Vietnamese Family Shelter – Episode 149: “I want to bring my mother home to live with me” — A small dream that touched millions of hearts of a fifth-grade boy

Continuing the journey of “Sharing Happiness with the Community,” Episode 149 of Vietnamese Family Shelter aired at a particularly meaningful time, as the whole nation joyfully welcomed National Day on September 2 — a sacred milestone to honor the past and look toward the positive values of the present.

In times of peace, patriotism is not only expressed through slogans or grand symbols. It is also found in everyday acts of kindness, where compassion becomes a force that binds the community together. Vietnamese Family Shelter has been telling such stories with sincerity and heartfelt dedication.

Patriotism in Peacetime — Spreading Through Simple Acts

A moment of sharing, a timely embrace, or a small gift offered amid hardship may be the simplest way to express love for one’s homeland. In every episode, Vietnamese Family Shelter brings forth such beautiful images: from adults to children, everyone joins hands to donate and share meaningful gifts. Many do not hesitate to travel long distances, enduring sun and rain, just to support, encourage, and give strength to families in need.

Meaningful moments from the Vietnamese Family Shelter journey across provinces and cities.

Without embellishment, each story told on Vietnamese Family Shelter is an authentic slice of humanity — reflecting solidarity, mutual care, and compassion, values deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture. Helping families in hardship, protecting orphaned children, and rekindling hope for less fortunate lives are vivid demonstrations of patriotism in today’s era.

And Episode 149, broadcast during the National Day week of September 2, stands as a powerful testament to that spirit.

A Record of Nearly 700 Million VND Awarded in a Single Episode

In Episode 149, with the participation of MC Lieu Ha Trinh, Miss Ngoc Chau, and footballer Phan Van Duc, the program awarded nearly 700 million VND to three families of orphaned children facing extremely difficult circumstances.

Nguyen Minh Huy (born in 2015), a fifth-grade student at Duc Thang Primary School, is one of the featured children in this episode. Huy grew up deprived of parental love. His mother left when he was only five months old, and he has never known his father.

Minh Huy and his great-grandmother, grandmother shared a meal of boiled vegetables and cold rice.

From that moment on, Huy has been raised by his grandmother, Le Thi Phuong (born in 1968), in Long Phung Commune, Quang Ngai Province. The shock of losing her child left her physically weakened, limiting her to household chores. Occasionally, neighbors help her find day labor to earn extra money to support her grandson.

Living with them is great-grandmother Nguyen Thi Phung, now 83 years old. Frail in health, she suffers from joint disease and spinal degeneration, making movement difficult. Even so, she sometimes tries to accompany her daughter to work to help ease the family’s burden. Each month, she receives a 500,000 VND allowance for the elderly and an additional 500,000 VND from a benefactor to help cover living expenses.

Because none of the family members are able to earn a stable income, their meals are extremely modest — often just boiled vegetables with fish sauce, with meat or fish appearing only occasionally. Due to long-term nutritional deficiencies, Huy is smaller and physically weaker than his peers.

Minh Huy tearfully shares his small wish: “I want to bring my mother home to live with me”.

Despite everything, Huy is remarkably understanding and full of affection. “I don’t have a father or a mother, but I still feel warmth because I have two grandmothers who love me. But I also want to have a mother. Every day, I tell my great-grandmother that I want to bring my mother home to live with me, but she still hasn’t come back,” Huy said through tears.

Huy dreams of becoming a chef so that one day he can cook a delicious meal for his grandmother and great-grandmother. For him, seeing both of them healthy and by his side is the greatest happiness. His maturity and thoughtfulness deeply moved many viewers.

The story of Minh Huy, his grandmother, and his great-grandmother left the entire studio in silence.

Touched by Huy’s many hardships, Miss Ngoc Chau stepped forward to comfort and encourage him. She expressed her admiration for Huy’s resilience and determination to rise above adversity, as well as for other children featured in the program.

Miss Ngoc Chau shared that family is the greatest emotional anchor for children – some live with grandparents, others with a parent. Even when families are not complete, they remain the warmest place of refuge. “When I talk to these children, most of them say they want to grow up quickly and earn money to take care of their loved ones. Perhaps throughout their childhood, they have witnessed how hard their family members work to raise them, so even at a very young age, they already know how to care, love, and worry for those around them,” she said.

Footballer Phan Van Duc and Miss Ngoc Chau not only gave their all in the challenges but also listened and shared deeply with the families at the studio.

Miss Ngoc Chau also revealed that she herself has experienced the loss of loved ones, which allows her to deeply empathize with the children’s pain. For her, family remains her strongest emotional support. “I believe I am a continuation of my mother, and also of my father’s journey. I want to become a pillar for my family — for my older sister, my younger brother, and my nieces and nephews. And I firmly believe that in the future, I will have my own small family, where I can also be a place of sharing and love for those closest to me” she confided.

Standing beside Minh Huy, footballer Phan Van Duc gently held him in a long embrace, hoping to give him strength. He encouraged Huy to see him as an older brother and reassured the boy that he is not alone — that there is always someone standing beside him, along with countless viewers offering their support.

Together with Hoa Sen Group, artists, audiences, and benefactors joined hands to donate nearly 700 million VND in a single episode of Vietnamese Family Shelter.

Together with Hoa Sen Group, artists, audiences, and benefactors joined hands to donate nearly 700 million VND in Episode 149.

At the end of the challenges: Nguyen Minh Huy’s family placed third, receiving 17 million VND. Nguyen Quoc Bao’s family placed second with 23 million VND. Phan Nguyen Xuan Duy’s family won first prize, receiving a total of 60 million VND

In addition, artists such as MC Lieu Ha Trinh, Miss Ngoc Chau, Phan Van Duc, and singer Duc Phuc contributed personal donations to the families. Together with direct support from benefactors and local residents, the program raised more than 532 million VND.

Phan Nguyen Xuan Duy’s family won first place.
Nguyen Quoc Bao’s family placed second.
Nguyen Minh Huy’s family placed third.

In total, nearly 700 million VND was awarded to the three families in Episode 149, including 100 million VND in prize money from Hoa Sen Group.

Vietnamese Family Shelter airs at 8:20 p.m. every Friday on HTV7. The program is produced by BEE COMM in collaboration with Ho Chi Minh City Radio and Television, with the companionship of Hoa Sen Home Building Materials & Furniture Supermarket Chain (Hoa Sen Group) and Hoa Sen Plastic Pipes – Leading the Source of Happiness.

Hoa Sen Group