The nearly one-minute video capturing a young Hanoi man throwing the party for his 65-year-old single father has touched millions. In the video, his father, taken by his son to a luxury restaurant, is caught completely off guard when his son’s close group of friends show up to join the celebration, bringing a birthday cake and gifts.

The video was posted alongside a caption: “Because my dad doesn’t have friends to celebrate his birthday with, I invited my own friends to give him a surprise party.” The filial piety of the Hanoi young man and the way he brought joy to his father deeply moved many viewers.

The father is Tran Tuan Khanh, 65, from Hanoi. His son is Tran Tuan Khai, 28, currently living and working in Hanoi.

Khai told VietNamNet that the birthday party took place back in May 2025. However, he only recently shared this memorable milestone on social media as a gift to celebrate his father's birthday.

“Every year, I celebrate my dad’s birthday, but it was always just the two of us blowing out the candles together. Last year, I suddenly realized it had been far too long since my dad had experienced a lively, crowded birthday party. He has very few friends, so I decided to invite my friends to attend his birthday. Everything was kept a secret until the very last minute,” Khai said.

On that day, Khai took his father to places he had never had the chance to visit, such as a water park, a circus, and an ice-skating rink. Afterward, he booked a table at a restaurant to throw the surprise party with his friends.

“I invited my friends ahead of time, and everyone was more than happy to join. Even more surprising, they thoughtfully prepared birthday gifts for him. When I led my dad into the restaurant, I lied, saying ‘The restaurant is packed today, so only this large room was available, Dad,’ so he wouldn't suspect anything. A moment later, my friends pushed open the door, presented their gifts, and wished him a happy birthday,” Khai said.

At that exact moment, Khanh was struck speechless with surprise. After decades of welcoming his new age in a simple and quiet manner, he finally had a vibrant, bustling birthday party.

This year, Khai and his father celebrated a quieter birthday because a few friends from the group could not make it. However, thanks to the video from the previous year, his father gained another unforgettable memory.

“The video pulled in millions of views and thousands of caring comments. So many people commented and messaged to wish my dad a happy birthday. Reading those blessings made my dad weep tears of emotion,” Khai said.

A single father for 27 years

Behind the viral video lies a deeply touching story of family bonding. Few people know that Khai is actually Khanh’s adopted son, and for the past 27 years, he has been loved and cared for by his adoptive father just like a biological child.

Khanh and his wife struggled with infertility. In 1999, the couple decided to adopt a newborn baby who was just two days old, and that baby was Khai.

For about the first 10 years after the adoption, Khanh went abroad as a migrant worker to earn money to support his family. Back home, his wife managed the household while looking after their son.

In 2008, his wife passed away from heart disease, prompting him to rush back to Vietnam to become his son's sole pillar of support. From that day on, Khanh acted as both father and mother, raising his son into adulthood.

“In my memories, my dad was always working diligently, so he had no time for himself or to socialize and make friends. Feeling sorry for me for growing up without a mother, my dad never let me feel disadvantaged. He organized birthday parties for me, took me out to play, and ensured I received a proper education. My dad’s love fills me with endless gratitude and appreciation,” Khai said.

It was only when he entered high school that Khai found out he was adopted. That truth did not shock or sadden him; on the contrary, it made him treasure his father’s decades of sacrifice even more.

Ha Nguyen