At 7 am, Nguyen Hoang Binh, 48, in Binh Thanh district, was seen driving a 3-wheel modified vehicle to Le Van Tam Park in district 1. Having gotten used to being fed by Binh, a lot of wild birds, including pigeons and sparrows, flock to the park and perch on large trees and lamp posts, waiting for food. 

After stopping his vehicle, Binh took out a bag of grains and spread feed on the ground. The wild pigeons immediately flew down and ate the feed, while sparrows, smaller than pigeons, had to wait until the pigeons finished, and then they also swooped down to seek grains.

The scene of wild birds picking up every grain around the man’s vehicle delighted visitors. Some of them took a picture of the birds and the man to record the lively moment.

Binh told VietNamNet that he has been feeding the birds for 7-8 years. In the past, he walked alongside Le Duan Road in district 1 to sell lottery tickets. When his tickets did not sell, he watched the sparrows chattering on trees. Sometimes, they flew down to the ground to seek food.

The scene of sparrows hopping on the road made him feel glad. He thought of making friends with them by feeding them. After a while, the birds got used to his presence and the food he brought.

“Every morning, they flocked to the road where I sold lottery tickets. When they saw me, they immediately swooped down, surrounded me, and hopped on the sidewalk waiting for food. I became friends with the birds until the day, for many reasons, I could no longer sell on the road,” he recalled.

Saying goodbye to the wild birds on Le Duan Road, Binh chose another place to sell lottery tickets, at Le Van Tam Park. There are many trees in the park, where there are many pigeons, sparrows and spotted doves.

In the new place, he also buys grains to ‘treat’ them. While feeding the birds, Binh sells lottery tickets. At 9am, when the park becomes less crowded, he moves to Tran Quoc Toan area in district 3 and continues the lottery sale.

In the afternoon, at 2 pm, on the way to the lottery company to get tickets for sale the next day, he stops in the park and spreads grains. In late afternoon, fearing that the birds remain hungry, he feeds them once again before returning to his rented room.

Having been with the birds for many years, Binh understands their habits. He knows that pigeons like grains and bran pellets, so he buys many different kinds of food. Meanwhile, sparrows mostly eat unhusked rice.

Binh was born and grew up in HCMC. After his parents passed away, the half paralyzed man has had to struggle hard to exist. Unable to do heavy work, he sells tickets to earn his living.

Every day, he sells 200 lottery tickets and earns VND200,000. The amount of money is just enough to pay the room rent and buy medicine. However, over the last 7-8 years, he reserves money to buy food for birds every day.

Previously, he spent VND45,000 a day to buy three packs of grains for birds, a big amount of money for the man who can earn VND200,000 a day only. Later, many other people he also feeds the birds, so, he now buys less food, just VND30,000. Even when it rains or tickets are unsold, he also buys food. He tries to practice thrift to be able to provide three meals to the birds every dat.

“The birds are a part of my life. For me, they are the friends who bring joy and help me ease loneliness,” he said.

The man recalled the Covid-19 days, when he could not come to feed the birds because of lockdowns. After the pandemic, he met the birds again and felt sorry for them as they had become thinner.

“I feel a deep pain when seeing sparrows being trapped, caught and sold to people. I will feed them as long as I can,” he said.

Ha Nguyen