Part 2: Sowing seeds of hope

Since platelet donation isn’t available in Điện Biên, Lieutenant Colonel Dũng must take the initiative to arrange his work, travel early and return late, and cover all travel and accommodation expenses himself. But not once has he considered giving up.

“At first,” he shared, “some people told me, ‘Do you really have to go through so much trouble?’ But I thought, if everyone waited for convenience, how many people would miss their chance to survive? After each donation, my body might feel tired, but my spirit is always light. Just thinking about a mother reuniting with her child, or a husband holding his wife’s hand through a crisis, makes every hardship worthwhile.”

With that simple conviction, he began to dream bigger: How could he inspire more people to give? How could one small act ripple outward? At the end of 2024, he and a few close friends founded the “Red Drops for Dreams” Club. What began as a small group soon expanded to hundreds of members across provinces and professions, from police officers and teachers to students, small business owners, and farmers.

Some members, like Dũng, have donated dozens of times. Others had never considered donating blood until they heard stories shared by club members. Nguyễn Diệu Hương, a 20-year-old from Điện Biên Phủ ward, is one such member.

“I came across the club through one of his social media posts,” Hương recalled. “I used to be afraid of blood and never thought I could do it. But after reading about patients waiting for blood and seeing others donate over and over again, I thought, why not me? After my first donation, my arm was a little numb, but I felt incredibly happy inside. As long as I’m healthy, I’ll continue.”

For Lieutenant Colonel Dũng, forming a club wasn’t about leading an organization or gaining recognition. He simply wanted to create a space where kind-hearted individuals could connect, share, and act together, where each blood donation would represent not only timely help but a beautiful expression of humanity, quietly and lovingly extended.

Thanks to these shared values, the “Red Drops for Dreams” Club has grown more impactful and far-reaching. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, the club organized and contributed hundreds of blood and platelet donations; raised over VND 50 million to support post-storm recovery in Yên Bái province; gave gifts to underprivileged students in Thái Nguyên; and supported patients facing difficult circumstances in Điện Biên. Every journey they undertake is fueled by a simple belief: “A timely act of kindness can change a life.”

More than 100 members are bonded not by benefits or status, but by faith in the goodness of life. For Lieutenant Colonel Dũng, these acts of giving have never been limited to the present. Few people know that he has quietly registered to donate organs and body tissues should the worst happen.

“If my life comes to an end, something of it can still carry on,” he said. “I’ve completed the paperwork to donate my body to medical science, with the hope that, even without breath, this body can still serve life, science, and those in need.”

Nguyễn Thị Dân, Vice Chairwoman of the Điện Biên provincial Red Cross, has worked in humanitarian efforts for many years. “Lieutenant Colonel Dũng is a pioneer, not only in blood donation but in spreading a responsible, compassionate way of living,” she says. “His actions speak louder than words, and they touch people with sincerity.”

Beneath the formal uniform of a mobile police officer beats a heart full of warmth and compassion. For Dũng, it’s simply a way to spread kindness from even the smallest gestures.

And perhaps, it is this quietness that makes his journey so remarkable. A soldier in everyday life who chooses to live righteously, not with slogans, but with concrete, heartfelt action. A messenger of red drops who sows seeds of hope into the fabric of life with love and humanity.

“I don’t think I’m doing anything grand,” he said with a contented smile. “I just believe that if I can do something meaningful, I shouldn’t let the opportunity pass.”

On July 9, 2025, during the 13th “Red Journey” program and the provincial ceremony honoring outstanding voluntary blood donors, Lieutenant Colonel Dũng was awarded a certificate of merit by the Chairman of the Điện Biên provincial People’s Committee for his significant contributions to the voluntary blood donation movement in 2024.