chi Minh City and began learning mechanical repair work.
After Vietnam’s reunification, he returned to school.
When the Southwestern border war broke out, Tung volunteered to join the military.
Two years later, he was injured and brought back to Ho Chi Minh City for treatment before leaving the army with a 21 percent disability rating.
Returning to civilian life, Tung worked for a company in the city, earning just enough to support his wife and three sons.
During those years, he often encountered people living in hardship on his daily commute.
Remembering his own painful past, he began thinking about ways to help others facing struggles even greater than his own.
Living to give
Together with Vu Quang Thuc, Tung helps provide quality low-cost meals to elderly people and people with disabilities. Photo courtesy of the character.
Every Wednesday morning, Tung joins volunteers distributing 500 loaves of bread to child patients and caregivers at Children’s Hospital 1. Photo courtesy of the character.
Tung is also a member of a charity kitchen at Gia Dinh People’s Hospital. Photo courtesy of the character.
In 1997, while searching for a meaningful way to contribute to society, Tung came across a blood donation center on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street and decided to register as a donor.
“I didn’t have money to help people, but I had good health,” he said. “I realized blood donation could save lives, so I joined.”
From that point onward, he donated blood every three months.
By the age of 60, he had donated blood more than 51 times.
Believing that even in death he could still be useful to society, Tung registered to donate his body in 2018.
Later, he also signed up for organ and tissue donation in the hope of giving critically ill patients another chance at life.
Then, in 2019, tragedy struck. His youngest son died suddenly. The loss devastated him.
To cope with the grief and search for inner peace, Tung decided to devote the rest of his life to volunteer work.
Despite limited financial means, he and several friends pooled money together to purchase wheelchairs for patients and people with disabilities.
Over time, the wheelchair donation effort grew with support from benefactors, allowing Tung to personally deliver wheelchairs to people in need across many provinces.
Finding peace through helping others
He previously participated in wheelchair donation programs for people in need. Photos courtesy of the character.
Tung has received numerous certificates of merit, commemorative medals and letters of appreciation for his volunteer work. Photos courtesy of the character.
In recent years, age and declining health have prevented Tung from traveling long distances for charity work.
Instead, he now focuses on volunteer activities within Ho Chi Minh City.
Alongside the “1,000 VND Rice Meal” program, he participates in weekly bread distribution activities for child patients and caregivers at Children’s Hospital 1, helps operate a charity kitchen at Gia Dinh People’s Hospital and joins campaigns distributing gifts and essential supplies to poor families.
Tung said the most touching part of his volunteer journey has been the unwavering support from his family.
“Even during the most difficult days of the Covid-19 pandemic, my wife and children still encouraged me to continue helping the community,” he shared. “That remains one of the memories I treasure most.”
He insists he has never viewed his actions as anything extraordinary.
“But through helping others, I found joy, peace and calmness in my soul,” Tung said. “That’s why I will continue quietly doing this for as long as I still can.”
Tran Van Hoa, head of Residential Area 36 in Vuon Lai Ward, said Tung has long been known locally for his dedication to charity work, despite most of his volunteer activities taking place outside his neighborhood.
Ha Nguyen
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