Mai Hong Tuyet, 71, sells children's toys at the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens entrance in District 1.
Every day, she sets aside VND 150,000 to buy fish, meat, rice, seeds, and corn to feed the stray and abandoned animals in the area.
"They have no one to care for them, and my heart aches for them," Tuyet said. "I feed them three times a day, no matter what. I would rather go hungry myself than let them starve."
According to Mai, around 20 stray cats live in the area. They usually remain well hidden, but when they hear her call, they rush out from under trees and bushes.
Even if she hasn't sold a single toy in the morning, she always ensures the cats eat first. She knows each one by personality. She recalled an elderly cat that had lost all its teeth, so she bought sausages and soft food to make it easier for it to eat.
Mai's old bicycle is always packed with food for the animals she affectionately calls her children. She also carries eye drops and skin ointment to treat sick cats.
After feeding the cats, she attaches corn to the gates of Saigon Zoo and calls out, "Latte!" Two or three squirrels immediately scurry down from the trees to grab their share.
She named all the squirrels "Latte."
Children passing by often stop in delight at the sight of the kittens she cares for.
Despite her tiny toy stall sometimes going a whole day without selling anything, Mai has never let the stray animals go hungry. Her only wish is to stay healthy and live long enough to continue caring for her beloved children.
