A low-income family in Lang Son has moved into a new home after receiving financial support from readers of Dantri Newspaper, local authorities and other donors.
Nong Van Chung, 68, and his wife, Nong Thi Diem, 65, live in Viet Yen Village, Diem He Commune, Lang Son Province. Their home is reached by a narrow path crossing rice fields, wide enough for only a single motorbike.
Hoang Toan, a representative of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Diem He Commune, hands over recent donations from Dantri readers to Chung's family (Photo: Huyen Nguyen).
The couple care for their two adult sons, both of whom are unable to work because of serious illnesses.
Their elder son, Nong Van Thu, 43, is suspected of having pulmonary tuberculosis and is bedridden due to poor health. Their younger son, Nong Van Thuong, 33, lost his eyesight permanently after developing glaucoma. The family's only income came from a small rice field and modest social welfare payments.
Years of poverty and medical hardship left the family unable to repair their severely deteriorated house, which was at risk of collapse.
The family's former house (Photo: Thuy Huong).
In 2025, the family qualified for VND 30 million in housing support from local authorities. However, they could not afford the additional funds needed to begin construction.
After Dantri published an article about the family's circumstances, readers and charitable donors contributed more than VND 91 million.
Combined with the government housing grant and savings from the sale of cattle previously provided through a local livelihood support programme, the donations enabled the family to build a new home.
The new house of Nong Van Chung's family, built with support from Dantri readers, benefactors and local authorities (Photo: Dinh Tung).
Speaking after the house was completed, Chung said he had used VND 11 million to buy a breeding cow and planned to expand crop cultivation and raise pigs and chickens to improve the family's income.
He said the new home had also brought greater emotional stability to the family, who were gradually adapting to life with Thuong's disability.
Although blind, Thuong has become familiar with the layout of the house and is now able to prepare meals and do household chores while his parents work in the fields.
Thu has also been taken to hospital for examination and treatment for suspected pulmonary tuberculosis.
Nong Van Chung and his wife with their son Nong Van Thuong (Photo: Dinh Tung).
Lang Van Hung, chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in Diem He commune, said the support from Dan Tri readers had given the family renewed hope.
He said the committee had worked with local officials to help the family complete a safe and permanent home.
"On behalf of the local authorities, I would like to thank Dan Tri newspaper and all the donors who have supported families facing difficult circumstances," Hung said.