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| Van Thang giving gifts to child patients |
The journalist Vu Van Thang (pen name: Van Thang) is a dedicated and sharp writer in journalism, and at the same time, an enthusiastic, active figure in humanitarian and philanthropic work. For over 20 years, the phrase “the journalist of unfortunate lives” has been affectionately given to him by readers and colleagues. Through his articles, many philanthropists and charitable organizations, both in Vietnam and abroad, have come together to support people in need and help them through hardships.
In a conversation, Mr. Thang shared that he could never forget the image of Ho Van Suc, a 7-year-old boy of the Pa Co ethnic group living in Hong Bac commune, A Luoi district, Hue City, whose face was severely burned and blackened while his impoverished family could not afford treatment. Deeply affected and compassionate about Suc’s situation, he wrote a series of articles for Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper. His reports reached readers across the country, who responded with donations to support Suc’s medical treatment.
Mr. Nguyen Trung Hai (50 years old), from Tan Son village, Hai Son commune, Hai Lang district, Quang Tri province, shared: “My mother had cancer and passed away. Then, my brother also died of cancer. And now, it’s my turn. I’m suffering from nasopharyngeal cancer and receiving treatment at the Oncology Center of Hue Central Hospital. Knowing about my difficult situation, Mr. Thang wrote an article calling for philanthropists to support me. I am deeply grateful to him, because thanks to Mr. Thang, I was able to get money to buy medicine to treat this serious illness.”
In 2023, Van Thang called upon colleagues in Hue, readers, and local authorities to join hands in building a 70m² house for the four sisters of Nguyen Nu Kieu Oanh in Dien Dai village, Phu Xuan commune, Phu Vang district. Their father abandoned them when they were young, and their mother suffers from mental illness. Mr. Do Cong Khiem, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Phu Xuan commune, said that with Mr. Thang’s involvement, the four sisters received visits and support from many organizations and individuals, helping them overcome hardships. The total support value, in cash and building materials, reached 500 million VND. With this, the local authorities and family built a solid, spacious house and opened a savings account for the children to withdraw for school expenses. Kieu Oanh is now a second-year university student, Kieu Linh is in 12th grade, and the two youngest are in kindergarten.
Throughout his journalism career, Van Thang has remained closely connected to themes of culture, society, and tourism, especially those that delve into tragic lives and disadvantaged circumstances: children affected by Agent Orange/dioxin, women with disabilities, war veterans living with the aftermath of injuries, people with congenital disabilities, lonely elderly individuals, and orphans with no support. His friends and colleagues often call him “the journalist of unfortunate lives.”
To this day, he has “knocked on the doors” of countless families in difficult situations, seeking to ease their pain and bring them love and hope. Every article and every line he writes is filled with compassion, carrying a message “From heart to heart.” Thanks to this, the flame of kindness spreads daily, and hundreds of troubled lives featured in his reports have received enthusiastic support from benefactors. The funds raised have helped many families overcome desperate situations and enabled patients with serious illnesses to survive critical conditions.
He often visits poor students and orphans. Whenever he hears about someone in need, he goes there himself, acting as a bridge to connect them with charitable supporters. Often, when donations come in, his editorial office assigns him to travel long distances to deliver the support directly to the recipients. Even in cases where patients live tens of kilometers away, he never hesitates, regardless of sun or rain, to deliver the money “to the right person, at the right place,” always accompanied by local officials.
“Every time the family receives the money, they burst into joy. Some even cry, and I can’t help but share in their happiness,” Van Thang shared.