Journey to 'rescue' a family of 7 on a motorbike

Lang Son Watching a video clip of a family of 7 sitting on a motorbike from Dien Bien to other provinces to find work, Mr. Toan tried every way to chase after them to support them.

On February 28, social media shared the story of a man riding a motorbike with his wife and 5 children from Dien Bien, planning to go to Tan Thanh border gate, Lang Son to find work. The image of the whole family working hard and tired from the journey of hundreds of kilometers in 10 degree Celsius weather made many people feel sorry.

Mr. Pham Ngoc Toan, 42 years old, in Huu Lung town, Lang Son, accidentally saw the video, felt sorry for the children so immediately decided to contact to help. But unable to contact the husband's phone number, he had to post online, calling for people to provide information if they see them.

The image of a H'Mong man carrying his wife and five children sitting around the car was shared on social media when passing through Lang Son province on February 28. Photo: Vuong Xuan Le

After a day of searching, from information from many people, Mr. Toan determined that this family had gone to Cao Bang because they could not find a job as porters at Tan Thanh border gate, Lang Son.

At 7:00 p.m. on February 29, two members of Mr. Toan's volunteer group departed for Trung Khanh district, Cao Bang, following the instructions of local people.

"We had to leave immediately because the distance was more than 250 km, we were afraid that if they moved to another locality, we would lose track of them. Our biggest wish was to help the family have a decent place to eat and sleep, we couldn't let 7 people go on a motorbike, it was very dangerous," said Mr. Toan.

Before leaving, he also contacted the Hope Center in Huu Lung commune, Lang Son - a place that nurtures and cares for orphans and children in especially difficult circumstances - to explain his situation and receive consent to help.

After more than 5 hours of traveling, in the early morning of March 1, they found this family renting a room in Tra Linh town, Trung Khanh district.

The husband, Sung Po Tua, 39 years old, his wife, Phang Thi Senh, 30 years old, and their five children, aged 3 to 10, lived in Suoi Voi village, Leng Su Sin commune, Muong Nhe district, Dien Bien province. At the end of February, they rode a motorbike to Hanoi, slept overnight at Thanh Tri bridge, and in the morning went to Tan Thanh border gate, Lang Son province. Unable to find work, they continued to Cao Bang.

When a strange man offered to take his family to a social welfare center, Sung Po Tua immediately refused because he did not believe it. He said "I only listen to the words of the commune police chief at home". His family lives in Leng Su Sin commune, Muong Nhe district, Dien Bien province.

Receiving a call from Mr. Toan and the volunteer group, Mr. Ca Van Phuong, the police chief of Leng Su Sin commune, confirmed that Mr. Sung Po Tua's family migrated from Son La province to the area many years ago. This couple has 6 children, the oldest of whom is 17 years old this year, is married and currently lives with his wife's family.

Having no home, the family built a temporary shack. With constant encouragement from local officials, Tua and his wife worked hard to earn money and saved up 20 million VND. At the end of last year, they decided to buy a house in the village for 70 million VND. Tua asked to owe 50 million VND, promising to pay it back by October this year.

Seeing that the debt was large but the work in the village was not enough, at the end of February, he went to see the commune police chief to ask for permission to go to work far away. Not feeling comfortable leaving 5 children at home, the couple decided to take them away, so they could take care of them.

"Seeing that Tua and his wife were determined to work to pay off their debt and wanted to have a house, I supported them. I just reminded them to do business honestly, be careful on the road, and call if they needed help," said Ca Van Phuong commune police chief.

Knowing that the charity group of Huu Lung commune wanted to take Tua's family to the protection center so that the children could go to school and find jobs for the couple, Mr. Phuong persuaded and received their consent. On the morning of March 1, the whole family, along with all their belongings and motorbikes, were loaded onto the car and returned to Lang Son.

On the way back, the charity group continuously received calls from many donors asking for appointments to give clothes, food or cash, because the businessmen were in difficult circumstances.

Mr. Pham Ngoc Toan (far right) and members of the charity group took Mr. Tua's family to the Huu Lung Hope Center, Lang Son, on the afternoon of March 1. Photo: Provided by the character

At 2:00 p.m. on March 1, Tua and his wife arrived at the Hope Center in Huu Lung Commune. Here, the family of 7 was arranged a private room with full amenities.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Chat, director of the Hope Center, said that the unit has completed the procedures to receive support for the family, after reporting to the Huu Lung commune authorities and verifying the identity with the local police.

The center director said that the unit will take care of all the care, food, accommodation and education for the five sisters. In the next few days, he will ask Mr. Tua to return to his hometown to get birth certificates and name the five children to complete the schooling procedures. The unit and charitable organizations will help find jobs for the couple to work and pay off their debts soon.

"The most difficult thing is that my wife and five children do not know Kinh, so it is very difficult to communicate, so we have to teach them from the beginning. We are currently trying to find ways to help the whole family integrate soon," said Mr. Chat.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Chat (wearing a hat, standing in the middle), Mr. Toan and members of the volunteer group with Mr. Sung Po Tua's family at Lang Son Hope Center, afternoon of March 1. Photo: Provided by the character

After nearly two days of searching and welcoming Mr. Tua's family, Mr. Toan and the members of the volunteer group said they were very happy because their only wish was to help people in difficult circumstances have a better life.

Receiving help from the community, Mr. Tua repeatedly thanked his wife and children for having free accommodation and enough food. The 39-year-old man said he was looking forward to going to work to have money to pay off his debt.

The story was shared on social media and attracted thousands of likes and comments. Many internet users expressed their emotions when benefactors and shelters helped Tua’s family.

"It is fortunate that the family has met such kind-hearted people. Hopefully a bright future will come to Tua and his wife as well as their children," wrote a netizen named Bich Phuong.

Quynh Nguyen

Source: https://vnexpress.net/hanh-trinh-giai-cuu-gia-dinh-7-nguoi-tren-xe-may-4717641.html