Quietly located on the corner of Ngo Gia Tu Street, Da Nang, a gym in the rustic and traditional style has a small but diverse number of exercise machines, a pile of new and old dumbbells, and a few chairs for gym-users to sit on while there are some pictures of bodybuilders from a long time ago hanging on the wall. Especially, a bright red sign with the words ‘Free stroke rehabilitation practices’ printed in large letters is installed right at the entrance of the gym.

Fitness coach Tran Van Dung (right) giving instructions for rehab exercises for post-stroke recovery for a gym user. Photo: L.V

The founder of this special gym is fitness coach Tran Van Dung, a resident of Hai Chau District. Not long after Mr. Dung turned sixty, he retired from the head coach of the Da Nang gymnastics team after 30 years of dedication to the city's sports industry. In his role as the head coach of the Da Nang gymnastics team, Mr. Dung has trained several generations of athletes to win prizes in national and international sports events.

The gym is open free of charge to all rehab patients in the morning and afternoon to offer free rehabilitation practices after road traffic accidents or a stroke, as well as offer free rehabilitation for patients with degenerative spine diseases and patients with all types of diabetes. There is no shiny space, no loud sound of young remixes, no personal coach in this gym but it is truly a rehabilitation facility where middle-aged and older men help each other to perform rehabilitation exercises. Some middle-aged people show off their flexible bodies while others slowly perform rehabilitation exercises to recover from an accident, and some try cycling workouts in the gym. All their exercises are performed slowly and gently.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hau, a resident of Hai Chau District, is among of the gym’s users. He said: "Maybe my house is located near the gym, I go to the gym early and regularly. I worked as a driver, I suffered a fractured kneecap in an accident, so I has undergone knee surgery two times. Then, he experienced difficulty in walking. Since 2019, he has gone to this gym to perform rehabilitation exercises”.

The man who had his kneecap broken in an accident can now lift heavy weights and walk comfortably. He now acts as an effective "assistant" of the founder of this special gym to support rehab patients here.

In fact, fitness coach Tran Van Dung got involved in this meaningful work twenty years ago, exactly after 1995. He has rent this facility at an affordable price with the aim of helping rehab patients. He said that the number of his gym’s users stands at around 30. Most of them live in Da Nang while the remainder live in Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province. Apart from helping rehab patients at his gym, Mr. Dung also offers free recovery exercise instructions to those who experience difficulty in walking at their own houses.

Mr. Nguyen Be, a resident of Hai Chau district, who is about to turn 70, has undergone two brain surgeries with the first one due to a brain tumor, and the second due to a stroke. Although he currently has to walk with a cane, as well as increases his leg exercises. However, Mr. Be can comfortably lift heavy weights and move his hands very flexibly.

The ‘remuneration’ paid to coach Tran Van Dung is gradual improvement in health of rehab patients after performing exercises at his gym. Furthermore, the sympathy and love among his gym’s users is also considered as the accumulated and meaningful compensation for him.

Perhaps Coach Tran Van Dung cannot remember how many people he has helped. The retired coach hopes to have good health and enough money to upgrade his gym or move it to new and stable place in a bid to help rehab patients to perform recovery exercises for a long time.

In the context of urban life, inspiring stories of kindness are important to anyone who wants to lead a more mindful and soulful life that is nourished by acts of kindness. Amidst a busy life, helping others and giving back is the way for Mr. Dung to find peace in his mind.

Reporting by XUAN SON – Translating by H.L