"Kind Stories" and the UMC Culture of Kindness

I watched the documentary film "Chuyện tử tế" ("The Story of Kindness") (link to watch on YouTube) by director Trần Văn Thủy during my final year of high school. At that time, the teacher coaching our national gifted literature student team wanted us to watch the film to understand what makes an "artist," to cultivate emotional depth and compassion for humanity, and above all, to learn the author's logical, coherent writing style. Years later, the film's content still haunts me, and quite by coincidence, exactly 10 years ago (in June 2006) when I began working at University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City (UMC), during a cultural orientation session for new employees, Specialist Doctor Level II Phan Bảo Khánh (former Head of the Personnel Organization Department) also had us new employees watch this film again. And after another 10 years, today—on the occasion of International Nurses' Day, just two days ago, on June 4, 2026—UMC launched a program to build a Culture of Kindness based on the humanistic caring model of the Watson Caring Science Institute (WCSI).

Director Trần Văn Thủy—dubbed "Vietnam's number one documentary filmmaker"—was born in 1940 in Nam Định. The Story of Kindness, released in 1985, was a documentary phenomenon in Vietnamese cinema of its time. The film is a work reflecting Trần Văn Thủy's thoughts on life and society during the subsidy period, portraying the lives of the impoverished in society to find an answer to the question: "What is kindness?" The work demonstrates the independent will of filmmakers as artists, citizens, and human beings. The Story of Kindness was once banned due to its edgy content criticizing social realities. After being broadcast in 1987, the film won the Silver Dove Award at the Leipzig International Film Festival in 1992.

The Story of Kindness opens with images of director Trần Văn Thủy and his colleagues burning incense at the grave of cameraman Đồng Xuân Thuyết on the anniversary of his death. Before passing away from cancer, Đồng Xuân Thuyết urged his friends to make a truly meaningful documentary about human love or born from the suffering of the world. Thuyết also read to them an excerpt about the human soul from the Soviet novel The Law of Ages. Next, the film delves into the question: "What is kindness?" The director seeks answers through various fates and living conditions: from ordinary city dwellers to hardworking rural laborers, and even lepers shunned by society. Through this journey seeking answers, Trần Văn Thủy reveals his anguish over a difficult life lacking kindness between people. The film contains scenes of individuals at the bottom of society, notably a duck-herding boy who, having accidentally let the ducks ruin the cooperative's field, had to carry a bad background for life; a talented math teacher who abandoned his profession to sell vegetables for a living; or veterans who fought bravely now working as cyclo drivers or bicycle repairmen to make ends meet in peacetime. The Story of Kindness closes with images of Đồng Xuân Thuyết's funeral along with his heartfelt words about his desire to continue living to see the completed work.

I forever remember the voiceover in the film: "Kindness inherently exists in every person, every family, every lineage, every nation. Patiently awaken kindness, for without it, a community—no matter how great its utmost efforts and lofty aspirations—is nothing more than nonsense. Direct children and adults first toward learning how to be human—to be kind people before wishing them to become powerful, talented, or superhuman."

In the medical profession, kindness is neither grand nor far-reaching. It can be a doctor spending a few extra minutes explaining a patient's condition clearly. It is a nurse gently helping a patient sit up and patiently answering a family member's repetitive questions. It is also an administrative staff member smiling and providing dedicated guidance so patients do not have to fumble through complex procedures. Patients coming to the hospital bring more than just illnesses. They bring worries, anxiety, and sometimes fear before the fragile boundary between life and death. In such circumstances, a sincere word of encouragement is sometimes as valuable as a prescription. An empathetic look can soothe the stress of an entire family. Science heals the body, while kindness heals the soul.

Reality shows that conflicts between patients and medical staff often stem not from professional expertise, but from a lack of understanding in communication. Patients can accept having to wait if things are explained clearly. They can sympathize with the hospital's difficulties if they feel respected. Therefore, kindness is not only a moral virtue but also an important professional competency for every healthcare worker. For doctors, kindness means putting patients' interests first, being honest in expertise, and continuously learning to improve treatment capacity. For nurses, kindness is dedication in every care procedure, the ability to listen to the smallest concerns of patients. For administrative staff, kindness is a civil, professional service attitude, treating everyone coming to the hospital like a family member needing help. Each position has a different way of expression, yet they all meet at a common point: placing the human at the center. Broadly speaking, a culture of kindness is also the foundation for building a hospital's brand and reputation. Modern machinery can be purchased with money. Advanced techniques can be learned from advanced medical systems. But patients' trust is only built through acts of kindness happening every day. A truly great hospital stands out not only for its professional achievements but also for the humanity present in every corridor, every patient room, and in how every staff member treats patients.

Trần Văn Thủy's "The Story of Kindness" reminds us that society becomes better when everyone lives kindly toward one another. In the medical field, this carries an even deeper meaning: kindness is not merely a choice, but the very essence of the profession. Because behind every medical record is a human being; behind every treatment case is a destiny; and behind every act of kindness is an opportunity to sow more hope in life. One might say professional competence makes a skilled physician, but it is kindness that makes a physician trusted and respected by patients. This is also one of UMC's enduring values.

Master Nguyễn Quang Duy – Head of the Legal and Internal Audit Unit, Personnel Organization Department

Saigon, June 6, 2026