Disabled woman founds first audiolibrary for the blind

PSNews - A 46-year-old woman, who has lost her two legs in a traffic accident 21 years ago, has dedicated her strength, youth, and extraordinary power to the blind over the past many years. She has been the first to establish an audiolibrary for the blind in Vietnam.

She is Nguyen Huong Duong, director of the Audio Books for the Blind and the Ho Chi Minh city based Audio Books for the Blind Charity Fund, one of the 30 individuals and groups honored at the “Vietnam Glory – Imprints of the 30-year Doi Moi” ceremony, which took place on May 20.

Life without legs does not seem an obstacle for Nguyen Huong Duong. But she always shows her optimism and life aspirations. She looks younger than her age with smiles frequently on her lips, and she has such an emotional voice that no one could think she has ever undergone bad luck and unhappiness.

Nguyen Huong Duong, director of the Audio Books for the Blind and the Ho Chi Minh city based Audio Books for the Blind Charity Fund.
Nguyen Huong Duong, director of the Audio Books for the Blind and the Ho Chi Minh city based Audio Books for the Blind Charity Fund.

Remembering her difficult times after the accident, Duong told her story: "I used to be a tourist guide. When the accident deprived me of my two limbs, I felt I lost everything. I even wanted to finish my life. Knowing my thinking, my dad asked me to live for him and my mom.”

She said that her parents gave her the power to have self-confidence to live on. After having experienced 7 surgeries and many treatments at hospital for 3 years, Duong stepped out of the darkness and restarted her life.

It seemed as though life had brought Duong to the idea "Audio Books for the Blind" by chance. In 1998, when she was at Nguyen Dinh Chieu School in Ho Chi Minh City to read books for blind children there, she found out that children there enjoyed her voice.

“Then I think I should make cassettes – the kind of books to tell stories to the blind. My family supported my idea”, Duong said.

The energetic woman then recorded textbook programs, making up audio books and then published them online so that blind people across the country could access knowledge. The first audio book library for the blind was born that way.

For the first time in the country, blind people could learn on radio and the internet by listening to a warm, inspirational voice. The book brings not only a brighter life to the blind, but also a great happiness for Nguyen Huong Duong.

The book brings not only a brighter life to the blind, but also a great happiness for Nguyen Huong Duong.
The book brings not only a brighter life to the blind, but also a great happiness for Nguyen Huong Duong.

"There was a blind person with a Master degree who told me that the book has been a revolution for the blind. For 19 years, the audio books has helped over 150 blind students enter colleges and universities and study with normal students there. Of them three got Master degrees, and one finished PhD program," she proudly said, adding that she would devote her entire life to making audio books for the blind.

The library "Audio Books for the Blind" in Vietnam serves for free about 2 million blind people, 99 branches of the Blind People’s Association and schools for the blind nationwide.

From 1998 to 2016, the library recorded 1,667 titles, printed out 379,792 cassette copies and CD-MP3 audio books in various fields, including history, culture, literature, science and medicine.

The library also offer schoolbooks for students from 1st grade to 12th; textbooks and training documents for undergraduate and postgraduate students at college and university(upon request of blind students). Of which, 1,025 titles can be found online at sachnoionline.com.

Besides, from 2001 to 2016, her fund mobilized 2,114 "Anh Sen” scholarships for poor children at blind schools and blind people’s schools in HCM city; 645 “Huong Duong” scholarships for blind students in tertiary education.

With her great contributions to disabled people, Nguyen Huong Duong has been awarded the Second Class Labor Order; Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister.

By Phung Nguyen

Other News

Vietnamese students shine at AIMO 2026 international finals

Vietnamese students shine at AIMO 2026 international finals

The Vietnamese team won one Champion title, four First Runner-up awards, three Second Runner-up awards, 42 gold medals, 83 silver medals, 70 bronze medals and two consolation prizes at the 2026 International Finals of the Asia International Mathematical Olympiad Open Contest (AIMO) held in Hanoi on August 2-5.

Politburo's Resolution 57-NQ/TW powers new growth momentum

Politburo's Resolution 57-NQ/TW powers new growth momentum

NSO Director Nguyen Thi Huong said alongside foreign investment and the green economy, science – technology, innovation, the digital economy and digital transformation are the new drivers that can can pack a serious second-half punch.

Vietnam’s poverty reduction miracle: A journey for the people

Vietnam’s poverty reduction miracle: A journey for the people

From a country where more than 50% of the population lived below the poverty line in the early 1990s, Vietnam has reduced its poverty rate to just 2.95% today. This achievement reflects not only the effectiveness of socio-economic development policies, but also Vietnam’s ability to translate growth into tangible opportunities for its people, steadily realizing inclusive development and ensuring that no one is left behind.

Can Tho boosts Vietnamese language support for ethnic minority children

Can Tho boosts Vietnamese language support for ethnic minority children

Backed by more than 4.2 billion VND (161,000 USD) from the State budget, the programme aims to strengthen children's Vietnamese communication skills before they begin primary school, helping them integrate more smoothly into the classroom and improve learning outcomes from the outset.

Powering growth: Ensuring reliable energy supply to keep investment flowing

Powering growth: Ensuring reliable energy supply to keep investment flowing

Across Ha Tinh and Nghe An, maintenance teams conduct inspections day and night, using thermal cameras and drones to detect potential faults without interrupting electricity supply. Their work helps ensure stable power supply for businesses as the region accelerates development in line with the Government's economic growth targets.

One Vietnamese worker killed in Japan earthquake

One Vietnamese worker killed in Japan earthquake

The Embassy of Vietnam in Japan and its labour management board are actively implementing citizen protection measures and maintaining close contact with relevant organisations and companies employing Vietnamese workers in the affected areas to monitor the situation.

Hanoi to support low-income residents in replacing high-emission motorbikes

Hanoi to support low-income residents in replacing high-emission motorbikes

A key task is to formulate a support scheme for low-income residents to replace ageing motorcycles and mopeds that fail to meet emission standards and pose a high risk of pollution. It will also propose funding to provide free first-time emission testing for motorcycles and mopeds across the city.

UNESCO endorses vision for restoring Thang Long Imperial Citadel's central axis

UNESCO endorses vision for restoring Thang Long Imperial Citadel's central axis

The committee commended Vietnam for fulfilling the commitments it has made since the citadel was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010, as well as for implementing recommendations from the committee and its advisory bodies. It also praised the country's efforts to preserve the site's cultural, historical and social values, transforming the imperial citadel into a space for public engagement, cultural exchange and historical education. The committee further welcomed the long-term vision as an important basis for the proposed restoration of Kinh Thien Palace in line with the approved conservation strategy.

Border guards seize 15,200 drug pills, heroin in major trafficking bust

Border guards seize 15,200 drug pills, heroin in major trafficking bust

At about 10:15 pm on July 20, officers from the Operations Division of the Nghe An Border Guard Command and the Nam Can International Border Gate Border Guard Station, in coordination with customs officers at the Nam Can International Border Gate, caught a resident of Tan Tien hamlet, Chieu Luu commune, Nghe An province, allegedly transporting narcotics in Tien Tieu hamlet, Nam Can commune.

Floods, landslides wreak havoc on northern mountainous region

Floods, landslides wreak havoc on northern mountainous region

Total economic losses were estimated at about 255 billion VND (nearly 9.7 million USD), with Lai Chau accounting for the largest share of the damage with 190 billion VND, followed by Son La with 46.04 billion VND, Lao Cai with 16.7 billion VND, and Dien Bien with 2.3 billion VND.