Nonagenarian woman sells lottery tickets to support elder sister in Vietnam
Thursday, November 02, 2017, 16:45 GMT+7
A 90-year-old woman in southern Vietnam is still selling lottery tickets every day despite old age to provide for her elder sister.
For those living near the Sa Dec Market, situated in the namesake city in Dong Thap Province, Vo Thi Nguon should be a familiar name.
Nguon, 90, sells lottery tickets at the marketplace on a daily basis.
She has done this job for over three decades.
“Many people have advised me to retire considering my age,” Nguon said. “But if I quit my job, how will I take care of my elder sister?”
The older sister is 93-year-old Vo Thi Hanh, who once sold lottery tickets with Nguon.
However, Hanh now has to stay home over health problems.
The two sisters closely bond with each other as they used to sell rice, sugarcane, and eggs to support the family when they were young.
Ever since their parents passed away, they have relied only on each other.
According to Nguon, she starts her regular day by giving her elder sister a bed bath and making her some milk before going to work.
“I sell lottery tickets from 8:00 am to 11:00 am and from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Some locals are aware of my circumstances and have become regular customers,” the nonagenarian woman said.
A few years ago, Nguon was diagnosed with varicose veins, abnormal heart rhythms, and high blood pressure, which all make it difficult for her to walk around.
The elderly woman can only sell lottery tickets at a fixed location at the Sa Dec Market.
Whenever it rains, she takes shelter at a nearby florist’s.
Nguon and Hanh are living in a house built by authorities in Ward 2, Sa Dec City.
Benefactors have helped the two sisters by providing rice, instant noodles, and soy sauce.
However, the aged women only keep a small portion for themselves and donate the rest to local charities and pagodas.
“The two of us cannot use up the donations. It will be better when we help those less fortunate than us,” Nguon said.
According to Nguyen Thi Kim Loan, chairwoman of the People’s Committee in Ward 2, local authorities offer monthly assistance to the two sisters.
Philanthropists also contact the administration to provide help every now and then, Loan continued, adding that they will open a savings account for Nguon and Hanh.
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Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper is receiving donations for Nguon and Hanh. Any support can be provided directly at the headquarters of Tuoi Tre at 60A Hoang Van Thu Street, Ward 9, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. People living in Vietnam who wish to transfer their donation can wire the money to Tuoi Tre’s bank account No. 113000006100 at VietinBank, Branch 3, Ho Chi Minh City. Overseas donors can transfer their money to the newspaper via Vietcombank Ho Chi Minh City at account No. 007.137.0195.845 (for U.S. dollars), or 007.114.0373.054 (for euros), SWIFT code: BFTVVNVX007. The description of the transfer should state “Nhip cau nhan ai - ma so 106, giup do ba Vo Thi Nguon TP Sa Dec, tinh Dong Thap.” |
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