They come to see Duong not to buy his products but to have their footwear fixed for free.

Duong began giving free shoe repair in 2016 after opening a workshop that also sold shoes and provided a warranty.

While running the shop, he realized that many people had demand for shoe repair but didn’t know where they could find repairmen. So he put up a sign at the shop's entrance door that said he offered services free of charge.

At first, people did not believe that he was really willing to help and thought that he was just trying to catch attention to have more clients.

However, they later realized that Duong was offering what he promised. Many low-income people came to see him to have their shoes repaired.

A woman came to see him one day to have her son’s shoes repaired but she could not afford to pay. Another woman wanted Duong to repair her husband's worn-out shoes because he was going to attend an important event, he recalled.

As he became well known, more and more people visited his shop, and not just needy people. Many clients are high-income earners who ask Duong to repair leather shoes, footwear, backpacks and bags.

However, they tried to persuade Duong to accept fees for his services.

To help clients feel more comfortable, Duong put a box in his shop and told those who wanted to pay for his services to deposit whatever amount they wanted to give. 

Duong opened the box once a month and used the money to buy food or gifts for the poor.

However, later, he removed the box because he feared people might think that he pocketed all the money in the box, so he decided to continue to repair shoes for free for all people who needed his help.

“I help all people, no matter if they are rich or poor, and I don’t receive any dong,” he said. “At first, many people were surprised, but later when they better understood my work, they supported me. Instead of paying money for shoe repair, they introduced my work to more people.”

Paying debt of gratitude

Duong’s business has had its ups and downs in the last eight years. After the Covid-19 pandemic, he had to downsize and relocate his workshop from a street-front premise to a small alley.

Duong experienced tough days and once thought of giving up the job, but he never thought of stopping repairing shoes. 

The young man says he wants to help people who are facing difficulties, and considers this a good way to repay a debt of gratitude for his experience as a child.

Born into a poor family with many children, during his childhood Duong and his siblings had to earn a living by themselves. When he turned 13 years old, he left the family and lived with a group of street boys who did everything they were told to do to make money.

Later, he was lucky enough to be adopted by a family in district 4 in HCM City. He was fed and educated by the family, and was taught how to make and repair shoes. He also attended school.

Thanks to the support and love from the "second family", the street boy became literate and had a career to earn a living. When his skills became good enough, he decided to open a shoe shop of his own.

The family that helped Duong in his hour of need did not continue their shoemaking, so Duong decided that he would protect the career which was once the pride of his benefactors.

“When I was in my most difficult days, the family supported me and didn’t expect repayment from me. So, even on the most difficult days, I never thought of giving up the job. I just relocated my shoe shop to save money,” he said.

Ha Nguyen