In 2003, Thuy (born 1971) agreed to marry widower Nguyen Bui Dat to look after his four children after their mother died. The eldest was 15 and the youngest was 2.

Thuy worked in the fields and as a manual construction helper to earn money. She borrowed fish and rice, prepared hot meals for the children, and once rode a bicycle 35 km to bring medicine for a sick child.

For 23 years Thuy treated her stepchildren and her own children the same. She defended them, for example apologising to parents after a fight, and earned their love, showing that a stepmother can be a true mother.

Today, Luong and her five siblings each month pool money to support their parents, showing Thuy’s lasting devotion. Her story reminds us that compassion can turn hardship into a strong family bond.