Readers admire British man for teaching little girl on Ho Chi Minh City sidewalk

Over the past few days, many passers-by at the busy intersection of Pasteur and Vo Thi Sau Streets in downtown Ho Chi Minh City have been drawn to the sight of a foreigner giving lessons to a young girl on the sidewalk.

Christopher, known simply as Chris, sits teaching English to a nine-year-old girl named Thanh Hien on the concrete sidewalk illuminated by the pale glow of a streetlight.

Beside them, her mother, Mai Anh, 44, quietly watches over her daughter while continuing her daily work selling lottery tickets.

Chris, who has been working in Vietnam for about a year, recalled that he first noticed Hien and her mother during one of his walks through the area.

After seeing the child studying and the mother working tirelessly nearby, he approached them and offered to teach Hien English.

After Tuoi Tre News posted on Facebook an article titled ‘Sidewalk lessons between foreigner and child light up Ho Chi Minh City street’ and shared photos showing a heartwarming scene of Chris teaching the little girl, many foreign readers expressed their admiration and praise for his kindness.

Many appreciated his act of compassion, while others shared similar experiences of helping young Vietnamese practice English.

“You are a wonderful man,” wrote a reader named Yuki Chan, who comes from Tokyo.

Another reader described his act as awesome.

“That’s so sweet. We need more people like him in this world,” another reader expressed his admiration.

Grace David from Maryland commented, “Priceless. This is life!”

“This brings me to tears. Thank you for your kindness,” another reader wrote.

Through his act, reader Edith Giraudo expressed her thought, “When you want to do something good for other people, you don’t need a charity foundation. Just start by helping those close to you.”

“That’s what the world should be,” another foreign reader shared.

To praise the man’s act of kindness, a reader wrote, “A brain to pick, an ear to listen to. A mentorship worth the whole wide world.”

Some called on others to spread such an act of kindness as they were moved by the scene.

“Please spread this positive energy,” a reader wrote.

“We hope to see more honest and moral people from all over the world, whether tourists or those working there, who can guide and help more children,” another reader commented.

Meanwhile, several shared their experiences of helping Vietnamese people practice English.

“When staying in Ho Chi Minh City many years ago, I walked to Le Van Tam Park to spend the mornings. Many times I would be approached by adults and students to practice English and I was glad to help,” Scott Fries wrote.

Another foreigner also shared his pleasure in helping children in Vietnam learn English.

“I used to work offshore out of Vung Tau. We always stayed in a hotel for a few nights before going offshore," he wrote.

“I used to go to a local shop, sit outside on the pavement and drink a few beers.

“Two children of the owner trying to learn English used to ask me to help them a little."

Maja Julia, who lives in Bern, shared a memorable experience in Hanoi.

“I loved how kids around Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi asked me to help them learn English and teach them a bit," she recalled.

“I sat down with the three kids, and although we couldn’t communicate well, we were able to create a beautiful memory together."

In third grade, Hien is the youngest of three sisters.

She goes to school during the day and follows her mother onto the streets at night to sell lottery tickets, as her mother does not feel safe leaving her home alone.

Her eldest sibling, 25, is already married, while her second sister, 16, suffers from epilepsy and also joins their mother on the streets when possible.

Their father, once a tech-based driver before the COVID-19 pandemic, now works as a traditional motorbike taxi driver.

Her mother said the thing that troubles her most is having her young children accompany her through sun and rain to make a living on the streets.

Yet the children seem to understand the family’s difficult circumstances and always remain cheerful whenever they go out with their mother.