King Thanh Thai's grandson died in poverty.

On the morning of December 28, in a small house by the roadside in Nhon Hung hamlet, Nhon Nghia commune, Phong Dien district (Can Tho city), Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy (49 years old) was preparing for the funeral of her husband, Prince Nguyen Phuoc Bao Tai (57 years old), who had just passed away.passed awayafter a period of illness. Nguyen Phuoc Bao Tai is the grandson of King Thanh Thai.

Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Bao Tai passed away in poverty and illness.

Amidst the mournful sound of funeral drums and trumpets, the smell of incense made many people unable to hold back their emotions. Ms. Thuy said that Mr. Tai had diabetes and joint pain for many years.

For about 3 months now, Mr. Tai's health has been deteriorating, so he went to Binh Tan District Hospital (HCMC) for a check-up and was given medicine to take.

“Two weeks ago, Mr. Tai fainted after going to the Binh Tan District Hospital for a check-up. He was then transferred to Pham Ngoc Thach Hospital. At that time, the doctor diagnosed him with a lung abscess, diabetes,high blood pressure, kidney failure…”, Ms. Thuy choked up.

Since her husband passed away, Ms. Thuy has been extremely sad.

“After being hospitalized for 2 weeks, Tai passed away. From the time he was admitted to the hospital until he passed away, he could not say a word. In his last moments, he held my hand tightly, let out a sigh and then passed away forever,” Ms. Thuy cried. Tai’s family brought his body to Can Tho for a funeral and burial.

Prince Nguyen Phuoc Bao Tai is the youngest son of Prince Vinh Giu, grandson of King Thanh Thai.

Ms. Thuy and her daughter Thanh Tuyen.

Tuyen has a bright and intelligent mind but her limbs cannot move. She can only sit in one place and needs someone to help her with all her activities.

While in Can Tho, Bao Tai worked as a motorbike taxi driver. Due to difficult circumstances, Tai and his wife brought their daughter to Saigon to live. The couple rented a house in Binh Tan district.

“When we first came to Saigon, my husband and I worked as construction workers. Later, Mr. Tai’s health was not good so he quit and switched to driving a motorbike taxi. I applied to work as a janitor at the People’s Committee of Binh Tan District. In the past few years, due to illness, Mr. Tai stopped driving a motorbike taxi and just stayed at the motel to take care of his daughter. In the morning, he drove his daughter from Binh Tan to District 3 to study, and in the afternoon he picked her up. All living expenses were paid for by my small salary,” Ms. Thuy said.

Prince Nguyen Phuoc Bao Tai. Photo: Tran Chanh Nghia

According to Ms. Thuy, this year Tuyen is in 3rd grade and studies very well, and is praised by all teachers at school.

"After finishing his funeral, I went to Saigon to ask for a new job, but I don't know if they will agree. Since Tai got sick, I had to take time off to take care of him, so now I'm afraid they will hire someone else," Ms. Thuy worried.