After years of struggling with infertility, a couple in Nghe An chose a different path - opening their home to orphaned and abandoned children in need of love and care.
"The House of Children" is the affectionate name that Vo Duc Duan, 46, and Vang Thi Hanh, 44, of Vinh Hung Ward, Nghe An Province, have given to their home. Although a storm in 2025 damaged the signboard and erased some of its lettering, the couple's love for children and unwavering resilience have never faded.
The two first met when Duan was still a martial arts athlete and instructor. Their youthful romance endured for 15 years before they eventually married.
Like many newlyweds, they dreamed of a home filled with children's laughter. Yet that dream remained out of reach. After years of waiting and three attempts with the help of maternity hospitals, the result was still the same - no child of their own.
"When we realized we couldn't have children, the idea of adoption immediately came to mind," Duan said.
Determined to make it happen, the couple traveled extensively to learn about the procedures. In 2016, fate led them to their first child. The six-year-old boy, from the former Quy Chau District, had grown up without a father. His mother had remarried, and he was being raised by his grandmother.
"I never believed I had the right to take away a child's chance to reunite with their biological parents," Duan said. Three years later, when the boy's mother became financially stable, she returned to take him home. The couple gladly let him go so he could experience the full love of his mother.
To date, "The House of Children" has opened its doors to 10 children. The couple is currently raising four children between the ages of two and six.
Their mission extends beyond caring for abandoned children. The home has also become a safe shelter for pregnant women with nowhere else to turn.
The couple provides temporary accommodation, care and protection until both mother and baby are healthy and safe. In some cases, they allow the women to stay even longer if their circumstances remain difficult.
Duan recalled receiving a phone call in early 2020 from a young woman from the former Nam Dan District. Two months pregnant and facing severe hardship, she asked if she could stay with them.
He agreed immediately, but four months passed before she contacted him again and finally moved in. As her due date approached, Duan took her to Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital. Shortly after a successful delivery, the young mother quietly left, abandoning her newborn baby.
Duan brought the infant home and gave him the nickname Khoai.
"Raising a newborn for the first time was incredibly stressful for us," he said. "One night, I posted on Facebook asking for breast milk. The next morning, many people brought milk to help. For the children we adopted later, we switched to formula."
When Khoai later showed signs of mild hyperactivity, the couple decided to delay his schooling by a year so he could attend intervention programs and improve his ability to focus.
"This house does not choose between boys or girls, healthy children or those with disabilities. Every child has a different personality, a different story and a different background, but all of them are irreplaceable pieces of our family," Duan said.
The couple has spent many years caring for and supporting orphaned children. Photo: T.T
Duan welcomes another young child into the family. Photo: Courtesy of the family
"The diaper dad" is exploring new ways to earn income and support the children. Photo: T.T
Duan and Hanh celebrate their children's one-month milestone ceremony. Photo: Courtesy of the family
Reflecting on the most difficult periods, Duan said he often had to shoulder two responsibilities at once - serving as both the family's breadwinner and a full-time caregiver.
During the day, he tended trees and managed a coffee shop. At night, he changed diapers, prepared milk and soothed children to sleep. There were moments when exhaustion nearly overwhelmed him, but he always reminded himself to continue giving the children all the love he could.
Hanh works as a teacher in Binh Chuan, a mountainous commune located more than 100 kilometers from home. To make childcare easier, she brings two of the children, aged three and five, with her so they can attend a nearby kindergarten. The three return home by bus only on weekends.
Speaking about future plans, Duan said he intends to sell nearly 300 ancient peach blossom trees and transition to bamboo rat farming. Because peach cultivation depends heavily on weather conditions, he hopes to create a more sustainable source of income that will allow him to continue caring for the children.
Inspired by the couple's generosity, neighbors and benefactors frequently visit to offer encouragement, assistance and support.
A representative of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in Vinh Hung Ward said that, beyond caring for orphaned and abandoned children, Duan and his wife are also active in charitable work. Over the years, their home has become a collection point for relief supplies donated by local residents and philanthropists whenever natural disasters or disease outbreaks occur.
Vietnamnet.vn
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