Special market for poor patients held in capital

HA NOI — Poor patients received up to 10 free items for the Tet holiday at a special event dubbed the “0 dong market” which took place on Sunday at Thong Nhat Park in Ha Noi.

With hope of bringing joy to welcome the Lunar New Year, the volunteer group Ngoi truong uoc mo (Dreaming School) worked with partners to organise the charitable market for the third time.

About 3,000 poor people have attended the market in total, including those suffering from life-threatening diseases and homeless people in Ha Noi.

The organisers said this year’s market had nearly 40 stores with different goods for the traditional Tet holiday, such as chung cake (square glutinous rice cake), fruit jam, vegetables, pork pies and sausages.

The market this year also offered important items for homeless people including sleeping bags, blankets, pillows and clothes.

Nguyen Thi Tho, 60, who is a patient at K Hospital – the hospital for cancer, could not hide her emotion.

“I’m grateful to the organisers for creating an opportunity for poor patients like me to welcome a warm holiday,” she said.

Tho only picked up some confectionery at the market because her health would not allow her to carry anything heavy.

“I will take it to my hometown as a present in a few days. It’s a market of love, so that poor people can see society is full of love,” she said.

Tran Cong Huy from Ung Hoa District in Ha Noi, whose son suffers from cerebral palsy and is under treatment at the National Paediatrics Hospital, was also moved by the event.

“My son cannot walk and must use a wheelchair, but I still took him to the market so he could find something he liked,” said Huy.

Although Huy’s son is young, Huy believed he could feel the love from people.

Do Thi Thanh Ha, a representative from the Dreaming School group, said the market was successful.

More than 100 student volunteers cooked soup and helped patients with their goods, and free buses for patients were also arranged.

The enthusiasm created a special atmosphere at the year-end with hope for a year full of happiness, she said. — VNS