In 1996, Pham Thi Thao met four children whose mother had died three years earlier. She felt sad for them and later married their father, Nguyen Ha’s dad.

Before this marriage she had no children. In 1997 she gave birth to a son. She helped raise all five children.

Because of her care, three of the children finished college or university, and Nguyen Ha became a pharmacist.

In 2014 Thao travelled more than 400 kilometres to be with her daughter after the birth. She stayed for a month to help. She made the same long trip again in 2019 for another daughter’s childbirth.

Today, at 64 years old, Thao lives with her children and grandchildren. They all help her in daily life.

The five siblings have paid together to build a more comfortable home for their parents. They also call each other often, visit, and look after one another regularly.

Their story shows that a stepmother’s unconditional love and equal treatment can create strong family bonds, loyalty, and support for many years.