This spring, the Hug & Smile journey continued — traveling from the ocean’s embrace to the misty highlands of Lâm Đồng. Our destination: Đạ Nhar Village, home to ethnic minority communities who have lived in harmony with the mountains for generations.

We brought with us not only toys and warm clothes for 137 children, but also stories — about coral reefs, about parrotfish, about how clean water is a treasure worth protecting.

Here, many children must cross a cold mountain spring daily just to reach school. Often, they return home with only one slipper left, washed away by the current.

So this time, Hug & Smile came with something special:

A pair of Biti’s plastic slippers — proudly made in Vietnam — with a secure back strap, designed to stay with the kids no matter how strong the stream flows. A small detail, but one that carries warmth, protection, and dignity.

In this remote village where most families belong to minority groups such as Châu Mạ, K’Ho, Tày, and Nùng, resources may be limited, but smiles are never in short supply.

And in every gift exchanged, from a teddy bear to a story by the fire, a connection is formed — between coast and mountain, between children who have never met, yet share the same sky.

🧸 In places where little is plenty, even an old teddy bear becomes a new best friend.

💧 And every act of kindness becomes a ripple across the land.

This spring, let kindness bloom — not plastic.

Do not litter the future. Leave behind only footprints, laughter, and love.