Born in 1999 in Chí Linh, Hải Dương, Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Anh faced a gradual fading of her world. Born with an eye condition, her vision began to deteriorate sharply at the age of 15, eventually leading to complete blindness.
Ngọc Anh candidly shares her initial struggle with shyness and insecurity. The loss of sight plunged her into despair and profound sadness. Yet, the unwavering love and encouragement of her parents became her lifeline, providing the strength she needed to navigate this new reality. Their support rekindled her spirit and empowered her to begin again.
With her family’s steadfast backing, Ngọc Anh found a new path at the Association for the Blind in Hải Dương, embracing the traditional “tẩm quất” (massage) techniques. Months of dedicated effort and determination followed, leading to her first clients. Though initial nervousness was natural, each experience built her confidence and honed her skills.
Today, Ngọc Anh works diligently for 5 to 6 hours each day, earning a wage of 65,000 VND per hour. While occasional tips from appreciative clients (around 1 or 2 out of 10, ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 VND) offer a small bonus, her focus remains on providing quality therapeutic touch.
Driven by a desire to connect with fellow professionals and, more importantly, to deepen and refine her massage techniques, Ngoc Anh participated in our course co-organized with the National Training and Rehab Center for the Vietnamese Blind. Beyond making new friends, Ngoc Anh hopes the enhanced skills gained from this course will lead to a greater clientele and further empower her in her chosen career.
