Vu Hai Duc was born in 1992 in Nho Quan, Ninh Binh province. He never knew his father. His mother, a frail woman, sold conical hats at the local market. Each morning, as she left for work, the young boy was left alone, playing with tin cans, plastic bags, and a rope that tethered him to the bed. For meals, someone would bring him a banana or a piece of cake sent by his mother.

As he grew older, the rope was gone, but the door remained locked. He was a solitary child within four walls, without friends or any understanding of the outside world.

When Duc was in 5th grade, his mother passed away from a serious illness. Before her death, she entrusted him to the care of a distant uncle, Nguyen Cong Vung. "My suffering stems from a lack of education," she whispered. "No matter the cost, you must finish high school."

Duc's world collapsed. He felt lost and confused, as if cast adrift at sea. The most poignant pain of being orphaned was carrying his small bag from one relative's house to another, never truly belonging anywhere.

"Many nights, I just wished I could stay in our old house, even though it was poor, because it had my mother," he recalled.

19-year-old Hai Duc (far right) when he joined Koto in 2011. Photo courtesy of the subject

19-year-old Hai Duc (far right) when he joined Koto in 2011. Photo courtesy of the subject

From secondary school, Duc supported himself with odd jobs. He started by washing dishes in a restaurant, then delivered newspapers and hauled construction materials. "Because of my promise to my mother, I had to graduate," he said.

In 2010, after graduating from high school, he left his relatives' home and worked as a welder and construction laborer, even cleaning sewers. Many days were spent suspended high on buildings, welding iron doors and corrugated iron roofs. One hand held the welding torch, the other shielded his eyes, but the smoke still found its way in. "There's no pain like welder's flash. It's like thousands of ants biting your eyeballs, and you can't scratch," he described.

Almost a year later, on a sweltering afternoon, Nguyen Cong Vung found him in a small rented room on the outskirts of the city. Before him stood his gaunt, sun-baked nephew. He scolded Duc for not contacting him after graduation. Finally, he said, "Come home with me."

That day, Vung took Duc on his old bicycle from Nhon to Cau Giay. Vung and his wife secured Duc a job as a waiter at a cafe in Hoan Kiem district. Soon after, Vung also found him an opportunity to study at Koto, Vietnam's first social enterprise providing hospitality training to disadvantaged youth.

Hai Duc (right) revisiting Koto during his return to Vietnam in 2024. Photo courtesy of the subject

Hai Duc (right) revisiting Koto during his return to Vietnam in 2024. Photo courtesy of the subject

Surrounded by peers with similar backgrounds, Duc began to open up. To be educated, respected, and acknowledged felt like paradise to someone who had lived in darkness for 20 years.

He graduated with honors in 2013, opening doors to work in 5-star hotels in Hanoi. More than a decade later, Duc still remembers the feeling of receiving his first paycheck. After paying for rent and expenses, he still had several million dong left. "I was overjoyed. That's when I believed I could finally repay my mother's debts," he said.

During her illness, Duc's mother had borrowed money from everyone in the village for medical treatment, leaving behind a debt of over 100 million dong. Determined to repay it, he worked 8-hour shifts at the hotel and then waited tables at bars and cafes in the evenings. After more than a year, he had saved enough to return to his village and repay his mother's debts. Some were surprised, others waved him off, saying it wasn't necessary.

After settling his debts with the villagers, he went to the bank to pay off his mother's 17 million dong loan. He then learned that the loan had long been overdue and written off because the borrower had passed away. "Finally, I was free from the burden of debt," he shared.

Having achieved his goal, Duc quit his job and spent two years traveling throughout Vietnam. In each location, he worked at the largest hotels, honing his skills and experiencing life across the country.

In 2018, Duc applied to international recruitment websites. Soon, offers poured in from Australia, the UAE, Singapore, and Qatar. He chose Dubai, UAE, for the attractive salary and the presence of many Koto alumni working there.

Thanks to Koto's practical training program and his experience working with international colleagues, Duc quickly proved his abilities. Initially managing a lobby bar, within two months he was promoted to manage the pool bar and then became an assistant director at renowned hotels and resorts like Atlantis The Palm, One&Only The Palm, and Anantara The Palm.

But life within the Palm Jumeirah artificial island resort felt restrictive. In 2023, Duc decided to move to the city center for a more relaxed lifestyle. He is currently the director at Royal China, a prestigious Chinese restaurant in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

Nguyen Van Vung, 72, Duc's uncle, said his nephew's success is entirely due to his own efforts. "Koto and I only gave him a fishing rod; he achieved everything through his own hard work. We are very proud to see him grow into such a talented young man," he shared.

During his vacation this year, Hai Duc is spending over a month back in Vietnam, visiting and experiencing local restaurants and hotels. He is also developing plans to open a homestay in his hometown, where he spent his early years with his mother. He is also dedicating time to return to Koto and contribute in any way he can.

After all the storms of his childhood, Duc has found a peaceful harbor. He always remembers the kindness of those who helped him, especially Koto and Jimmy Pham, a mentor to generations of Koto students.

"From the cloth rope that bound my feet to the open sky, I've learned that freedom is not just about going far, but also about being able to return. And I'm grateful to those who gave me that opportunity," the 33-year-old said.

Phan Duong

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