Vietnamese student dreams of becoming doctor to hear father’s voice

Binh's father, Hoang Ngoc Hoang, 49, from Vinh An Village in Hieu Giang Commune, lost his hearing and speech after complications from a childhood fever.

Despite the family's poverty, Binh's grandparents took their son to Hanoi seeking treatment, but it was unsuccessful.

Hoang was forced to grow up in silence.

Unwilling to surrender to his disability, he became a skilled construction worker, and worked tirelessly to support his family and ensure his two children received an education.

As a child, Binh was confused by his father's silence, wondering why his calls were never answered.

Over time, understanding replaced confusion, and an unwavering desire was born: to one day become a doctor and restore his father's hearing.

By the end of elementary school, that dream had taken root, while in ninth grade, it became a mission.

Binh believed that if his father could hear and speak, life would be profoundly different.

Throughout 12 years of schooling, Binh consistently achieved top academic performance, earning recognition as an outstanding student year after year.

In the 2023-24 school year, he won third prize in the Cam Lo youth innovation competition for a project studying the blood sugar-lowering effects of the gymnanthemum amygdalinum (bitter leaf) plant.

The research, carried out with three schoolmates over six months, involved both animal and human trials.

It was a stepping stone toward Binh's medical dream.

Before reaching the dream, he faced the biggest shock of his life.

In late May 2025, after a day of work, his father suddenly complained of severe abdominal pain.

He was quickly taken to a local clinic where doctors found a tumor on his liver.

He was then referred to two large hospitals, and received the crushing diagnosis: end-stage liver cancer.

Doctors recommended a liver transplant, which would cost around VND2 billion (US$76,330), far beyond the family's means.

Before the illness, Hoang was the main breadwinner of his family, earning VND300,000-350,000 ($11.4-13.3) a day.

Now, he can only walk around the house, and at times the pain is so severe he has to stay in bed all day.

For the past two months, he has been receiving treatment at Quang Tri Hospital, with each hospital stay lasting about a week.

After a few days at home, he is often re-hospitalized when the pain returns.

Medication and hospital fees have reached hundreds of millions of Vietnamese dong.

The family had previously received over VND200 million ($7,630) in compensation from the Van Ninh–Cam Lo expressway project, hoping that the money would be used for the education of the children.

However, it was quickly consumed by hospital fees and medical expenses.

They now survive on three small plots of rice fields and the meager income from Binh's mother, Thai Thi Meo, who does construction assistance work.

However, her time is now mostly spent caring for her ailing husband.

When she accompanied him to Hanoi for treatment, Binh stayed home to care for his grandfather and younger brother, who is in ninth grade.

Despite these responsibilities, Binh managed to complete his final exams and has applied to the Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy and the Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy.

However, with six years of schooling ahead, tuition costs pose a steep challenge.

"My dream of curing my father may be out of reach now," Binh said, adding that "but I still want to become a doctor to help others like him – people who are disabled, poor, and can't afford treatment."

Strong will to learn

Le Thi Nguyet, Binh's chemistry teacher for the three years of high school, described him as an exceptionally self-driven student with a unique approach to independent learning.

She acknowledged the difficulties he faced due to his family's poverty, lacking learning materials and even basic school attire, but noted his deep commitment to education.

"He once shared with me his fears that even if he got into medical school, his parents wouldn't be able to afford the tuition," she said.

"However, I believe if Binh becomes a doctor, he'll be a good one."

Hoang Cong Nguyen, head of Vinh An Village, shared that although Hoang is deaf and mute, he was the family's main provider until illness struck.

"The road ahead is full of obstacles," Binh admitted, "but if someone can give me a hand now, I'll stay firm in my choice. I'll keep moving forward."