A man walks his dog around Ho Chi Minh City looking for work, and despite being rejected, he refuses to accept money.

After walking dozens of kilometers across Ho Chi Minh City for three days, knocking on the doors of more than 30 construction sites but being rejected every time, Mr. Truong Lam Trong – a construction worker from Vinh Long province – remained resolute in his refusal to accept financial assistance, only hoping for an opportunity to earn an honest living to support himself.

Amidst the scorching heat of late-year in Saigon, the sight of a man trudging along the streets with his small dog, seeking work, has touched many hearts. This is Truong Lam Trong, 36 years old, from Vinh Long province, a skilled construction worker with over 12 years of experience. However, for the past three days, he has knocked on the doors of more than 30 construction sites in Ho Chi Minh City without finding a job.

What makes Mr. Trong's story special is his unwavering commitment to self-respect. Even with only a few tens of thousands of dong in his pocket, he refused all offers of assistance from passersby. He stated frankly, "I may be poor, but I have my honor. I only need honest work; dishonesty breeds theft." For him, a referral to a construction site needing workers was more valuable than any amount of money.

Before arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, he walked for two days and one night from Long Thanh to the city after the old construction project unexpectedly stopped, leaving the entire group of workers unemployed. He didn't use his meager wages of 1.8 million VND to take a bus, but chose to walk instead, hoping to find work along the way. He even spent his last 10,000 VND buying a lottery ticket to support a poor child, because he "felt so sorry for them."

Accompanying him on this arduous journey is his little dog, Ky. Ky was rescued from a garbage dump in Long An, sick and emaciated at the time. Thanks to his care, Ky survived and became a loyal companion, sharing nights sleeping on the sidewalks with him. Once, when the landlord refused to rent to him because he brought a dog, he readily gave up the room and went to sleep on the sidewalk rather than abandon his special friend.

At 36, his health had deteriorated, and finding a job became even more difficult without any referrals. He shared: "This job is so thankless. If you just walk up and ask for work, people will be suspicious, look down on you as a dissolute person, and refuse to hire you. If they don't give you a chance, how will they know if you can do it or not?" To date, the number of rejections has reached 31.

His family situation wasn't much better either. His wife left when his son was only 4 years old, and he struggled alone, working odd jobs to raise his son. Currently, his son is working as a woodworker in Binh Duong. Out of love for his son, he doesn't want to be a burden and just hopes to find work to support himself. His hometown of Vinh Long has recently been severely affected by floods, damaging his crops, making his situation even more difficult. He even had to pawn his phone – his only means of communication for finding work – for one million dong.

After saying goodbye to the reporter, Mr. Trong continued to lead Ky towards the distant construction sites. He didn't need large denomination bills; he only needed a shovel and a trowel to sweat on the construction site, earning an honest living through his own work. His story evoked both pity and admiration in many, because despite his poverty, he maintained his pride and self-respect – qualities not everyone can uphold.

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