27-year-old Dao Van Vinh from Quang Nam Province has opened a charity stall to offer loaves of breads stuffed with meat free of charge at alley No 117/10 on Ngo Gia Tu in Da Nang’s Hai Chau District. The purpose is to help people on low incomes have delicious meals.

Vinh giving free a loaf of bread to a woman

Over recent months, happy smiles have been seen on the faces of these people when they have received free loaves of bread from Mr Vinh, which has helped them save small amounts of money.

Due to becoming an orphan in his early childhood, Vinh is good at cooking. Therefore, he himself prepares for all ingredients for breads.

Vinh said “I always want to give nutritious and hygienic breads to the poor”.

Every day, Vinh goes to the market, preliminarily processes materials and makes breads for the poor by himself

The Quang Nam Province native said his working day began early in the morning as he went to the Con Market to buy such fresh ingredients as herbs, cucumbers, meat, ‘cha bo’ (grilled beef pate), and ‘cha heo’ (grilled pork pate).

 “I start to give free breads to the needy from 9.00 am daily, and 150 loaves of bread are offered every day”, Vinh said.

Happy smiles are seen on the faces of low-income earners when they get free loaves of bread

The kind-hearted young man added that the remaining loaves of bread in the morning would be given to poor patients and their caregivers in the city-based hospitals in the afternoon of the same day.

In addition to receiving free loaves of bread, poor labourers can take free small plastic bottles of water at Vinh’s stall. Also, Vinh offers milk to the elderly and the disabled apart from nutritious loaves of bread.

A loaf of bread stuffed with meat

Every day, Vinh spends between 1.2 million VND to 1.5 million VND on buying ingredients, and breads. He said he does not accept cash donations but material supports from generous philanthropists are welcome. All operating expenses of Vinh’s charity act come from his own money and material support from donors.

Vinh’s charity bread stall is a popular place for 'xe om' (motorbike taxi) drivers, lottery ticket sellers, and delivery employees.

Being one of loyal customers of Vinh, Mr Tran Vinh, a 'xe om' (motorbike taxi) driver, said he often gets free breads for his lunches, which helps him save small amounts of money for his family.

In a similar vein, Mrs Le Thi Dung, a lottery ticket seller from Quang Ngai Province, often takes free bread at Vinh’s stall.

“I am very grateful to Vinh for helping me and other poor labourers have nutritious meals and save money on food” said Mrs Dung.

Vinh has become actively involved in charity activities

In addition to offering free bread for the poor, Vinh has been actively involved in doing charity activities. Included are giving free rice soup to poor patients and their relatives in local hospitals, and organising charity trips to remote mountainous areas.

By LAM PHUONG - Translated by MAI DUNG