Ho Chi Minh City students honored for resilience amid family hardships

Students facing significant hardships following the COVID-19 pandemic were honored at the second 'Lá thư tâm sự' (Confiding Letters) award ceremony organized by Thanh Niên Newspaper. The competition provided a platform for orphaned or struggling students to share their family struggles and aspirations.

Phan Ngoc Tuong Vy, a 9th-grade student from Ho Chi Minh City, won second prize. In her letter, she expressed her wish for her brother to return to school; after their mother passed away, her brother had to stop his studies at Nguyen Tat Thanh University to work and support her education.

Nguyen Thai Minh Thu, a second-year student at the Ho Chi Minh City College of Economics, received first prize. Her letter detailed the loss of her father in September 2021.

Other stories of resilience in Ho Chi Minh City highlight students overcoming poverty. One student, Thien, who was raised by his grandparents after being abandoned by his parents, worked as a ride-hailing driver to support his family while maintaining academic excellence and securing admission to the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City.