Since 2005, an elderly man has been roaming the streets of Ho Chi Minh City’s Binh Tan District in his old car, sharing the daily news with local residents from his loudspeakers. 

Pham Van Tranh, 67, of An Lac Ward, has been bringing information and joy to people in his neighborhood for years.

“I bought this La Dalat car from a scrap shop and got it fixed to get around. But when I realized that the security situation in the neighborhood was getting more complicated, I decided to turn it into a mobile radio car to promptly provide locals with necessary information,” Tranh explained when asked how he became a “messenger.”

He then bought an amplifier and two speakers which he mounted onto his car and asked the ward staff to record necessary information and updated regulations.

Kind and committed ‘newsreader’

Tranh gets up at 4:00 am every day to get ready for his “news broadcasting” sessions and drives to his chosen destinations by 6:00 am to deliver the news.

He also reads aloud topical news on the microphone.

Initially, more than a few people laughed or expressed annoyance at Tranh’s act, but they gradually grew accustomed to it and now happily welcome him wherever he goes.

“In the beginning, I was so excited about the job that I delivered the news for some six or seven hours on end, three times a day. I then got tinnitus and headaches and had a lot of difficulty sleeping. Now I’ve grown ‘addicted’ to it, and can’t sleep soundly on the days I don’t drive around and deliver the news,” Tranh shared.

After two years on the job, Tranh was asked by local authorities to join a security team and “broadcast” the news for the ward’s culture office once a week.

“Uncle Tranh has helped local residents quickly grasp new regulations and updated them with the current social and security situations such as human trafficking, robberies, and thefts. He’s really kind and committed, so everyone here loves him,” commented Vo Ngoc Tuyet Nga, chair of the An Lac People’s Committee.

4,250 hours ‘on air’

Tranh always makes sure that residents in all localities have access to his radio news at least twice a month. Currently he “broadcasts” news for some two hours a day, in the morning or afternoon.

People in adjacent localities have asked him to broadcast the news in their neighborhoods, but his senior age keeps him from doing so.

According to estimates by the An Lac People's Committee, Tranh has spent 4,250 hours “broadcasting,” which is a considerable number compared to professional radio stations.

Sometimes, locals stuff notes with news items they think he should “broadcast” into his car.

“I was really surprised the first time I found the notes. But it later dawned on me that locals have trusted me with the news “broadcasting” task, so I’ve always given it my best shot,” he shared.

Tranh said he is not daunted or intimidated by bad people, who sometimes threaten to harm him if he keeps delivering news which might hurt their “businesses.”

However, he is encouraged by those who support him. “Once I was hospitalized for two weeks and locals kept phoning to ask after me. So I’ll continue the job for as long as I can,” the man stressed.

He has recently pocketed a local prize for his good deed and commitment.

Legacy of the past

In a number of rural areas and suburbs in large cities, including HCMC and Hanoi, news and information are still broadcast on public loudspeakers at certain times throughout the day.

First introduced in the fifties, the speakers saved many lives with their vital early warnings of U.S. troops’ bombing raids during the Vietnam War.

Today, few people really need them in urban areas where smartphones are prevalent and the Internet works well.

Some even consider the practice obsolete and annoying, and dismiss it as a kind of noise pollution which plagues them in the early hours day in, day out. However, most find the practice quite functional, fun, and a reminder of the old days.