Dtinews Newspaper, in collaboration with local authorities in Can Tho City and An Giang Province, handed over new houses to two low-income families on October 5.
The houses were built using donations from Dtinews readers after their stories were featured on the newspaper’s charity page.
In Can Tho, Huynh Thanh Nguyen, 37, has struggled to raise his young child alone since his house burned down and his wife left six years ago. After his story was shared on Dtinews, Nguyen received VND 95,556,541 (approximately USD 3,740) from readers, which allowed him to build a 60-square-metre home.
Nguyen besides his old house (photo above) and his new home.
Nguyen expressed deep gratitude upon receiving his new house. “This is a dream my child, I never dared to imagine,” he said emotionally.
“Since the fire, life has been extremely hard. We lived in a temporary hut, always worried whenever rain or storm,” Nguyen recalled.
“I promise to work hard, take good care of this house, and ensure my child’s education so as not to disappoint those who helped us,” he added.
Nguyen shared that after his story appeared in Dtinews, residents introduced him to a stable job, helping him earn an income to support his family.
On the same day, in Vinh Xuong Commune, An Giang Province, Dtinews representatives also handed over a new house funded by readers’ contributions to Dinh Huu Phung, 38. Phung works in a factory with a modest income while supporting his wife, who has a mental disability, and their two children.
From the VND 75,133,822 (approximately USD 2,940) donated by Dtinews’ readers, Phung built a 40-square-metre home to replace his family’s dilapidated shelter.
Phung, his wife and their two children inside their old house (above) and his new home.
Phung expressed heartfelt thanks to the readers, local authorities, and benefactors who had followed his family’s story. “With this solid new home, my wife and children now have a proper place to live, no longer suffering from leaks and poor conditions,” he said.
He also pledged to look after the house and use it as motivation to work harder and raise his children to become valuable members of society.
In response to the government’s campaign to eliminate substandard housing, Dtinews has launched a programme to build 200 homes for poor and near-poor households nationwide during 2024-2025.
So far, the newspaper has started construction on 220 houses, of which 174 have been completed and handed over.
