Late at night on January 13, Mr. Bùi Toàn (40 years old), a resident of Nguyễn Du Street (Nam Định City), unexpectedly received a call from an unknown number. A hesitant voice on the other end said, “Sir, I accidentally hit your car. Could you come and take a look?” Mr. Toàn and his 9-year-old son rushed to the scene, about 200 meters from their home. There they found a Mazda 3 with heavy scratches on the rear, the bumper completely detached.
“My car isn’t insured. If I were to repaint the entire rear bumper, it could cost around 1.5 to 2 million Vietnamese đồng, not to mention fixing the broken rear,” Mr. Toàn calculated.
The young man apologizes for accidentally hitting the car (Image captured from video).
The Responsible College Student
The person who hit the car was Quốc Cảnh (22 years old, from Giao Thủy), a final-year college student in Nam Định City. While working part-time as a delivery driver, Cảnh accidentally hit the parked car due to lack of attention and poor visibility. Despite being worried about missing his delivery deadline, he decided to return to the scene to check on the car. Not knowing the car owner’s phone number, he called the number listed on a nearby tailor shop advertisement.
Through security footage, Mr. Toàn saw the young man waiting anxiously, hands trembling while holding his phone, eyes filled with worry but also sincerity. “I couldn’t bring myself to scold him,” Mr. Toàn shared.
Quốc Cảnh explained that he works part-time after classes to support himself, earning a few hundred thousand đồng per shift. Despite his difficult circumstances, he insisted on taking responsibility and waited patiently for the car owner to apologize. After understanding the student’s situation, Mr. Toàn decided to let the matter go.
“I didn’t ask for compensation, not because of the money, but because I wanted to give myself a meaningful birthday gift: forgiveness and faith in human kindness,” he said. Quốc Cảnh bowed deeply in gratitude, his eyes reflecting both surprise and emotion.
Upon closer inspection, Mr. Toàn realized that Quốc Cảnh had previously delivered packages to his house. He advised the young man to be careful while working, to return home early, and prioritize his studies. Mr. Toàn shook his hand, wishing him success in his final year and hoping he would honor his parents with excellent graduation results.
The next day, Mr. Toàn took the car to a familiar garage to repaint the damaged rear section. He planned to personally weld and polish the scratched areas to save costs.
Mr. Bùi Toàn shares how he received a special birthday gift (Photo provided by the individual).
A Special Birthday Gift
After sharing the video online, Mr. Toàn was surprised by the overwhelming response from the community. The video garnered nearly 300,000 views, tens of thousands of likes, and numerous positive comments.
“Amazing car owner! The student is also very kind-hearted. Wishing you good health, happiness, and luck,” one user commented.
“The student showed great integrity, but the car owner’s response was even more commendable. Both the father and the delivery guy have taught us valuable lessons here. Happy birthday, and may you always succeed,” another account wrote.
Mr. Toàn shared that he saw a reflection of his younger self in the hardworking student. In a similar situation, he might not have been forgiven by others. Therefore, he chose to forgive, considering it a precious lesson to teach his son about compassion and empathy.
Mr. Toàn and his son parted ways with the student late into January 14. “On this special birthday, I received gifts not only from my family but also from the young man—a reminder that kindness and goodwill exist everywhere, at any time,” he said.
Through this story, Mr. Toàn not only taught his son about compassion but also learned bravery from the young man.
Conclusion
The story between Mr. Bùi Toàn and the college student Quốc Cảnh is a clear testament to the value of kindness and forgiveness in life. Every small action can lead to significant and meaningful outcomes. Let’s always believe in the power of kindness—it not only helps us become better individuals but also spreads positivity throughout the community.
What do you think about this story? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Source: dantri.com.vn
