On April 7, reporters from Dantri Newspaper visited and presented a symbolic donation of VND 242,591,907 (approximately USD 9,700) to Nguyen Thi Lan, 31, in Thuong Long Commune, Phu Tho Province. The full amount had already been transferred to her account to support the construction.
Lan belongs to a poor household. Her husband died in a traffic accident a decade ago, leaving her to raise two small daughters alone. Without stable employment and suffering from worsening heart disease and hepatitis B, she has struggled to make ends meet.
Lan and her two children emotionally receive the symbolic plaque for VND 242,591,907 donated by Dantri readers (Photo: Huong Hong).
Fighting back tears, Lan said she had never imagined her family could one day afford a new home. “Thanks to Dantri readers, donors and local authorities, what once seemed impossible has become reality,” she said.
In addition to the public donations, the family received VND 11 million (approximately USD 440) from the Thien Tam Fund, along with local government support including a breeding cow to help secure a sustainable livelihood.
Lan and her children by their former dilapidated palm-leaf house (Photo: Huong Hong).
The new house, expected to cover about 100 square metres, has completed its foundation and is now being levelled, with construction underway to ensure completion before the rainy season.
“I’m very happy. When it rains, we won’t be afraid anymore. I just hope my mother stays healthy so she can live with us in the new house,” said 13-year-old Hoang Thi Thanh Thuy, Lan’s eldest daughter, her eyes filled with hope.
Hoang Thi Thanh Thuy cares for the breeding cow, a gift from local authorities to help the family stabilise their lives (Photo: Huong Hong).
Hoang Van Pham, head of the residential cluster in Thuong Long Commune, said the collective support from readers and donors had been deeply meaningful, providing not only stable housing but also renewed confidence for the family to rebuild their lives.