Elderly Vietnamese Couple Makes a "Second Home" for Vietnamese Students in France

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Mr. and Mrs. Du - owners of The Saigon Store supermarket(Photo: VNA).

The Saigon Store supermarket at 6 Doudart de Lagrée Street, Grenoble (France) is where the married couple Quan Du and Le Ngoc Nga (Mr. and Mrs. Du) make a living.

With the help of charitable organizations, they gradually started their life here by buying the shop, the house and developing the business as it is today. They shared that since the young people living abroad often go through hardships, they are ready to help them financially, emotionally, with time and effort.

At their stores, the goods here are mainly imported from Asia, especially Vietnamese goods. Although small-sized, it is always crowded. Most customers are Vietnamese expatriates and French people who like Asian food.

This is a place that Vietnamese students often visit. They come to buy Vietnamese goods, and to feel the love and care of the owners. Mr. and Mrs Du are known for their generosity among the students who have just arrived to study, like when they encounter difficulties in a foreign land.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang visited and worked in Grenoble city, thanking Mr. and Mrs. Du for their help to Vietnamese students studying there (Photo: VNA).

Originally from Kien Giang Province, Mr. and Mrs. Du came to France to start a business in the early 1980s. Back then, they used to experience difficult and miserable beginnings in a foreign land.

Mr. Du simply thought that because he felt for the students, since they were alone in a foreign land. Even though he was busy with business, when the students asked him a favor, from cleaning the house, fixing things, to buying cheap cabinets and chairs, repainting them, he would do it himself. He would bring them to the students when needed. He provides different kinds of support like finding doctors for the newly arrived students, and guiding them through paperwork to help them confidently stay and study.

When it comes to Tet and Mid-Autumn festival activities organized by the Student Association of the city, the couple always enthusiastically support and help. Their help is sometimes materially, sometimes financially, but all comes simply from the warm love of compatriots.

They are kind to not only Vietnamese, but also Laotians and Thais, whoever needs help. That is the reason why they are always loved by everyone.

"I just want Westerners to see that the nature of Vietnamese people is very good, there is nothing to criticize," said Mr. Du with a smile when explaining his way of contributing to the community abroad.

Always silently supporting the activities of the Vietnamese Student Association in Grenoble, Mr. and Mrs. Du have long been a material and spiritual typical example, an indispensable part of the Association. Every time they come, students would greet them "Uncle and Aunt Du" like family members.

Former Vietnamese students in Grenoble often visit the Du whenever they return to the city where they studied (Photo: VNA).

Dr. Phan Hai Trieu, Vice President of the Vietnamese Association in Isère province, former President of the Vietnamese Student Association in Grenoble, knew "Uncle and Aunt Du" since 2007 when he went to study abroad in the city.

"Students always receive the care and attention of Uncle and Aunt every time we come to the store. Sometimes they give discounts, sometimes they give free food, sometimes they send food to support the Organizing Committee of the traditional Tet festival of students. They even make lanterns and give gifts to the children of overseas Vietnamese during the Mid-Autumn Festival. No matter how busy they get, the uncle and aunt always take the time to help everyone and not mind their own age and health. There is always dedication, closeness and friendliness in what they do," said Trieu.

Tran Thi Thuy Hien, PhD in Linguistics at the GIPSA-Lab Language Center in Grenoble city, could not hold back her tears of emotion when recalling the days when she first arrived in this city. Recalling the times when Mr. and Mrs. Du helped her in difficult times, she exclaimed that the couple are an indispensable part of our student association."

"They were the first overseas Vietnamese I met. I was lucky enough to receive their help when I came to Grenoble. Not only to me, they are very famous in the Vietnamese community in general for their kindness and enthusiasm. The Vietnamese Student Association in Grenoble is always grateful for their silent and unconditional help,” said Hien.

Hien added that it was no longer a simple act of helping but an embodiment of unconditional kindness and sharing among Vietnamese people.

Already in their 70s and about to retire, Mr. Du said he would leave the store in the hands of the young people. He hopes that those who take over the store will continue to help the community, especially international students, to promote the noble tradition of the Vietnamese people: always helping and loving each other anytime, anywhere.

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