Ha Tu Duy, a 14-year-old 8th-grade student at a high school in Guangzhou, concluded his first semester on 30/1. He then independently packed his belongings and traveled alone to the train station to return home for the Tet holiday with his family.
The photograph of Ha, with a substantial amount of luggage—including blankets, bedding, and shoes—skillfully secured to his back, waiting at the train station, has garnered significant traction across Chinese social media platforms.
Many netizens noted Ha's small stature, yet praised his ability to organize and tie his belongings efficiently, commending his self-reliance.
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Ha Tu Duy and his "mountain of luggage" returning home for Tet. Photo: PPD |
Ha Tu Duy and his "mountain of luggage" returning home for Tet. Photo: PPD
Speaking to the media, Ha's family shared that he applied skills learned at a military summer camp to pack his blankets, bedding, shoes, and secure them with ropes. "My roommates helped me compress the bags, and I tied them myself. It took us about 20 minutes," Ha recounted.
Ha's mother mentioned that she had asked if he needed parental accompaniment, but the boy confirmed he could manage the train journey alone. His father met him at a train station four stops away.
Ha had previously practiced packing and tying items with ropes at home. His mother explained: "He planned to put heavy items in his suitcase and lighter ones on his back, deciding which items to hang outside, how to connect the ropes, and where to tie them securely." She added, "He is very resourceful and proactive in everything he does. Our family aims to foster his independence from a young age. He learned to wash his socks at two years old."
Ha's story, posted on social media by People's Daily, the official organ of the Communist Party of China, quickly amassed over 500,000 likes. One user commented, "Truly impressive. Tying all that with ropes. Even an adult like me couldn't do it."
Another user wrote, "Self-reliance, not academic scores, is what truly empowers a boy to confidently face all future challenges."
Duc Trung (According to SCMP, Guangzhou Daily, People's Daily)
