Chen Ta Yu: Inspiring Acts Of Kindness And Creating A Circle Of Love In Vietnam

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The Journey of Sowing Seeds of Kindness

In 1993, Chen Ta Yu first set foot in Vietnam during a business survey trip. The peaceful landscape and the simplicity, sincerity, and warmth of its people left a deep impression on him. He recalled that it was this rustic yet profoundly humane way of life that planted in him the desire to stay connected and find ways to contribute to the local community.

Chen Ta Yu (second from left) presents post-disaster relief packages to residents in Hoa Binh Province (now Phu Tho Province) on November 19, 2017. (Photo: Tzu Chi)

Since 2009, Chen Ta Yu has officially served as a volunteer of the Tzu Chi Foundation (Taiwan, China), and in 2016, he was entrusted with the role of Chief Representative of the organization in Vietnam. He shared that, in his early days on the job, the greatest challenges came from differences in laws, administrative procedures, and approaches to implementing humanitarian projects. Yet, with persistence and conviction, he gradually won the trust of both local authorities and the headquarters in Taiwan, paving the way for Tzu Chi to operate more effectively in Vietnam.

Under his coordination, Tzu Chi has carried out a wide range of practical humanitarian programs. Since June 2016, the organization has supported more than 134,900 disadvantaged households, provided nearly 24,000 educational grants, built 50 charity houses, and organized 44,821 free medical checkups and treatments, with a total budget of over 10 million USD (equivalent to 262 billion VND).

The projects range from scholarships, Tet gifts, and living expense support to disaster relief. Notably, Tzu Chi has carried out timely activities, delivering tens of thousands of relief packages to provinces in Central and Northern Vietnam affected by floods and storms (such as Ha Tinh, Hoa Binh, Quang Binh, Yen Bai, Lao Cai…). During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tzu Chi not only supported more than 16,000 disadvantaged households but also donated medical equipment, ventilators, and oxygen concentrators to frontline hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City.

Chen Ta Yu (far left) distributes Tet gifts to residents of Tram Tau District, Yen Bai Province (now Tram Tau Commune, Lao Cai Province) on January 13, 2020. (Photo: Tzu Chi)

In addition to emergency relief efforts, Tzu Chi also focuses on long-term support. Every year, the organization provides tuition assistance for thousands of disadvantaged students, donates bicycles to children in rural areas, and awards full scholarships to many university and college students in Ho Chi Minh City, Tra Vinh, Hai Duong, and other localities. Tzu Chi also maintains monthly living allowances for more than 500 underprivileged households across various provinces, helping them overcome hardship and gradually achieve self-reliance.

“For me, compassion is not just a slogan; it must be embodied in concrete actions that deliver real benefits to the community. That is how Tzu Chi and I sow the seeds of kindness in Vietnam,” shared Chen Ta Yu.

The Cycle of Love

Over the course of nearly a decade, Chen Ta Yu has witnessed countless transformations born from those first acts of support. Disadvantaged students have been able to continue their studies, struggling patients have received treatment, and many families have overcome hardship to regain hope.

One of the stories that touched him most was about a young girl suffering from thalassemia. Since the age of four, she has needed monthly blood transfusions to survive, while her father was bedridden after an accident and her mother worked as a cleaner to support two children. For many years, Tzu Chi has stood by her side, covering tuition and living expenses.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, complications forced her to undergo a pancreatic surgery. At one point, she felt so hopeless that she wanted to give up treatment. Yet, thanks to Tzu Chi’s timely support, from providing medical equipment to connecting her with skilled doctors, she gradually recovered. Today, she can pursue online university studies and teach English virtually to cover her tuition fees. More importantly, she shared that once her health stabilizes, she hopes to become someone who can bring hope to patients like herself or others facing even greater hardships, so that love continues its cycle, from receiving to giving.

“For me, this is living proof of the power of compassion: when someone is lifted, they carry that flame in their heart and continue to pass it on. That is the very cycle of love that Tzu Chi strives for,” said Chen Ta Yu.

Chen Ta Yu (far left) presents backpacks and school supplies to a charity class in Binh Duong (now Ho Chi Minh City) on November 26, 2019. (Photo: Tzu Chi)

This cycle is not limited to just one individual. It is also reflected in the thousands of children who once received Tzu Chi scholarships. Many of them, after growing up, have become volunteers themselves, returning to join charity programs and readily extending a helping hand to those in greater need. From being “the helped” to becoming “the helper,” this is how seeds of compassion are planted, nurtured, and multiplied across the community.

Looking ahead, Chen Ta Yu affirmed that Vietnam is entering a new phase of development filled with opportunities. A nation with political and social stability, bold economic reforms, and above all, a resourceful people, intelligent, diligent, and eager to learn, has all the foundations to rise. For Tzu Chi, it is the kindness of the Vietnamese people that inspires the organization to remain committed for the long term.

In the time ahead, Tzu Chi hopes to expand cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, and relevant authorities to implement more comprehensive initiatives: from disaster relief, preventive healthcare, and environmental education to compassionate scholarships and talent development. Chen Ta Yu believes that when local wisdom joins hands with international experience, Tzu Chi’s strength and Vietnam’s potential will shine together, creating a sustainable humanitarian network for the community.

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