He sells lottery tickets and earns 200,000 VND a day, and spends 45,000 VND on pigeon food.

Many people affectionately call the lottery ticket seller in the wheelchair: "Friend of pigeons and birds". Every day, he regularly feeds the birds three times a day.

Feeling sorry for the birds, Nguyen Hoang Binh stopped by every day to feed them - Photo: TRUNG DAN

Early in the morning, on a wheelchair selling lottery tickets, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Binh (48 years old) from his rented room weaved through familiar streets, then turned into Le Van Tam Park (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City).

On the cart was a bag of grain about 3kg, Mr. Binh stopped at the corner of the park. As soon as he was seen, a flock of pigeons and sparrows swooped down to wait.

Afraid that the birds won't get enough to eat, feed them three times a day.

The first rays of the morning sun playfully shine through the canopy of the old trees. A peaceful scene unfolds before our eyes: pigeons eating seeds outside, inside the park people walking around exercising, talking and laughing.

All like another world in the heart of the bustling city.

Some foreign tourists were delighted by this scene. They quickly took out their phones to take pictures, excitedly saying: "So cute! Everyone is so kind!".

On a day when he sold more than 200 lottery tickets, Nguyen Hoang Binh saved up some money to buy cereal for 45,000 VND to feed his pigeons and sparrows - Photo: YEN TRINH

After spreading a batch of grain and looking at the birds, Mr. Binh said he has been selling lottery tickets for over 20 years. He started feeding this flock of pigeons 7-8 years ago.

He laughed: "At first, I saw the poor sparrows so I bought rice to feed them. Gradually, the pigeons came down. I switched to buying grains such as rice, corn, beans, and pellets because the birds like to eat these more."

Afraid that the birds wouldn't have enough to eat, he stopped by in the morning to feed them and then stayed there selling lottery tickets until about 9 o'clock.

Then he turned to Tran Quoc Toan area (District 3) to continue selling. At around 2pm, he went to get lottery tickets to sell the next day, then he stopped by for a snack. Later in the afternoon, he stopped by again.

Familiar with Mr. Nguyen Hoang Binh, the bird always landed on the bag of grain on his car - Photo: YEN TRINH

He happily said: "Every day I feed the pigeons three times like that. When I'm about to cross the street, they swoop down to the park and wait."

In particular, there were a few smooth black pigeons with purple neck feathers, boldly landing on the grain bag on his car, pecking "vigorously". At times like that, he sat watching and said "there, it flew right in here".

Familiar with Mr. Nguyen Hoang Binh, the bird always landed on the bag of grain on his car - Photo: YEN TRINH

Mr. Binh often buys cereals at Da Kao market, District 1, a total of 3kg for 45,000 VND. Every day he sells about 200 lottery tickets, earning more than 200,000 VND.

There are days when business is slow and rainy, but every day he does not forget to stop by to visit the birds.

He confided that he knew it was expensive and "wasted money on lottery tickets", but he felt sorry for the birds, so he decided to spend less and save a little.

"Birds of the sky, fish of the water, I also do not know when this flock of pigeons appeared. The flock of birds sometimes swooped down to eat, sometimes flew in flocks circling above the treetops.

Like when they finish eating, they perch on the building over there. He knows the birds' "routine" because to him, they are a part of his life.

Flocks of pigeons often swoop down to Le Van Tam Park (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City) to eat rice, grains... brought by people - Photo: YEN TRINH

Feeding the birds, he felt happy and also observed their habits.

"Sparrows will eat rice and discard the chaff, just like people crack melon seeds. As for pigeons, they will eat any size."

Born in Saigon, his parents had passed away. He struggled to make a living with half of his body having lost sensation. In addition, a previous traumatic brain injury caused his head to ache frequently.

But Mr. Binh always smiled optimistically.

The park security guard bought a lottery ticket to support Mr. Nguyen Hoang Binh. Everyone knows the guy who sells lottery tickets and feeds birds in this area - Photo: TRUNG DAN

Knowing that he often feeds the pigeons, the park guards and many people who come here to exercise all recognize him and ask him questions.

Everyone knows the guy who sells lottery tickets and feeds birds. Mr. Tam, the motorbike taxi driver, also calls him "the bird's friend". He also has many acquaintances who often buy lottery tickets.

Pigeons are fed by many people

Not only Mr. Binh, some people when exercising, motorbike taxi drivers in front of the park also bring rice, paddy... for the pigeons. Sometimes it is a small bag that can fit in a hand, sometimes it is a big bag.

Ms. Kim Phuong and her daughter feed pigeons after exercising - Photo: YEN TRINH

After exercising, the daughter came to pick up Kim Phuong (49 years old, living in Binh Thanh district) and brought a bag of bird food. The third-year student affectionately watched her mother "feed" the pigeons.

"Many people feed them so the pigeons like to come here. They come here in large numbers, and when they see that I'm familiar, they come over" - she said.

There are birds that are bold enough to perch on her hands.

Mr. Chau (living in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City) took his grandchild to kindergarten and stopped to spread food for the pigeons - Photo: YEN TRINH

Mr. Chau (68 years old, living in District 3) took his grandson to stop by to give the birds some rice. The boy happily "fed the birds breakfast" with him.

According to Mr. Chau, when taking his child to kindergarten, the two of them often stop to feed the birds. This is also a way for the child to get close to nature and love animals.

Kind people often stop by to feed the pigeons every early morning - Photo: YEN TRINH

Two hours passed in the morning, 7-8 people stopped by to feed the birds like that. There was a girl who quickly fed them and then went to the park to practice, there was a man who fed the birds and leisurely "chatted with them".

Sometimes the birds disperse, sometimes gather and then suddenly fly high.

At nearly 9 o'clock, Mr. Binh's wheels turned to District 3. The pigeons were full, and a few were still picking up the remaining seeds.

The image of a flock of friendly pigeons creates beauty in a park in the heart of the city:

Young people enjoy watching friendly birds - Photo: YEN TRINH

Friendly, bold pigeons - Photo: YEN TRINH

Flocks of pigeons swooping down from early morning at Le Van Tam park - Photo: YEN TRINH

Peaceful scene at Le Van Tam park - Photo: YEN TRINH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/anh-ban-ve-so-ngay-kiem-200-ngan-mua-thuc-an-cho-bo-cau-het-45-000-dong-2024110518230292.htm