In a house that has been derelict for many years, mentally ill mother and daughter are living in extreme poverty.
The gate to the house of Mrs. Luu Thi Trinh and her daughter Nguyen Thi Diep, in Tan Thanh hamlet, Xuan Thien Village, Tho Xuan district, Thanh Hoa Province, is always barred in by bamboo wattle; it is in a state of disrepair and could collapse at anytime.
Nguyen Trong Hai, Mrs. Trinh’s son-in –law, said his mother and sister in-law do not recognise anyone. “Sometimes my sister-in-law chases me with a cane,” he said. At that moment a 50 years old woman ran out of the house shouting abuse and even attempted to hit us. Hai tried to restrain her but she rushed forward clawing and tearing.
Nguyen Thi Diep was attempting to hit us.
Neighbours told us that Mrs Trinh’s husband died unexpectedly 40 years ago and she had to bring up four children on her own. Her life was extremely hard and it affected her mentally. As the years advanced, due to deteriorating physical and mental health problems, she can only sit quietly and eat what she is given.
Her daughter, Diep, who is living with her, is her eldest child. She led a normal life until 6 years ago when she too developed similar mental problem.
The two women depend mainly on the second daughter, Hai’s wife, and her family. But they are not doing very well either, so they can only provide some food occasionally. Both women often wander away from home. Mrs Trinh once disappeared and laid in a sugar-cane field for a week, eating sugar cane bud for survival until she was found by people in the village a few days later.
Mrs Trinh’s other two other children, who have moved away from the province, sometimes visit. Unfortunately they cannot do much to help. When we talked to the villagers about the circumstances of the two women, they became quite emotional.
For information on how to contribute, please see below:
Charitable donations please send to:
1. Nguyen Trong Hai (Mrs Trinh’s son in law), Tan Thanh hamlet, Xuan Thien Village, Tho Xuan district, Thanh Hoa province.
2.Compassionate Hearts Charity Fund – Dan Tri Newspaper (Hanoi)
No. 2/48 Giang Vo Str., Dong Da Dist., Hanoi (beside Kim Ma petrol station)
Tel: 04. 3. 7366.491/ Fax: 04. 3. 7366.490
Email: quynhanai@dantri.com.vn
* Vietnam Dong Account information:
Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 10 201 0000 220 639
With Bank: Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade – Hoan Kiem Branch
* US Dollar Account information:
Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 10 202 0000 004346
SWIFT Code: ICBVVNVX106
With Bank: Hanoi Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade
2. Representative Offices:
Ha Tinh representative office: 46 Nguyen Cong Tru, Tan Giang Ward, Ha Tinh City. Tel: 039.3.857.122
Da Nang representative office: 25 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Thanh Khe Dist., Da Nang City. Tel: 0511.3653.725
Hochiminh City representative office: 40/17/16 Nguyen Van Dau, Ward 6, Binh Thanh Dist, Hochiminh City. Tel: 08. 35107. 331
Can Tho representative office: 53/13 Ly Tu Trong, Ninh Kieu Dist., Can Tho City. Tel: 071.3.733.269