Dantri representatives and officials from Nhon My Commune held a handover ceremony for the two houses, built for the families of Le Thi Phuc and Lam Van Tuan.
Representatives of Dantri and leaders of Nhon My Commune People's Committee present symbolic house plaques to the two households (Photo: Bao Ky).
At 65, Tuan still earns a living by harvesting coconuts for hire. His wife, Ho Thi Thanh Thuy, 52, has disabilities affecting both hands and washes dishes at a local restaurant. Together, they earn less than VND 200,000 (about USD 7.70) a day, and receive no income when work is unavailable. Despite their financial hardship, they have struggled to support their only daughter, Lam Ho Ai Vy, who is preparing to enter grade 11.
“We are both poor, getting old and living with disabilities, so no matter how hard we work, we cannot afford to build a new house or repair the old one,” Tuan said. “For years, we have lived in a dilapidated house where the roof leaks and floodwater comes inside. We have always longed for a decent place to live.”
After Dantri published an article about the family’s circumstances, readers donated VND 103,832,569 (about USD 4,000) to help Tuan.
On the occasion of the house inauguration, Nhon My Commune presented gifts to the two families (Photo: Bao Ky).
Phuc, 56, has also endured years of hardship. Her son was born deaf and unable to speak. After suffering repeated domestic violence, she divorced her husband and raised her son alone in poverty. Before she could establish a more stable life, she was diagnosed with colon cancer, underwent surgery to remove part of her bowel and had a stoma fitted.
Given the family’s severe financial difficulties, health problems and lack of secure housing, Nhon My Commune authorities appealed to the community for support. Following a Dantri report, readers and donors contributed VND 178,327,170 (about USD 6,865) to help Phuc build a new home.
At the handover ceremony, Cao Minh Thom, chairman of the Nhon My Commune People’s Committee, thanked Dantri readers for helping the two families secure solid homes where they would no longer have to fear leaking roofs, storms and floodwater.
“These sturdy new homes will provide a firm foundation for the families as they work to improve their livelihoods and escape poverty,” Thom said.
The Can Tho Red Cross also contributed VND 20 million (about USD 770) to Tuan’s family and VND 30 million (about USD 1,155) to Phuc’s family.
Tuan's house before and after construction (Photo: Bao Ky).
Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Tuan thanked Dantri readers and local authorities for their support. He said his family had received more than VND 103 million (about USD 3,965) when construction began, followed by an additional donation of more than VND 17 million (about USD 655). The support was enough to complete the house.
Phuc's house before and after support from Dantri readers (Photo: Bao Ky).
“We are so happy to have a new home. We no longer have to worry about rain leaking through the roof or floodwater soaking everything inside,” Tuan said. “I will take good care of the house to honour the kindness people have shown our family.”
Over more than 21 years, support from readers has enabled Dantri to build 60 classrooms, 32 community bridges and roads, and 100 floating flood-resistant houses. The newspaper has also organised 44 free medical examination and consultation programmes for nearly 9,200 people, provided 8,855 health insurance cards to disadvantaged students and assisted more than 6,000 families facing exceptional hardship.
Since April 2024, Dantri has worked with local authorities to begin construction of 283 homes for poor and near-poor households and other disadvantaged families across Vietnam using reader donations. Of these, 263 have been completed and handed over.
