At around 9 am, Nguyen Ngoc Quang, 61, who lives on Hang Chuoi Street in Hai Ba Trung District in Hanoi, was seen recently carrying a pho tray in one hand and leaning against a stick with the other, hurriedly going home.

Hearing the sound of slippers and the tapping of the cane, a white duck quacked repeatedly, its echo heard around the small courtyard.

Through the morning, other sounds from the traffic and clattering dishes couldn’t wake up the duck. But when hearing the familiar footsteps of Quang, it quickly opened its eyes and stretched its neck out of the plastic cage, quacking to greet its owner.

Quang replied: “Be patient. I've got some leftover pho for you. Let me have a smoke first.” The duck seemed to understand what the man said. It stopped quacking and waited quietly.

"I usually keep it in the white styrofoam box outside, but since it has become cold these days, I brought it in here to keep it warm from the wind."

For many months, local people have seen Quang leading his duck walking on the street. Everyone knows the little duck is not just a pet but also a close companion to the 61-year-old man.

Seven months ago, Quang took a bus to Cau Gie in Phu Xuyen District to buy a duckling. 

“When I first brought it home, it was as small as an egg, but it now already knows how to eat. I just have to cut its food into small pieces and feed it three times a day, and it gradually grows up,” said Quang.

Now, the duck is over seven months old. It has a good looking appearance with pure white feathers. Quang called it ‘Guot Guot’ at first, but has given another name to it – Pac Pac. When hearing its name, the duck will shake its head and flap its wings as if it understands Quang’s words.

Raising the duck is not difficult for Quang. He just needs to feed it vegetables, corn, and leftover pho from neighbors. In the summer, he bathes his "pet" daily, and once every two days when it's cold. Thanks to the care, the duck's white feathers always stay clean.

Every day, the duck lies quietly in its small cage and only quacks for food when it's hungry. In general, Quang feeds the duck on schedule, so the duck doesn’t make noise regularly. Every afternoon, he takes the duck for a walk. Quang goes ahead, followed by his lovely duck. The interesting scene catches the attention from all passersby.

Sometimes the duck could not keep up pace with the man and it quacks loudly to ask the man to wait for it.

Then the man will walk more slowly to wait. But sometimes he urges the duck like he talks to his son: “Hurry up or you'll get lost.” Hearing this, the duck rushes to catch up. “It's just as spoiled as a child,” he said.

Quang began his habit of raising ducks 10 years ago. At that time, his wife ran a small sidewalk stall selling balut on Hang Chuoi street. While sorting eggs for his wife, he took some eggs home to incubate and then raised the ducks.

Since then, he has raised around seven or eight ducklings. Some died from illness, others were bitten by rats, and a few were run over by vehicles when they ran into the road.

He felt sad every time a duck died. He buried it and comforted himself.

Pac Pac has been living with him for the longest time. Thanks to it, his loneliness can be eased.

“In life, everyone has their own joy. Mine is raising ducks,” said Quang.

In addition to the white duck, Quang keeps a red-whiskered bulbul. The little bird is housed in a small cage in front of the house, and occasionally, it perches on his shoulder or flutters around the house but never flies far away.

“It was more difficult to raise the bulbul than the duck. When it was small, I had to feed it with my hands,” Quang recalled.

Thanh Minh - Tu Linh