Nong Van Tan (14 years old) and his younger brother Nong Van Quang (7 years old, 1st grade student of Tan Thanh Primary School) residing in Tan Quang village, Tan Thanh commune, Tuyen Quang province. Both have just experienced a major shock when they successively lost both parents.
Previously, the children's families were poor but always warm. Mother worked as a worker in a company, and father worked as a hired laborer in all kinds of jobs, doing whatever anyone hired him to do, income was precarious, but the small house was still full of laughter. The incident began to strike in 2023, when the mother of the two children passed away due to blood cancer.
Ms. Bang Thi Hang is the cousin of the two children, living near the house. She said that previously Tan's family was classified as a poor household and was supported by the State with a sum of money to build a charity house. However, the amount of money was not enough, so the children's parents had to borrow more to complete the house.
The house was just built not long ago when my aunt (Tan and Quang's mother) developed the disease. When it was discovered, the disease was already very severe. My aunt went for radiation therapy for about half a year, then the hospital sent her back, and a few days later she passed away," Ms. Hang choked up and recounted.
The pain of losing their mother had not yet subsided when on February 9, 2026, the father of the two children passed away due to a stroke. In just a few short years, the two children successively lost both their father and mother, becoming orphans, relying on each other amidst immense losses.
After a series of incidents, Tan also dropped out of school to stay at home. According to Ms. Hang, when the family asked him if he wanted to continue studying, the boy just shook his head. "Partly because the family circumstances are too difficult, no more parents, partly because he said he won't go to school anymore," Ms. Hang shared.
Currently, the guardian of the two children is their grandmother, who is over 80 years old. Her grandmother is old, weak, has no pension and no longer has the ability to work to generate income. Their grandfather passed away a long time ago. Among the 4 sons of the couple, 2 have passed away, one lives in the South, and only one uncle lives near the house.
On the maternal side, the maternal grandmother has passed away, the maternal grandfather is old and weak, often sick, almost lying in one place. The aunts and uncles are also in difficult circumstances, so they cannot help much.
Ms. Hang and Mr. Quan's family, although only cousins of the 2 children, living nearby, still try to help with meals and porridge. However, they themselves are also poor households and are raising 4 young children.
The eldest uncle of the two children told me to pick them up to live together, but they didn't want to go. They wanted to stay with my family because my house has many children. If they said that, I wouldn't be willing to refuse. Well, consider it like adding a pair of bowls and chopsticks, try a little more.
Fortunately, they were previously supported by the State to build a house, so the two children still have a roof to live in. The two brothers live in their own house, and my husband and I live nearby, so we take care of daily meals. Other things such as making papers, paying tuition fees for young children... we also take care of," Ms. Hang shared.
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Tam (head of Tan Quang village), said that the circumstances of the two children are very pitiful when they are orphaned of both parents early.
Currently, the two children are still living in the family's house. In the near future, the grandmother will move in to live with them to take care of them. However, she is also old and weak, and can only provide some support, but does not have income or pension to raise the children. We really hope philanthropists will join hands to help so that the two children have more conditions to continue going to school, overcome difficult times and stabilize their lives," Mr. Tam shared.
All help for life situation LD26052 please send to Tam Long Vang Charity Social Fund - 51 Hang Bo, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Account number (STK) 113000000758 at Vietinbank Hoan Kiem Branch, Hanoi; Account number: 0021000303088 - at Vietcombank Hanoi Branch; Account number: 12410001122556 - at BIDV Hoan Kiem Branch.
