For 18 years, Buddhist nun Hau Lien has cared for people with severe disabilities, including suspected Agent Orange victims, turning Ngoc Lo Hermitage in central Vietnam's Quang Tri province into a home for those in need.
A home for people facing hardship
Every morning, before many people have begun their working day, Buddhist nun Hau Lien is already busy preparing meals and attending to the daily needs of 10 people with severe disabilities living at Ngoc Lo Hermitage in Cam Lo commune, Quang Tri province.
Some residents need assistance with eating, while others depend on caregivers for even the most basic daily activities.
These seemingly simple tasks have become an integral part of the nun's life over the years.
Ngoc Lo Hermitage in Quang Tri province provides residential care for people with disabilities and assistance to disadvantaged families.
Once the morning care routine is complete, Hau Lien and her assistants begin producing incense, aromatic incense cones and natural essential oils.
The products are sold to generate additional income, helping sustain the shelter's operations.
Ngoc Lo Hermitage was established in 2008 in what was then Tan Dinh hamlet, Cam Thanh commune, now Tan Thanh hamlet in Cam Lo commune, Quang Tri province.
Its founder, Buddhist nun Hau Lien, whose birth name is Nguyen Thi Hien, envisioned a place where religious practice could coexist with compassionate care for people experiencing severe hardship.
Over time, she gradually transformed the hermitage into a shared home for some of the community's most vulnerable residents.
After 18 years, it has become a source of support for people with disabilities, those affected by Agent Orange and families struggling with poverty.
According to the hermitage, it currently provides residential care for 10 people with severe disabilities believed to be linked to Agent Orange exposure.
It also offers rehabilitation support to approximately 20 people and regularly assists around 50 disadvantaged individuals and families in the surrounding community.
Each month, the hermitage distributes approximately 350 free meals to people living in poverty, people with disabilities, families whose children are affected by Agent Orange and workers facing financial difficulties.
For Hau Lien, the mission extends beyond providing a meal or an occasional gift.
What matters most, she believes, is giving vulnerable people a place where they can find lasting care, emotional support and a sense of belonging.
A refuge for three brothers affected by Agent Orange
Buddhist nun Hau Lien has become a mother figure to vulnerable residents, offering them care, affection and protection at Ngoc Lo Hermitage.
Among those receiving care at Ngoc Lo Hermitage are three brothers whose circumstances have deeply moved the people around them.
Mai Van Khoa, born in 2005, Mai Van Tuyen, born in 2007, and Mai Van Tien, born in 2015, come from a family facing considerable hardship.
According to the hermitage, all three brothers are believed to have disabilities associated with Agent Orange exposure.
Their family's financial difficulties have been compounded by their father's serious illness, while all three children require long-term assistance.
Given these circumstances, the brothers were brought to Ngoc Lo Hermitage, where they now have accommodation, regular meals and caregivers to assist them with daily life.
Their presence at the shelter has also helped ease some of the burden on their family.
However, caring for people with severe disabilities is not a responsibility that can be measured in days or months.
Some residents experience significant mobility limitations, while others have difficulty communicating or cannot independently perform ordinary daily tasks.
Beyond preparing meals and ensuring adequate rest, Hau Lien spends time helping residents with movement exercises, acupressure and rehabilitation activities suited to their individual abilities.
She works alongside other caregivers to provide consistent support.
The process requires extraordinary patience, as even the simplest activities can present major challenges for people living with severe disabilities.
"They have already endured so much hardship. Things that seem perfectly ordinary to other people can be extremely difficult for them," Hau Lien said.
Charitable meals are prepared at Ngoc Lo Hermitage for distribution to disadvantaged people in the surrounding community.
The nun recalled entering religious life at the age of 14, when she began studying and practicing Buddhism under the guidance of her spiritual teacher.
Over the years, her experience of Buddhist life deepened her compassion for people experiencing suffering and misfortune.
Witnessing the difficulties faced by people affected by Agent Orange, many of whom depend entirely on others for care, inspired her to establish a place where they could receive love and support rather than confront their struggles alone.
That aspiration gradually shaped Ngoc Lo Hermitage into a shelter for people with disabilities, including those requiring lifelong assistance.
Eighteen years of unwavering compassion
Maintaining a residential shelter for people with severe disabilities requires substantial financial resources, continuous effort and long-term commitment.
In addition to personally caring for the residents, Hau Lien works to connect with benefactors and mobilize donations to support disadvantaged people.
The hermitage also maintains its production of incense sticks, aromatic incense cones and natural essential oils.
Revenue from these activities contributes to the costs of providing accommodation, food and care for residents with disabilities.
Buddhist nun Hau Lien beside equipment used to produce aromatic incense cones at the hermitage. Income from these products helps support the care of residents with disabilities.
Its charitable work extends beyond those living at the hermitage.
The community regularly prepares and distributes free meals, while also offering assistance to poor households and vulnerable people in the surrounding area.
Nguyen Van An, Chairman of the Cam Lo Commune People's Committee, acknowledged the hermitage's contributions to local social welfare efforts.
"This is not simply a place of religious practice. It is also a refuge and a source of support for people facing difficult circumstances," he said. "The practical work carried out here helps spread compassion throughout the community and supports the locality's social welfare efforts."
Eighteen years after its establishment, daily life at Ngoc Lo Hermitage continues to revolve around modest but meaningful routines.
Meals are prepared, residents receive personal care, and incense and other products are made to help cover the shelter's operating expenses.
For those who have found refuge here, the hermitage offers more than a roof over their heads.
It provides the reassurance that someone will remain by their side, offering care, companionship and understanding through life's continuing challenges.
Vietnamnet.vn
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