Nguyen Thi Loc, 80, tidied up a room on the second floor of her house to prepare for an English class with her elderly friends.
Loc has reserved this 20-square-metre room on Hanoi's Kim Nguu Street for the class for more than four years.
Loc said that the class has 15 students aged between 60 and 90, with her 82-year-old husband, Nguyen Van Anh, the only male student in the class.
The class is held once a week and the students usually wear colourful clothes as they believe the vivid outfits help boost their energy levels.
Students are given free books and textbooks.
Vu Thi Dong Hai, 85, (right) is now the oldest student in the class. She goes to class by motorbike taxi and has never missed a class over the past four years. "I decided to study English to widen my knowledge and make more friends," she said. "I also think that we can avoid Alzheimer's by keeping our brain working every day."
The elderly woman said that she used to enjoy studying French when she was young but taking English at her age had proved a real challenge.
"I can't see the words clearly and I can't write properly," she said. "But I've received big support from my family who say that I will help inspire younger generations to study.
La Thi Sang, 76, has to take two buses with a two-hour journey to class. But she only misses the class when she is ill.
"I'm feeling better and more relaxed when going to this class to learn a new skill with my friends," she said. "I'm also finding myself more connected with my children and grandchildren when they try to help me practise the language at home. We're having lots of fun."
Teacher Phung Thi Yen said that she taught these elderly students using books and online software.
"Teaching these special students needs patience," she said. "Sometimes we can learn just some sentences in a class. But I'm very motivated by their determination to study at this age."
This is one among 10 English classes for elderly people which have been run by superior monk Thich Chan Quang since 2019. Besides Hanoi, such classes are also organised in HCM City and some other provinces. The class is also held online for those who cannot attend due to weak health.