An 86-year-old man writes a letter promoting his country.

If you've ever visited a post office, you'll meet a simple but always well-dressed old man with a humble demeanor, always ready to tell stories about Saigon to visitors. That's Mr. Duong Van Ngo, the longest-serving translator and letter writer in Vietnam.

Write letters to promote the country.

Despite being 86 years old, Mr. Ngo still cycles from his home in Thi Nghe to the Post Office every day. For each letter he writes or translates, he only charges 10,000-15,000 dong, no more. However, he has long ceased to consider this work merely a means of earning a living; he does it out of love for the profession and a desire to promote his country.

Mr. Duong Van Ngo has worked at the city's post office for 70 years, holding various positions. At the age of 36, he was sent to study English and French to improve his work. He has been working as a letter writer for 26 years now. He carefully uses a magnifying glass to read each word of his clients' letters before translating and writing them. (Photo: My Phuong)

Every day, hundreds of domestic and international visitors come to the Post Office to explore. Many seek him out to take pictures or ask him to write letters for them, out of respect for his meticulousness in translation and letter writing. He also shares stories about Saigon, past and present, with tourists, suggesting places to visit. Through his knowledge, humility, and enthusiasm, he has presented tourists with a positive image of the Vietnamese people.

Hundreds of letters sent as gifts from foreign countries.

Therefore, Mr. Ngo received many letters and photos sent to him by international friends. There are stories whose context he no longer remembers precisely, but there are also letters he will never forget.

This is about a French couple who came to Vietnam to find the address of their parents' old house, where they lived from 1956 to 1958. They happened to visit the post office and were fortunate enough to meet Mr. Ngo, a man who had experienced many ups and downs in the city. With a brief description of the house they were looking for, Mr. Ngo led the two French tourists to a place near the former French Embassy. They took pictures and sent them to their siblings for confirmation. Afterwards, the couple happily sent him a letter of thanks for helping them find their old home.

Letters from tourists from many places sent to Mr. Ngo. Photo: My Phuong

"He is a quintessential example of Vietnamese kindness and holiness," was the final sentence in the letter the two French tourists left behind, before Mr. Ngo wrote his congratulatory letter. He carefully wrote and copied each reply to the sender using carbon paper to keep as a memento.

Another story about the mother-son bond between a Vietnamese and a French woman also deeply moved him. After the war, the son returned to France with his father, and when he grew up, he returned to Binh Phuoc to find his mother. They reunited and began exchanging letters.

Many years passed, yet the mother still traveled all the way from Binh Phuoc to the Saigon post office to have Mr. Ngo translate her letters into French, sending them to her son regularly every two to three months. Over time, the Frenchman not only sent handwritten letters to his mother, but also sent separate letters expressing his deep gratitude to the old man who had tirelessly conveyed messages to the mother and son.

"The joy is doubled when we give and receive so much in return," Mr. Ngo recounted his long-standing story filled with happiness from always being the one on a mission to bridge gaps.

Tourists gifted Mr. Ngo photos of themselves together as a token of their admiration for his character. Photo: My Phuong

Mr. Ngo said that every day 30-40 visitors want to take pictures with him, and many people come to chat with him. Although quite tired, he always enthusiastically responds when visitors ask him questions.

Due to his advanced age, the Post Office management offered him a cool place to rest during his lunch break, but he refused, fearing that any incident would embarrass the staff. Therefore, he chose to go to nearby eateries, order a meal costing only 10,000 dong, and rest there during his lunch break.

The man who wrote letters for hire always kept one thing in mind: "Being healthy enough to serve the public until now is thanks to God, and I need to live as humbly and ethically as possible."

Mr. Duong Van Ngo is a symbolic figure representing the beautiful image of the people of Saigon, a living witness to the dramatic changes of a modern city. Therefore, he is also known as the "Gentleman of Saigon".

According to VNE