Amidst the vast highlands of the border region, My Lung hamlet is like a lonely piece, nestled in the quietness of the mountains and forests of Hong An commune, Bao Lac district, Cao Bang province. That small hamlet, where life still revolves around many difficulties, has become a stop on the "Spring Volunteer 2025" journey of teachers and students of Hanoi College of Foreign Languages and Technology (FTC).
Journey over mountains and clouds to My Lung
Starting from Hanoi in the quiet night of a winter morning, the FTC volunteer group set off at 3am, carrying Tet gifts and a heart of sharing. The journey to My Lung hamlet was not an easy one. After passing hundreds of kilometers with winding mountain passes, the group arrived at My Lung when darkness was about to cover the mountains and forests, but the challenge was not over yet.
From the bus stop, the group had to continue walking 4km through bumpy and rocky roads. Although their steps were tiring, they were full of determination, because everyone wanted to bring the warmth of Tet to the people here.
Arriving at My Lung hamlet, the first images that appear are simple wooden houses precariously perched on the mountainside, children huddled in thin clothes and the kind smiles of the locals despite their difficult lives.
My Lung and the unspeakable difficulties
My Lung is a particularly difficult hamlet with 40 households, 100% of whom are H'Mong ethnic people. Here, people's lives are tied to three "no's": no electricity, no concrete roads, no phone signal. When night falls, darkness covers the whole hamlet, the only weak light is from old oil lamps or red stoves.
The roads are difficult to travel, people have to overcome dangerous slopes to trade or take their children to school. There is no phone signal, the village is completely isolated from the outside world.
The main source of livelihood for the people is agriculture, but the arable land is small, barren and far away. Despite working hard all year round, poverty and hunger still cling to them. The children here lack everything, not enough warm clothes, their bare feet shivering in the cold, and the dream of books, toys or full meals is still a distant dream.
Sharing heart - A warm and loving Tet gift
Understanding the difficulties that people and students face, Hanoi College of Foreign Languages and Technology has launched the program "Spring Volunteer 2025", calling for the cooperation of teachers, students and benefactors to bring a meaningful Tet to My Lung.
Thanks to the support and cooperation of teachers and students as well as the hearts of gold, the delegation prepared and presented 40 gifts to families including 300,000 VND, 20kg of rice, cooking oil and other necessities; and 26 gifts including coats, pillows and warm blankets to students. Although the items were small, they contained love and responsibility, helping people prepare more fully for Tet for their families.
The moment when people lined up to receive gifts, their skinny hands carefully holding the Tet gifts, the bright smiles of the children when receiving a warm coat or a notebook with the scent of new paper were unforgettable for the whole group.
It is a joy, a touching emotion - a joy not only for the recipient but also for those who bring the warmth of Tet to this faraway land.
