To their neighbors in Ho Chi Minh City, the sight of Gia Hung carrying his twin sibling Gia Lam on his back to school has become familiar over the last several years.

Nguyen Gia Hung and Nguyen Gia Lam are twins and 8th-grade students in District 10.

While Hung was born normal and healthy, Lam suffered from Tetralogy of Fallot, which is a birth defect that affects normal blood flow through the heart.

At the age of two, Lam had to have four of his limbs amputated in an operation to stay alive.

His parents had to take their children, the twins and a daughter, to Ho Chi Minh City from their home in the southeast province of Tay Ninh due to Lam’s condition.

They did everything they could to make ends meet and to have enough money to pay for the treatments given to Gia Lam for about ten years.

To make the treatment process more convenient, the family moved into a small house they rented in the city.

Five people shared a living space of around 15 square meters and lived on the money they got from selling soy milk.

Hung loves Lam very much. He helps the parents with taking care of his younger brother.

Neighbors got quickly accustomed to the fact that Hung takes Lam to the school and brings his younger brother back home every day.

Feeling for the poor family and the disabled boy, a neighbor presented them with a wheelchair, which helps the two brothers go to school more easily.

The heart-touching story of Hung and Lam reminds their neighbors of one very famous Vietnamese folk song saying the connection between a brother and a younger brother is like that between arms and legs, and brothers should help each other in difficult situations in life.

The two brothers are not only twins, they are also friends who have studied and played together for many years.

Lap, Lam and Hung's father, combs Lam’s hair in their rented house in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Gia Hung holds the wheelchair while Nguyen Gia Lam gets in to go to school in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Gia Hung carries Nguyen Gia Lam on his back with their school bags clutched firmly in his hands when they go to school together. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Gia Hung pushes the wheelchair carrying his younger brother Nguyen Gia Lam. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

A teacher points to a book opened before the two brothers, who sit next to each other in the classroom. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Gia Lam lies on his bed while playing with a cellphone in a 15-square-meter rented house he shares with his parents and siblings. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Gia Hung and his parents are preparing raw materials for a day. Hung’s parents sell soy milk to earn a living in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Contact Tuoi Tre if you want to help the brothers

If you want to donate to help Nguyen Gia Hung and Nguyen Gia Lam, choose one of the following ways.

You can donate directly to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper at 60A, Hoang Van Thu Street, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City, or to the newspaper’s representative offices in other regions.

You can also transfer money to Tuoi Tre’s account number 113000006100 at Vietinbank Ho Chi Minh City Branch 3.

Leave a note that reads “Support the brothers Gia Hung and Gia Lam” when you choose this way of donation.