Brian Jeffrey
Recently, a social media post featuring an elderly man with white hair has gone viral. He was seen working as a delivery driver, braving the intense heat in Ho Chi Minh City to collect packages.
The individual who shared the story booked a delivery service and was surprised to find that the driver was quite old. Upon meeting him, she felt a surge of compassion. His skin was weathered from the sun, and he appeared frail, his hands shaking as he used his phone.
“Despite the extreme heat, this man was still out there working. He mentioned he was trying to support his 12th-grade son,” she recalled.
This touching account sparked an outpouring of emotional responses online. Many netizens sought the man’s contact details to offer him financial assistance or hire him for deliveries.
The woman, Tran Thanh Van, from HCM City, reported that she arranged for a delivery around 2:30 PM on June 23. She conversed with the driver and even gave him a little extra money.
Afterward, she shared his story and image with her younger sister, hoping it would help him gain more work. The post quickly became popular across various social media channels.
“Numerous calls poured in from people wanting to contribute or book his services, but he kindly declined all offers. He was straightforward and upheld his pride,” she noted.
“I initially shared his story with good intentions, but now I worry it may have brought him unwanted attention,” Van expressed.
The elderly driver identified as D.T.L., 76, from Ho Chi Minh City.
L. mentioned he has received many generous offers recently but simply thanked everyone for their kindness without accepting any financial help.
“My family has endured difficulties for quite some time; it’s not a new situation. I believe if others can manage, so can we,” he stated.
“As long as I maintain my health, I’ll continue working to support my son. I can still contribute financially to my family. I just hope the social media attention doesn’t lead to any confusion,” he added.
In his younger days, L. drove container trucks, and later transitioned to being a security officer in his 40s. He started his family later in life, welcoming a child when he was older.
When his son began school, L. found the fixed hours of his security job too restrictive for picking up his son. This led him to become a motorbike taxi driver, and eventually, a delivery worker.
L.’s wife works as a domestic helper, earning a consistent salary of VND5 million each month. He shared that while their finances are limited, they manage well and can support their son’s educational needs.
