HÀ NỘI — Poor patients received up to 10 free items for the Tết holiday at a special event dubbed the “0 đồng market” which took place on Sunday at Thống Nhất Park in Hà Nội.

With hope of bringing joy to welcome the Lunar New Year, the volunteer group Ngôi trường ước mơ (Dreaming School) worked with partners to organise the charitable market for the third time.

About 3,000 poor people have attended the market in total, including those suffering from life-threatening diseases and homeless people in Hà Nội.

The organisers said this year’s market had nearly 40 stores with different goods for the traditional Tết holiday, such as chưng cake (square glutinous rice cake), fruit jam, vegetables, pork pies and sausages.

The market this year also offered important items for homeless people including sleeping bags, blankets, pillows and clothes.

Nguyễn Thị Thọ, 60, who is a patient at K Hospital – the hospital for cancer, could not hide her emotion.

“I’m grateful to the organisers for creating an opportunity for poor patients like me to welcome a warm holiday,” she said.

Thọ only picked up some confectionery at the market because her health would not allow her to carry anything heavy.

“I will take it to my hometown as a present in a few days. It’s a market of love, so that poor people can see society is full of love,” she said.

Trần Công Huy from Ứng Hòa District in Hà Nội, whose son suffers from cerebral palsy and is under treatment at the National Paediatrics Hospital, was also moved by the event.

“My son cannot walk and must use a wheelchair, but I still took him to the market so he could find something he liked,” said Huy.

Although Huy’s son is young, Huy believed he could feel the love from people.

Đỗ Thị Thanh Hà, a representative from the Dreaming School group, said the market was successful.

More than 100 student volunteers cooked soup and helped patients with their goods, and free buses for patients were also arranged.

The enthusiasm created a special atmosphere at the year-end with hope for a year full of happiness, she said. — VNS