Despite her parents’ resistance and long, freezing treks to reach school, Chua held on to her dream of a better life. “My parents never went to school, so they didn’t understand,” she recalls. “But I was determined—even if I had to walk or find a ride on my own.” With the support of the Interhands scholarship from grade 11, Chua thrived—graduating university a year earlier than her peers. Together with her husband, Giang A Day, she now gives back to her community: teaching English, raising funds for clean water and street lighting, and promoting sustainable farming. Chua’s next dream is to build an international volunteer network to bring English education to Sapa’s children—helping the next generation of H’mong youth reach beyond the mountains.

For years, Ho Thi Sau, a Van Kieu woman from Quang Tri, endured domestic violence while struggling to raise three children. She left to find work, but low wages and instability pushed her into hardship—picking coffee cherries far from home and sleeping under trees just to survive. 

Her life changed when Luong Ngoc Tram and Phan Hong Phong, founders of Pun Coffee, welcomed her into their team. With fair pay, housing, and support, Sau can now visit her children every weekend and has the confidence to send her youngest to school. Soon, she will manage her own coffee garden and lodge, building a future of stability and independence. 

From hardship to hope, Sau is finally stepping into a new life.