Bùi Văn Minh, born in 1990 and a member of the Blind Association of Hung Yen, is a shining example of perseverance and determination. Born with congenital blindness, Minh has one eye with only 1/10 vision and the other completely blind. Despite his visual impairment, Minh has never let it define or limit his life.
Before joining the Blind Association, he worked in freelance jobs but faced challenges in sustaining a stable income. Later, he decided to join the Blind Association of Hung Yen Province, where he was given the opportunity to learn traditional massage techniques at the National Training and Rehabilitation Center for the Vietnamese Blind. Returning to his village after graduation, Minh joined the massage studio run by the Hung Yen’s Blind Association.
To improve his skills, Minh was sent by the Association to attend our advance Vietnamese Non-oil therapeutic massage course in December 2024. The course opened up his mindset about his career as a professional therapist which he has never imagined before. This is the first time He heard about the Thai Government’s efforts in creating the Thai massage and building the industry to attract foreign tourists contributing hundreds millions US dollars to Thai economy. Thai massage has been recognized by UNESCO in 2020, so he should have a high hope for the future of the massage industry in Vietnam as well as the position of the blind therapists in the society. The course also helped him learn how to use body position for effective pressures and memorized the massage routines to apply effectively and smoothly on clients. Therefore, Minh could apply these techniques to deliver effective treatments, attracting more clients and get higher income.
Minh’s goal is to be able to support himself financially and improve his quality of life. He believes that massage therapy will provide him with a stable income, allowing him to live better and contribute positively to society.
