Son makes conical hats for little income

The family of Nguyen Van Son and Pham Thi Hieu live in Van La, a village 40km from the capital's centre.

Son said, "When I was 20 years old, I tripped while walking and decided not to go to hospital because my family is poor. When the pain was too much to bear, I went to hospital and was told that the vertebrae in my back was dislocated. However, it had degenerated and could not be saved. Since then my back started to bend."

Son gets a small allowance for disabled people, but he spends it all to pay for the education of his five children instead of buying medicines to ease the pain.

Hieu suffers from weight loss

Last August, Hieu was diagnosed with kidney failure after suffering from weight loss. She now weighs just over 20kg and needs surgery and dialysis, but the family can't afford to take her to hospital.

Their children wanted to drop out of school to support the family, but Hieu disagreed. "I'd rather die than let my children be illiterate," she said.

Son and Hieu's two small children

Despite the pain in his back, Son works day and night to make conical hats, earning VND50,000 a day, though some days he can only manage VND20,000 and the family struggles to have a proper meal.

Neighbours have donated a small sum of money for their family, but Son and Hieu use it for their children's tuition.

Nguyen Van Hieu, head of Van La Village, said, "Son can't work hard labour and they have five children to feed. Two oldest daughters have just married yet their situations are also difficult. Now Hieu has a serious illness and can't stay in hospital. I don't know how they would survive if anything happens to Hieu."

If you can help them, please donate through:

1. Code 1742: Nguyen Van Son and Pham Thi Hieu from Van La Village, Van Vo Commune, Chuong My District, Hanoi.

Tel: 0162.772.5388

2. Compassionate Hearts Charity Fund – Dan tri Newspaper (Hanoi).

No. 2/48 Giang Vo Str., Dong Da Dist., HanoiTel: 04. 3. 7366.491/ Fax: 04. 3. 7366.490. Email:quynhanai@dantri.com.vnEmail:

- Vietnam Dong Account information at Vietcombank:
Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 045 100 194 4487
With Bank: THE BANK FOR FOREIGN TRADE OF VIETNAM – Thanh Cong Branch

- US Dollar Account information at Vietcombank:
Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 045 137 195 6482
SWIFT Code: BFTVVNVX
With Bank: THE BANK FOR FOREIGN TRADE OF VIETNAM

- Vietnam Dong Account information at Vietinbank:
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 at MB Bank:
Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 0721100357002
SWIFT Code: MSCBVNVX
With Bank: MILITARY COMMERCIAL JOINT STOCK BANK - MCSB ( No.3, Lieu Giai str., Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi, Vietnam)

3. Dantri/DTiNews' representative offices

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