On the afternoon of 1/3, during her husband's death anniversary combined with her 90th birthday celebration, Dao Thi La, residing in Yen Dong commune, Yen Mo district (formerly), delivered a significant surprise to her extended family.

As the celebration concluded, the white-haired mother, dressed in a traditional ao dai, called her five daughters-in-law and four daughters to line up in the courtyard. She carefully handed each woman one chi of gold, instructing them that this was her "wedding gift" to them.

In that moment, the entire family fell silent. The children, now in their sixties, were visibly moved to tears. "In her twilight years, my mother still harbored regrets about not being able to afford a proper wedding gift for us when we got married because our parents were poor," recounted Nguyen Thi Huyen, 63, Dao Thi La's third daughter, her voice choked with emotion.

Dao Thi La and her husband had nine children and adopted an orphaned grandchild (one child has since passed away). During the difficult subsidy period, to support her large family, she would carry goods for tens of kilometers on foot every day from dawn. Having toiled tirelessly her entire life, her greatest sorrow was not having any assets to give her children as wedding gifts when they married.

Ms. Huyen distinctly remembers in 1979, she requested 300 Vietnamese dong (equivalent to three chi of gold) to pursue vocational training. Dao Thi La and her husband decided to sell all the rice in their home to provide for their daughter. "My parents said that gold wouldn't make us rich, but a skill would ensure we could live our entire lives," Ms. Huyen recalled. Thanks to this foresight, all ten children attended school and now lead prosperous, stable, and successful lives.

For 20 years since her husband's passing, Dao Thi La lived frugally with her children, 20 grandchildren, and 35 great-grandchildren. She saved every bit of lucky money and gifts from her children and grandchildren during holidays, asking them to buy gold for her personal security and to cover future expenses. However, seeing her children live harmoniously and filially, she changed her mind.

"I don't have much time left, so I wanted to give this gift to my children, both to share a little prosperity and to fulfill my long-held wish to give them a belated wedding gift," she said with a smile. The decision to only give gold to her daughters-in-law and daughters was also her way of expressing special appreciation for the women in her family.

Ms. La took a commemorative photo with her children after presenting the gold on 1/3. Photo: Huyen Leggy

Mai, the youngest daughter-in-law, recounted that her wedding only involved a few sweets, betel, and areca nuts, and the next day they had to borrow rice. Despite economic struggles, the five daughters-in-law never felt pressure from their mother-in-law. Mai shared that her mother-in-law often sided with her daughters-in-law over her sons. "Many times when my husband and I argued, she always defended me, scolding him until his face turned red," Mai said.

Dao, Mai's husband, admitted that he sometimes "lost face" because his mother always sided with his wife, but this also ensured harmony between his wife and mother, and he never found himself in an awkward position.

Sitting in the sun-drenched courtyard, watching her daughters-in-law and daughters cherish the chi of gold in their hands, the 90-year-old grandmother expressed contentment: "My old age is now complete; I have no more regrets concerning my children and grandchildren."

Pham Nga