Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hoa (54 years old), residing in Tan Mach village, Vinh Thai commune, Vinh Linh district, Quang Tri province, lost 1.5 million VND while shopping at the local market during the Tet holiday of the Year of the Cat.
Mrs. Hoa’s family is among the most disadvantaged in the community. She lives with her disabled aunt, who was born with a congenital deformity that prevents her from walking, in a dilapidated, poorly maintained house provided by charity.
Their daily sustenance depends on vegetables grown in their garden, such as pumpkins and cucumbers, and occasional earnings from odd jobs.
Members of the Vinh Thai police station visited Mrs. Hoa’s home on New Year’s Eve to return the 1.5 million VND she had lost (Photo: Vinh Thai Police Station).
On January 27, while shopping for Tet, Mrs. Hoa accidentally dropped the 1.5 million VND she had saved over two months. Upon realizing her loss, she cried as the money was crucial for paying off debts and buying necessary items for the holiday.
“I searched all afternoon on my bicycle but couldn’t find it. This money was hard-earned through part-time work, and I was very upset and worried when I lost it,” Mrs. Hoa shared.
Around 6 PM, a friend informed her that the local police had found the money and were looking for her. Due to the distance from her home, she arranged to visit the police station the next morning.
That evening, Mrs. Hoa was surprised by a visit from officers of the Vinh Thai police station. They brought the 1.5 million VND back to her, causing immense joy for the poor woman.
“The police told me that a woman named Thuy from our village found the money and returned it to me. I was so happy and grateful,” Mrs. Hoa recounted.
Captain Hoang Ngoc Minh, head of the Vinh Thai police station, expressed that despite knowing about her difficult situation beforehand, he was deeply moved upon visiting her home. While the neighborhood was decorated with festive banners and lanterns, Mrs. Hoa’s house remained starkly different.
Many charitable donors have offered financial support after learning about Mrs. Hoa’s dire circumstances (Photo: Japan Anh).
In response to Mrs. Hoa’s plight, the Vinh Thai police shared her story on social media, garnering significant attention from the public. Numerous donors reached out to offer assistance.
According to Captain Minh, with permission from the Vinh Linh district police chief and local authorities, they received donations totaling 160 million VND from approximately 570 donors both domestically and internationally.
“We were amazed by the strong outreach and generous support from the community. We are deeply grateful for the kindness shown by people across the country and even abroad,” Captain Minh said.
Receiving over 160 million VND is like a fairy tale come true for Mrs. Hoa (Photo: Japan Anh).
For Mrs. Hoa, receiving more than 160 million VND is akin to a fairy tale. She never imagined such an outcome in her wildest dreams.
“Finding the 1.5 million VND I lost was already a blessing, but receiving such a large sum from benefactors is overwhelming. I never thought I would have this much money in my lifetime. Thank you all for your kindness,” Mrs. Hoa expressed.
Based on the family’s wishes, the Vinh Thai police will collaborate with local authorities and organizations to repair her house, build a new bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom, and save the remaining funds.
