Vietnamese Family Shelter – Episode 151: Thanh Thao in tears, B Tran and Ha Myo choked up over a boy facing the fear of orphanhood as both parents struggle with severe illness

• Vietnamese Family Shelter – Episode 168: The 13 years old boy who dreams of curing his mother’s illness brings MC Vu Manh Cuong to tears
• Vietnamese Family Shelter – Episode 167: Host Duong Hong Phuc, Ngoc Han, and athlete Do Kim Phuc moved by the plight of a boy with a hereditary kidney disease, whose mother is on end-stage dialysis
• Vietnamese Family Shelter – Episode 166: Host Thanh Trung and ca nuong Kieu Anh in tears over the plight of two children who lost their father, whose mother remarried, now relying on a grandmother with heart disease

Episode 151 of the reality program Vietnamese Family Shelter, hosted by MC Thanh Thao and featuring guest appearances by actor B Tran and singer Ha Myo, concluded with over VND 100 million raised to support families in difficult circumstances.

Among the participants, 13-year-old Nguyen Huu Bao (born 2012), currently an 8th-grade student at Yen Tho Secondary School in Van Hoa Commune, Thanh Hoa Province, stood out. Although Bao is the only participant who still has both parents, he faces the looming fear of orphanhood as both his parents suffer from severe illnesses. He currently lives with his grandparents, parents, and younger brother. Despite having a complete family, the challenges Bao confronts are significant.

Previously, their parents worked as laborers, saving with hopes of building a small home for the children. However, from late 2024, consecutive misfortunes forced the family to move in with Bao’s elderly grandparents, who are frail and rely on five sào of rice fields, yielding a meager income from two harvests per year.

His mother, Do Thi Quyen (born 1988), was diagnosed with stage 2 brain cancer after undergoing treatment for a laryngeal fibroid. She underwent surgery in October 2024 and is now undergoing radiation therapy, experiencing frequent headaches and seizures. The family cannot afford chemotherapy, which costs at least VND 25 million per month, while she only receives VND 750,000 monthly in treatment support.

Bao’s father, Nguyen Huu Nam (born 1987), discovered he has bilateral femoral necrosis and cervical spine degeneration while caring for his wife in the hospital. He cannot walk normally and must rely on painkillers. Doctors estimate that replacing one hip joint costs VND 135 million—an amount the family cannot afford.

Even amidst these challenges, Bao, who recently underwent testicular cord surgery, helps his grandparents with farming tasks, easing some of the family’s burden. His younger brother, Nguyen Huu Khoi (born 2018), is in grade 2. Despite their young ages, the two brothers care deeply for their parents. Bao tearfully shared: “Sometimes I see my parents in pain and don’t know what to do. I just fear the day they won’t be by my side anymore.”
Bao’s dreams were once simple: to go to school like other children and pursue his education for a better future. But now, his greatest wish is for his parents to regain their health, while he grows up quickly enough to work and help cover medical expenses.
MC Thanh Thao was visibly moved after hearing Bao’s story. She said: “Most participants in the Vietnamese Family Shelter have already experienced loss. But Bao is lucky to still have the light of love from both parents. Yet that light feels so fragile, and I wonder when it might fade. These children are too young to face the reality of their parents enduring daily pain from illness.”

Learning about the serious illnesses of Bao’s parents, Thanh Thao was shocked by the astronomical costs of surgery and treatment, far beyond the family’s financial means. She worried about the future of Bao and his younger brother, as their parents were gravely ill, their grandparents elderly, and the children far too young to fend for themselves.

Faced with Bao’s concerns about the future, Thanh Thao could no longer hold back her tears: “As a mother with children around Bao’s age, I understand that what a mother wants most is to have the strength to secure her children’s future. I’m certain that anyone who is a mother would put aside their own needs. The most important thing for a mother is to earn enough to care for her children. In Bao’s family, the mother’s future may already be uncertain, and Bao worries that he may not be able to continue his studies, yet he still promises to try his best, even if he must pause school, so his younger brother won’t be left behind. He’s so young, yet so understanding—it breaks my heart.”
Singer Ha Myo was also choked with emotion, struggling to hold back tears as she encouraged the children. Actor B Tran expressed his admiration for Huu Bao, praising him for being so mature, managing household responsibilities, and caring for his younger brother in place of his parents. He encouraged Bao and his brother to persevere, never give up on their education, and continue striving to become a strong support for their family. Alongside their heartfelt words, B Tran and Ha Myo gave their all in the challenges to bring valuable rewards to the children.

At the end of the challenges, Thai Quynh Chi’s family received 19 million VND, Le Bao Chau’s family received 23 million VND, and Nguyen Huu Bao’s family won first place, earning a total prize of 60 million VND. In episode 151, the total prize fund from Hoa Sen Group reached 102 million VND.
In addition, the artists, benefactors, and local residents contributed over 443 million VND. Among them, singer Duc Phuc donated 30 million VND to all three families, offering further support to help the children overcome their hardships.
Vietnamese Family Shelter airs weekly at 8:20 PM every Friday on HTV7. The program is produced by BEE COMM in collaboration with Ho Chi Minh City Radio and Television, with the support of the Hoa Sen Home Building Materials & Furniture Supermarket Chain (Hoa Sen Group) and Hoa Sen Plastic Pipes – Leading the Source of Happiness.

HOA SEN GROUP