HÀ NỘI — A book reviewing a 25-year charity house project run by a Swedish woman for underprivileged children in Việt Nam was launched in Hà Nội yesterday at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum.

The book Nhà May Mắn (Lucky House) was written by Aline Rebeaud in Vietnamese, after the success of her original book Maison Chance in French published in 2013.

Rebeaud, also known by the Vietnamese name Hoàng Nữ Ngọc Tim, first came to Việt Nam in 1992, where she met many disabled, needy children who had been ignored by society. She was so moved by their plight that she decided to stay in Việt Nam to help house and teach the kids.

Over time, she raised finances from Belgium, Canada, the US, France, Switzerland and Việt Nam to support needy people, offer them housing, academic courses, and vocational training.

Now, she runs the Lucky House (offering accommodation), Wing Lifting Centre (offering training) and Lucky Village (offering primary schools and apartments for disabled people) in HCM City. She is building another Lucky House in the central province of Đăk Nông.

“I had no intention to write such a book until my father, who is a journalist, a politician and has written various books, encouraged me to do so,” Rebeaud recalled at the book launching ceremony yesterday.

“He said I should share my story to many other people so that they may be inspired to join in the activities to help needy people,” she said.

Her father then helped her write the story in French, which details how she set up the charity houses, her supporters and those who cheated her during the process. The book also details some of the children who live at the houses.

She then wrote the book again in Vietnamese by herself.

“I have settled down here in Việt Nam for more than 20 years with unlucky people, orphans and disabled people and they have become my family,” she wrote in the book.

The book, which was printed by Trẻ (Youth) Publishing House, is available in bookstores nationwide at VNĐ205,000 (US$9).

All proceeds from selling will come to Nhà May Mắn, according to Nguyễn Minh Nhựt, director of the publishing house. — VNS