Before dawn, Ms. Do Thi Tuyet (born 1984) and her husband, Mr. Le Hong Thai (born 1977), got up and prepared for their nearly 40km journey to the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion to donate platelets.
The couple reported that blood donation had become a habit for them for many years. Whenever they are physically able to do so, they would actively plan time for it and even encourage relatives and neighbors to also donate blood.
“We just hope to make a small contribution to ensuring that patients have more treatment options, especially during the Tet holiday,” Ms Tuyet said as she waited for her test results.
It’s not just couples like Ms. Tuyet; Many people from all over the world come to the hospital to donate blood in these last days of the year. Behind these journeys, which begin at dawn, lies the reality of the high demand for blood during the Tet festival.
According to the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, the need for blood for treatment up to and including Tet (Lunar New Year) will increase sharply as many patients require blood transfusions to stabilize their health and return home to their families to celebrate. The institute is calling on the population to donate an additional 10,000 blood units during this period, with at least 5,000 units of blood group O required.
The estimated blood requirement for February alone to supply more than 180 hospitals in the Northern Region and to support some localities in the Southern Region is up to 40,000 units.
However, the extended Chinese New Year holiday meant that many government, institutional and residential blood donation centers could not operate continuously for about two weeks. Although the institute’s blood donation center remained open throughout the holidays, the number of donations received was not enough to meet the need.
With this in mind, the institute hopes that all healthy people will participate in blood donation from now until before, during and immediately after Tet (Vietnamese New Year), while encouraging relatives, friends and family members of patients to participate. Every blood donation during this time is not only medical help, but also a chance for patients to experience a carefree spring with their families.
In the blood donation registration area, Le Hoai Phuong and her fellow student from the Foreign Trade University had just arrived after their lecture. After class, the two students rushed out of the lecture hall and straight to the hospital. Without eating breakfast, they quickly bought some bread in front of the hospital entrance before registering to donate blood.
It was Phuong’s first blood donation. She had previously been active in her school’s blood donation team, but was still afraid of needles. According to her, observing patients with blood disorders undergoing long-term treatment prompted her to try it herself.
“I used to be a little afraid of needles, but when I saw the circumstances of many patients, I thought that their lives could be a little brighter if I donated blood,” Phuong said, adding that from now on she will donate blood regularly whenever she is able.
Bui Hai Yen (born 2004 in Phu Tho Province), a student at the University of Transport and Communications, shared this enthusiasm and said this was her fourth time participating in a blood donation drive.
Yen began donating blood in July 2025, driven by a desire to give the gift of health to those in need.
At another donation bed, Mr Tran Trong Van (born 1983 in Tay Ho district, self-employed) had a lively conversation with the medical staff. He said he has been donating blood for about three years.
“I am very happy to have a healthy body while many patients rely on blood. Seeing patients struggling with their illness motivates me to donate,” shared Mr. Van.
He said he donated blood for the first time on his birthday in July, when his friends encouraged him to do so because it had meaning for him. That day, when he saw many children with bald heads due to leukemia, he promised himself to donate blood regularly.
“In my favorite year, I donate about 15 times, but usually 8 to 10 times. I’m self-employed and can therefore manage my time well. Since yesterday, I’ve avoided high-fat foods and didn’t drink coffee this morning in order to meet the donation requirements. Sometimes I forget other things, but I always keep my regular blood donation appointment,” he said.
For patients, Tet (Vietnamese New Year) sometimes means not a lavish feast or a timely return home, but simply enough blood transfusions and maintaining their health so that they don’t miss the reunion. The blood donated in the last days of the year becomes a silent gift that brings spring closer for some.
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date: 2026-02-08 23:13:00
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