Vietnamese far and wide connected through football

During the second qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup in Dubai of UAE, reporter Ted Tran of Dan Viet was unfortunately tested positive for SARS-Cov-2.  It seemed that there would be many difficulties in treating in a foreign country, but thanks to football, reporter Ted Tran had received special attention from the medical team in Dubai and an overseas Vietnamese living and working locally.

Binh and his wife are extremely enthusiastic for Vietnamese football. Photo: Thai Hai

Going to Dubai to report and write about the journey of Vietnam team here, the writer and Ted Tran were fortunate to meet Binh and his wife, a son from Yen Bai province who has been working here for more than 2 years. The never-ending stories of football have brought Vietnamese children from abroad closer. I don't know since when, Binh and his wife have seen us as brothers.  On the contrary, Ted Tran and I also considered them as brothers and sisters in a family. Realizing that the reporter had came to work with many difficulties, especially dining, every day, Mr. Binh got up early to cook and bring to the hotel, the two brothers only needed hot rice to eat before going to work  .

Arriving in Dubai for more than 10 days, Ted Tran had unfortunately been tested positive for SARS-Cov-2.  As soon as he learned that Ted Tran was infected, Mr. Binh hurriedly bought things to prepare for his sworn brother to be hospitalized. At the field hospital in Dubai, 4 times a day, morning, noon, afternoon, and evening, Mr. Binh and his wife prepared Vietnamese dishes such as rice, porridge, and pho for Ted Tran.  Fortunately for Ted Tran, before going to Dubai, each reporter bought himself foreign travel insurance for nearly VND 400,000.  So when he was positive for SARS-Cov-2, he was treated for free until his illness was over.  If anyone unfortunately fails to cover such insurance, the cost for 10 days of treatment will be nearly VND 120 million.

Back to the story with Mr. Binh and his wife, who have now returned to Vietnam and implemented a 21-day quarantine as prescribed, I still don't know how to fully thank for our brotherhood.  We all hope that one day, when the Covid-19 epidemic is brought under global control, they will return to Vietnam so that we can repay such kindness.

Reported by Thai Hai - Translated by Vi Bao