Phuc is the youngest son in a family of five siblings in Dan Hoa, Hanoi (formerly Cao Duong, Thanh Oai district). His father was a war invalid with poor health, and the family relied on his mother’s farming and hat-making.

When Phuc was 11, his father passed away after a long battle with diabetes. By that time, his family owed VND100 million, a huge amount of money for them.

“I hid from my mother, grabbed a black plastic bag with a shoe polish box and brush, and headed to the city,” Phuc recalled.

When he went to school in the morning, he went working as a shoe shiner in the afternoon, and vice versa.

Van Quan urban area, which had numerous coffee shops, was a place for shoe-shining kids but competition for customers was tough.

After a few days of observation, Phuc discovered a secret.

“I targeted groups of three or four people, as they were more likely to agree to a shine. Couples, on the other hand, almost never wanted it,” Phuc explained.

Hardworking and agile, Phuc often earned more than his village peers who shined shoes.

In 2001-2005, drug issues and theft were rampant. Shoe-shining kids were frequently bullied and robbed.

“In the city, I feared being chased or beaten. Back in the village, I worried about being discriminated for shining shoes and wandering the streets. So, I carried a black plastic bag and hid my tools when returning home,” Phuc said.

When Phuc entered high school, he moved to Huynh Thuc Khang School, near Hanoi Television. On his first days there, a local shoe-shining group beat him badly. He stayed home for nearly a week.

But he came back to work as soon as he recovered, because he needed to earn money. Despite the hardships, shoe-shining provided income to help his mother, cover school fees, and sustain his dream of attending university. 

Phuc studied at night to complete homework, maintaining his status as an excellent or advanced student throughout high school.

After graduating high school, he left for Hanoi to work to earn and save money for higher education. Days were for work, nights for studying to review for university entrance exam. 

In 2010, Phuc passed the entrance exam to the Academy of Journalism and Communication. His shoe-shining earnings covered rent, tuition, and equipment like a camera and recorder to pursue his dream of becoming a journalist.

“In 2010, my story of going from a shoe-shining boy to a university student was shared by many newspapers. This opened doors to meet reporters and editors. They gave me opportunities to practice journalism, write freelance articles, and intern at VTV while still a student,” Phuc recalled.

Director of 'special hospital'

Collaborating with television early on, Phuc didn’t have to struggle to find a job after graduation. Yet, on weekends, he still carried his wooden box to shine shoes.

“Honestly, it wasn’t just for income. It helped relieve work stress. I enjoyed meeting customers. I felt no shame or inferiority, only joy in the work,” Phuc said.

While shining shoes, Phuc encountered high-end leather goods. Curious, he studied them closely, learning about leather care techniques and maintenance processes.

In 2017, he quit his job at the television station to start a leather care business with Chien (born 1996, from Thanh Hoa), another shoe-shiner with a difficult background.

They borrowed VND100 million to open “Leather Hospital,” a small 8-sqm room where they cleaned and cared for shoes, bags, and jackets. By day, they worked on leather; by night, they earned extra income: Chien shined shoes, and Phuc taught video editing skills.

To reach customers, Phuc partnered with laundries, offering leather care services and 50-50 profit sharing. They handled each order meticulously, packaging neatly with the workshop’s name and contact number. Using his photography and video skills, Phuc created a fan page to promote the business.

“About six months later, we had a steadier customer base. Chien and I recruited other shoe-shiners to train and work with us,” Phuc said.

From a “leather hospital” with just two members, it now uses dozens of technicians, all with challenging backgrounds - orphans, victims of human trafficking, or those forced to work early.

Talking about the name "leather hospital", Phuc said they not only take care of leather items, but also "heal" young people in difficult circumstances.

Linh Trang

Ha Nguyen