Nguyen Van Hung who was born in the central province of Nghe An is now working as a teacher at Dream Seed Centre in Hanoi where provides training courses, including IT, English and soft skills, to the disabled.
Looking at Hung, no one would realise he is 31 years old as he measures just 1.17 metres and weighs just 17 kilos.
Hung measures just 1.17 metres and weighs just 17 kilos
He is married to a woman who is also as small as him.
Hung said that when he was 7, his family noticed that he had stopped growing. Doctors diagnosed that he faced a pituitary gland problem, meaning that he might not grow further.
After that, despite financial difficulties, his parents took him to different hospitals, including in Hanoi, for medical checks-up and treatment, but the situation did not improve.
Hung experienced discrimination from many people due to his appearance.
After high school graduation, he came to the south with support from his aunt. He then decided to attend an IT training course at a vocational training college in the southern province of Dong Nai. Two years later, he worked as a tutor to earn money. Initially, his parents were worried about his capacity. However, following tests, he persuaded them. Gradually, his prestige spread and attracted more students.
He was hired to repair computers, which helped him to earn money to assist his family.
Hung is well-known for overcoming a glut of challenges
After finishing the vocational training course, Hung worked for the Dream Seed Centre set up by Nguyen Cong Hung, who died in 2013, who was one of 10 people to win an inaugural Volunteer Award for his work on improving services for disabled people.
Over the past eight years, he has been acting as an IT teacher for the centre.
Every year, the centre trains at least 60 students who are disabled. Each training course lasts for six months and is free of charge.
"I not only teach them in IT skills but help them to overcome confidence issues,” Hung said.
The students at the centre live as a family. They do not have to pay tuition fees, but share their daily life expenses voluntarily.
"It is more difficult to teach the disabled, but I will try to help them,” Hung added.
Nguyen Hong Nhu, a student at the centre, said that Hung always inspires a love of study and life in them. He does not mind instructing them what they do not understand.
At present, besides the work at the centre, Hung is also an MC for Vietnam Television's programme Beautiful Life and joining some social projects.
His wife is Le Thi Diem My, 31. Both are less than 1.2m tall. They get married after years of dating and overcoming a range of challenges in life.
