Pharmacist Nguyen Thi Kim Son - A compassionate and kind heart soothes the pain of Agent Orange

 There are people who quietly sow love, silently using their medical knowledge combined with music therapy to warm the hearts of the unfortunate, especially the victims of Agent Orange. Pharmacist Nguyen Thi Kim Son is one such person.

Pharmacist Nguyen Thi Kim Son was born in 1974 and raised in an intellectual family. She currently lives at E4/22, Group 61, Tan Nhut Commune, Ho Chi Minh City. At the age of 18, inheriting a humanistic education from her family, she began participating in charitable activities in her neighborhood.

With the aspiration to use medicine to save lives, she has continuously strived in her academic pursuits. Son graduated from the Intermediate Pharmacy program at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Ho Chi Minh City (class of 2004–2007). Continuing her lifelong learning spirit, she perfected her expertise and received the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Hong Bang International University in 2023.

Not only being a highly skilled pharmacist, but Son is also a devout Buddhist, having taken refuge in the Three Jewels at Truc Lam Zen Monastery with the Dharma name Chan Tin Hoa. This Dharma name serves as a guiding principle in her life, helping her maintain a pure mind and body, and perform good deeds with sincerity and compassion.

From the perspective of a Buddhist, Son (Chan Tin Hoa) deeply understands that the suffering of Agent Orange victims lies not only in their physical bodies but also in their minds. Recognizing that stress and anxiety are major obstacles in the recovery process, she has dedicated much effort to building a “music therapy channel” on YouTube. This is a free online zone that integrates scientific knowledge with carefully selected melodies, helping patients find peace of mind. In addition, she also completed intensive training courses on supporting children with special cares, thereby providing more effective support to families.

Bridges of Compassion

For many years, in her tireless journey of charitable work, Son has always been recognized by local authorities and the Phuoc Duc Minh Buddhist Medical Association as a model philanthropist, who persistently connects compassionate hearts to share with Agent Orange victims and distressed people.

In just two years, 2024 and 2025, she, along with philanthropists such as Minh Hanh (group leader), Dr. Van Anh (Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital), Dr. Phan Quoc Thanh – Director of Thai Duong Dat Company… raised billions of VND for charitable activities in many localities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Long An, Tien Giang, An Giang, Lam Dong, Binh Thuan…

In 2024, the Phuoc Duc Minh Medical Group collaborated with the Ho Chi Minh City Transportation Hospital… Ho Chi Minh City conducted free medical examinations, provided free medicine and gifts to 250 victims of Agent Orange, impoverished people, and the Binh Thuan Buddhist Secondary School of former Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province, with a total cost of over 500 million VND including treatment medicine and essential goods.

Over the years, Son has also collaborated with the Phuoc Duc Minh Buddhist medical Group to raise funds for building “Agent Orange Shelters”, and donated wheelchairs to people with disabilities, with a total cost up to billions of VND.

During the recent floods in Lam Dong Province, she and her volunteer group provided medical examinations, dispensed medicine, and granted 200 gift packages to families affected by Agent Orange and impoverished households. They also presented 160 gift packages to orphans at Luc Hoa Orphanage (Nguyen Khong Pagoda, Dinh An village, Duc Trong commune), with a total cost of 250 million VND. Previously, her team also presented Mid-Autumn Festival gifts and scholarships to students of the Primary and Secondary School in Lac Nghiep village, Duc Trong commune, with a total cost of over 50 million VND.

Sharing her motivation, she confided: “Every time I visit the victims of Agent Orange, I understand their suffering more deeply. I try to mobilize my relatives, friends, and philanthropists to join hands in supporting them with medicine and necessities to help alleviate their difficulties.”

A shining example in daily life

Dr. Phan Quoc Thanh – Director of Thai Duong Dat Company commented: “Son is always a shining example of energy, enthusiasm, and dedication to the victims of Agent Orange.” Her persistent and humane contributions have been recognized by competent authorities, and she has been awarded many Certificates of Merit and Commendations.

The journey of pharmacist Nguyen Thi Kim Son (Chan Tin Hoa) is not only the one of a dedicated intellectual, but also a vivid testament to the power of combining scientific knowledge with the compassion and generosity of a Buddhist follower in today's world.

Danh Lư