Ngô Văn Đậu checks the emergency aid devices on the ambulance which he bought to carry local poor patients to hospital. VNA/VNS Photo Công Mạo

AN GIANG Ngô Văn Đậu, a 56-year-old farmer living in Mekong Delta An Giang Province, often neglects his fields all day because he is too busy carrying the poor to hospitals.

For nearly 10 years, he has been an indispensable part of Phú Thành Commune, Phú Tân District, famous for a work-hard mentality and devoting his time and money to his charity pursuits.

In 2009, Đậu, and his two elder brothers purchased an ambulance, worth VNĐ540 million (US$23,200), to transport poor patients free of charge to hospitals in the province, online newspaper vietnamplus.vn reported.

The move marked the first ambulance service in Phú Thành Commune to help his neighbours go to hospital as soon as possible.

Đậu said he was born in a poor family and had to do different jobs to earn a living, so he understands the suffering of the poor.

After getting married and creating a better life for himself, he decided to help the poor, initially offering them rice and money.

He saw many local people were sick and in some cases died from a severe disease due to the lack of transportation to hospital, so he decided to buy the ambulance.

In 2017, his family bought another worth VNĐ700 million ($30,000) to carry patients in need.

He said everything he has done is to set an example for his children, so they might do good works and help those around them.

He also raises fish to get more income.

After years of farming tra fish, he found that it could not bring a stable income for charity.

In 2011, he discussed with his family to buy 4ha of farmland for lease and purchased another 5ha in 2017 to get money for charity.

He has used about VNĐ300 million ($13,000) collected from land lease per year for his own family's charity fund.

"In more than 20 years of charity work, the happiest thing for me is the support of my wife and children and the love of locals. It is the motivation for me to continue my charity activities," Đậu said.

Đậu has also supported poor patients’ families and contributed money to build bridges, upgrade roads and other infrastructure in his hometown.

He is also known as a successful farmer. He earns VNĐ2 billion (over $86,000) from farming annually and employs 18 people.

Trần Thị Nguyệt, Đậu’s wife, said he is passionate about charity.

“He spends most of his time doing charity work without thinking about himself. I have to remind him to keep him healthy,” she said.

Recently, he donated more than 1,000 square metres of land and VNĐ500 million to upgrade the local cemetery.

He is a special person not only for what he has done, but also for his heart of gold, said Dương Bảo Lộc, chairman of Phú Thành People's Committee.

Đậu has received Certificates of Merit from the Prime Minister and the Việt Nam Farmers’ Association. VNS