At 10:30 on 31/3, Diep Trung Hai, 60, loaded three large pineapple bags onto his old Dream motorcycle. He drove to the entrance of Le Van Thinh Hospital in Binh Trung Tay ward, Ho Chi Minh City. Parking by the roadside, he opened the bags, arranging 50 vegetarian rice boxes, 80 loaves of bread, and four bunches of bananas on his bike seat. Dozens of patients and their relatives were already waiting.

Sweat drenched his shirt as the 60-year-old inquired about each person's treatment ward and room. He prioritized meals for patients before distributing them to caregivers. "Five years ago, I stood in line here receiving charity meals, just like them," he said while handing out food.

About an hour later, after the last meal was given, he rushed back to his rented room in Binh Trung ward, 3 km away. There, his 90-year-old mother was waiting for him to help change diapers, bathe, and feed her. After finishing household chores, he received 200 lottery tickets and continued his afternoon sales.

Ong Hai phat com truoc cong Benh vien Le Van Thinh, phuong Binh Trung Tay, TP HCM, trua 31/3. *Anh: Ngoc Ngan*

Hai used to work as a driver. However, after several family misfortunes and an accident that reduced his work capacity, he switched to selling lottery tickets and collecting scrap. Over 20 years ago, after his wife and he separated, and his children went with his wife, he moved in with his mother in Binh Trung ward.

In late 2021, his mother was hospitalized for over two months due to heart disease and a broken leg from a fall. The mother and son ran out of money. For many days, Hai lived on charity meals received at the hospital entrance. "Holding a box of charity rice in my hand during that difficult time, I felt incredibly grateful, so I promised myself that once things got a little better, I would return here to repay the kindness," he said.

In mid-2022, when his mother's health stabilized, Hai began fulfilling his promise to repay life's kindness. Initially, on days he sold well, he set aside 150,000 VND to buy about 10 vegetarian meals to distribute at the hospital. About half a year later, the number of meals increased as he added bread.

Minh Thu, an employee at a bakery in Binh Trung Dong ward, recounted how she noticed a white-haired man who came daily to buy a fixed amount of bread, so she asked him why. When she learned he was buying them for charity, the owner immediately reduced the price to 1,000 VND per loaf instead of 3,000 VND, occasionally adding steamed buns and Vietnamese sausage. "We were touched by his story and wanted to contribute a little," Thu said.

Later, a monk at a pagoda in Binh Trung Tay ward heard about Hai's free meal distribution for patients and decided to contribute dozens of vegetarian meals each time.

Over the past four years, Hai has rotated through the internal medicine and surgery departments to distribute meals evenly.

Mai, 40, who is caring for a relative undergoing dialysis at the hospital, said she often asks for Hai's vegetarian meals and shares them with her niece. "His rice is often warm and easy to eat. For those undergoing long-term treatment, any savings help," she said.

Ong Diep Trung Hai cung me o phong tro, phuong Binh Trung, TP HCM, trua 31/3. *Anh: Ngoc Ngan*

A representative from the Social Work Department of Le Van Thinh Hospital stated that the unit acknowledged Hai's dedication. The hospital always assigns security guards to guide and remind him to ensure his meal distributions are orderly, comply with food safety and hygiene regulations, and maintain the treatment environment.

Last year, while driving, Hai was stopped by a woman who inquired about him. She gave him two million VND to contribute to the meal fund, saying she had once received his meals while caring for her mother at the hospital. Although her mother has passed away, she wanted to continue that kindness.

Holding the money, the 60-year-old man understood that his "circle of repaying life's kindness" was not just one-way.

Ngoc Ngan