Happiness is bringing joy to others.

Interviewer: You always consider yourself a happy person. So, in your opinion, what is happiness? Is happiness a destination or a process of finding it? Are the values ​​of happiness immutable, or do they change over time and with changing mindsets?

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Ha:I consider myself happy because I've always strived and been able to do what I love. There are many concepts of happiness, and each person, at different points in their life, perceives and defines happiness differently. Happiness is both a destination and a process of finding it. Sometimes, the destination isn't even a dream; it's already present along the journey. Therefore, I always try my best to find happiness and also enjoy the happiness I have.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Ha (born in 1976) in Khanh Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district. Photo: Thanh Cuong

It must be said that the value of happiness is not immutable; it changes over time. This is evident in my own life. When I was a student, the measure of happiness I perceived was being recognized by others for being "well-behaved and academically successful," and having a little money of my own to spend.

I am the youngest of many siblings. My family has a traditional tailoring business. Therefore, I learned to sew from elementary school. In seventh grade, my father called me over and said, “Now that you’re older, I think you need money. We could give you some, but we want you to earn it yourself through your own labor. You’ll go to school in the mornings and then work in the afternoons. We’ll rent you a space in the market area. In the evenings, you can go there to do sewing work and earn some extra money.”

From earning my first money, I realized the first values ​​of happiness. Gradually, as I grew older, I realized that happiness wasn't simply about money, but about hard work – being able to work, striving to improve my material life... And then, as I got older and my economic situation reached a certain level, I felt the need for a more fulfilling cultural life. So, I dedicated time to traveling, exploring, and broadening my horizons. My happiness transformed into a desire to discover new lands and expand my knowledge.

Photo: Hoang Ha

During my travels, I've met many people in difficult circumstances, and this sparked the idea of ​​sharing and helping them. I've shared resources to some extent myself, and encouraged others to join in helping those in need. Driven by this thought, I sought out those in need, posted information on social media, and connected with charitable organizations like "Journey of Compassion"... thereby helping them overcome adversity. Through my efforts, billions of dong from generous donors have reached those in need.

Furthermore, I volunteered to join a free ambulance service that transports poor patients throughout Vietnam, from the South to the North. Now, my happiness comes from helping people...

PV: Among the many values ​​of happiness that have been mentioned, which one do you consider to be a universal, core value that every individual and society should strive for and focus on?

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Ha:In my opinion, among the values ​​of happiness, family happiness is the core. The family is the cell of society; if there are many happy families, then that society, that nation, that country will be happy. To achieve family happiness, the most important thing is harmony and peace. Each family member must respect each other. Respect means listening to the opinions and wishes of those in your family. Respecting others limits one's own ego; one becomes conscious of making oneself and others better. With that understanding, conflicts within the family will be minimized.

"The family is the basic unit of society; if there are many happy families, then that society, that nation, that country will be happy." Photo: Thanh Cuong

For a family to be truly happy, first and foremost, husband and wife must respect each other; they must strive to communicate regularly and refresh themselves. My wife and I always practice this, which is why every day is a happy day; for my wife, every day is like International Women's Day (March 8th) or Vietnamese Women's Day (October 20th).

Besides the marital relationship, it's important to pay attention to generational values ​​and the relationship between parents and children. My wife and I have an 8-year-old daughter. From a young age, we've placed great emphasis on her education, especially life skills. Whenever we travel far from home, I always try to take her along so she can explore and learn with us. I remember when she was about 4 years old, I took her to climb Mount Tu Va (Yen Thanh), climbing 1,500 steps. My philosophy was to rest when tired and eat when hungry; she could take a break after every 10 steps. After 2 hours, she completed the challenge and reached the summit.

When we reached the top, I asked my son, "The road up is beautiful, but many people litter. Do you think that's good? What should we do?" He replied, "It's not good. We should pick up the trash to keep it clean." Then, on the way down, both of us picked up trash together. We worked and enjoyed ourselves, forgetting our fatigue.

From a young age, Nguyen Hoang Ha always taught his daughter to help those in need. Photo: Hoang Ha

Three years ago, my son and I decided to cycle from Yen Thanh to Bai Lu, following the coastal road. Before the trip, I discussed it with him, and he seemed excited and agreed. However, as soon as we reached Dien Chau, he became bored, tired, and irritable. Instead of trying to persuade him to continue, I simply asked, "If you don't want to go anymore, I'll get you a ride back to your mother. I'll continue, what do you think? If you're going with me, you have to be happy and not complain." After some thought, he agreed to go. I want to tell my son that: You shouldn't ruin other people's plans just for your own pleasure... This story is still often retold by my son and me.

PV: In 2016, Vietnam was ranked 5th in the top 10 countries with the Happy Planet Index by the New Economics Foundation, a UK-based organization specializing in economic and social research, and became the happiest country in Asia. As someone who has traveled to many villages, provinces, cities, and countries and experienced life there firsthand, what do you think of this assessment?

Mr. Nguyen Hoang HaAs a Vietnamese citizen, I believe that the above ranking is very accurate, considering all criteria such as life expectancy, prosperity, environmental ecology, and equality. The happiness of the Vietnamese people is steadily increasing. For example, over the past year, the Covid-19 pandemic has plunged the world into a severe crisis. However, in Vietnam, the Party, the Government, and all levels, sectors, and localities have done an excellent job in preventing and controlling the epidemic and protecting the health of the people. The spirit of "leaving no one behind" has been thoroughly implemented and spread. Those most in need during the pandemic have received support and assistance. In the fight against Covid-19, the Government purchased vaccines to provide free vaccinations to the people. These compelling examples speak volumes.

Photo: Thanh Cuong

I personally find that Vietnamese society is increasingly transforming in a positive and happier direction, thanks to the national brand and economic and social achievements. People's lives are improving. There is no war or terrorism, and security and order are maintained. I travel extensively, stopping wherever I can, but I have never experienced any security problems...

Regarding daily life, for example, in Khanh Thanh commune, in 2013, I bought a car worth 600 million VND. The whole commune was amazed and admired me. Three years later, my car is no longer anything special. Many people have bought nicer, more expensive cars. People in the commune used to think of a car as a large asset, but now they have changed their perception to "a car is a means of transportation." This change in perception shows that social life is increasingly improving.

Interviewer: From our conversation, I've noticed you seem content and happy with your life. However, there are many people around you who aren't content or happy... Do you have any advice for them so they can also hold the key to happiness like you?

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Ha:Contentment is boundless. Some people are never satisfied even with billions of dong, while others are content with just 1 million dong... To be happy, we need to know when enough is enough and when to stop. Striving for a happy life is a legitimate aspiration, and turning dreams into reality requires constant effort and hard work. We shouldn't waste our energy and talent, but we shouldn't overexert ourselves either. If you can only carry 30 kg, then you should only carry that much or slightly more; if you carry 40-50 kg, things will inevitably go wrong and you'll fail. Everyone needs to be self-aware.

Whenever he has the chance, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Ha takes his family to explore new places. Photo: Thanh Cuong

In the pursuit of happiness, we need to be mindful not to waste two things: spending too much time on eating and drinking, and sleeping too much. We must live more positively. Furthermore, we need to remember the saying "if not now, then when?" When something needs to be done, we must do it immediately, without waiting or postponing it to another time...

Happiness is about fulfilling our desires, but we shouldn't let our satisfaction cause trouble for others. Our happiness shouldn't be built on the suffering and loss of others. Happiness cannot be selfish; it must bring joy and positive value to the community to be truly complete.

To build a happy family, we need to learn from each conflict. If we want everyone in the family to treat us well, we must treat everyone well ourselves. The same applies to educating our children; if we want them to greet us respectfully, we must greet them first...

PV: Thank you!

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Ha (born in 1976), from Khanh Thanh commune (Yen Thanh district), comes from a family of five siblings. He is widely known as a tireless philanthropist, organizing gift-giving and support programs for hundreds of households with nearly a billion VND. This money was raised by Mr. Ha himself through fundraising and connecting with benefactors in the province and nationwide over the past period. His charitable programs always focus on the poor, the elderly, and those in difficult circumstances in Yen Thanh district and remote mountainous areas of the province. In addition, Mr. Ha also voluntarily participates in a free ambulance driving service to transport poor patients from the South to the North.