A mooncake or a traditional lantern may be familiar gifts to many children in the city. However, for primary students in the island commune of Thanh An, these humble gifts carried joy, excitement, and a warmer Mid-Autumn Festival as they felt the thoughtful care of visitors traveling from afar.

On the morning of September 16, a delegation from Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade (HUIT) embarked on a journey to Thanh An Primary School, located in Thanh An Island Commune—approximately 70 kilometers east of central Ho Chi Minh City.

Organized by Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade with support from the HUIT Admissions Advisory Board, the program aimed to deliver practical Mid-Autumn gifts to local children on the island while inspiring them to excel in their academic pursuits.

Delivering these gifts to the students of Thanh An was a challenging voyage. After traveling from the HUIT campus to Can Gio, the team boarded a ferry to reach the island commune. Because four-wheeled vehicles could not cross to the island, delegation members manually transported all gift packages onto the ferry, safeguarding them during a nearly hour-long river transit. Upon arriving at the pier, the journey continued as members loaded boxes of mooncakes, lanterns, and scholarship packages onto motorized tricycles to navigate deep into the school district. Each leg presented physical effort, showcasing the preparation and dedication of team members to ensure every gift reached the hands of Thanh An's students.

The journey bringing Mid-Autumn gifts to students in Thanh An Island Commune

At Thanh An Primary School, the delegation presented 80 Mid-Autumn gift sets—each containing two mooncakes and one lantern—alongside 10 academic scholarships valued at VND 500,000 each. The total value of mooncakes, lanterns, and scholarships presented during the program reached VND 17.8 million.

The delegation from Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade (HUIT) distributing Mid-Autumn gifts and scholarships to students at Thanh An Primary School

Each gift represented a message of care and encouragement for the children on their educational journey. Pure joy shone through eager eyes and bright smiles as students received mooncakes and lanterns, accompanied by warm conversations with HUIT volunteers.

The delight of young students receiving mooncakes and colorful lanterns

Representatives from Thanh An Primary School expressed deep gratitude to Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade and the visiting delegation for overcoming the long journey to share love and present meaningful gifts to their students.

While some journeys are measured in distance, others are remembered by the smiles found at their destination. The outreach to Thanh An Island Commune brought gifts from the mainland closer to young islanders, demonstrating HUIT's commitment to community responsibility and social compassion.

As the team departed Thanh An, the mooncakes and lanterns had been delivered, but the joy, smiles, and heartfelt connections remained—a reminder that despite water barriers and ferry crossings, care and affection will always find a way to connect hearts.

 HUIT Website Editorial Board