At 41 years old, Mr. Thuận embodies quiet strength and unwavering dedication to his family. A husband and father of two children in grades 6 and 7, he’s spent most of his adult life as a road construction worker for Long Nguyệt Transportation Construction Co., Ltd., while his wife manages their farm and livestock. His life has been a testament to relentless hard work, all to secure a stable future for his loved ones.
Mr. Thuận was born with a visual impairment that has gradually worsened over time. He managed to attend school until 9th grade, but his deteriorating eyesight, initially misdiagnosed as astigmatism, eventually forced him to leave. As his vision continued to decline, a serious concern began to weigh on his mind: how would he continue to support his family if he could no longer perform heavy manual labor?
He first learned about the Blind Association’s massage training program two years ago through the chairman of the Nho Quan District Blind Association. At that time, however, he wasn’t ready to make such a significant life change. “I had to finish building our home first,” he explains. “I wanted to make sure it was strong enough to protect my wife and kids during storms. I couldn’t focus on learning until I knew they were safe.” This deep sense of responsibility speaks volumes about his character.
Now, with the house finally finished and enough money saved for his children’s school fees—around 10 million VND, including buying a desktop computer—Mr. Thuận has found a profound sense of peace. “My wife just needs to worry about daily meals. The rest is taken care of. That’s why I can finally commit to learning.” This peace of mind has allowed him to fully embrace a new path.
He enrolled in the massage training course as a vital long-term investment in his future. “I joined this class to prepare for the day I lose my sight completely,” he shares. “It’ll be harder to learn once I can’t see at all, so I want to gain the skills now to be able to work later as a massage therapist or technician.” His foresight is remarkable, transforming a potential hardship into a proactive opportunity.
Before this, Mr. Thuận had spent nine years in the South working on poultry and mushroom farms before returning to his hometown to get married. Although he’d heard of massage therapy, he’d never experienced it himself and wasn’t particularly interested at first. “But when I learned that teachers from Hanoi were coming to lead the course, I knew it was worth the effort. I dropped everything to study.” His commitment to learning, when the right opportunity arose, is truly inspiring.
Living and training with other blind students has been both a powerful learning experience and, at times, a challenge. “Sometimes I feel frustrated,” he admits with a wry smile. “People leave their shoes lying around and I keep tripping over them. I call home and tell my wife I spend half my day avoiding people.” He also expresses deep empathy for his classmates’ daily struggles. “I feel for my classmates—it’s hard for them to even eat properly. Something as simple as dipping meat into fish sauce becomes difficult when you can’t see. So many of them just eat plain food.”
Despite these small frustrations, Mr. Thuận remains steadfastly committed to his training. “I see this as a necessary step,” he affirms. “I want to be ready, and I want to make sure that when my vision is completely gone, I’ll still be able to earn a living and care for my family.”
