In 2015, during a reception for then New Zealand Prime Minister John Key at a five-star hotel in Hanoi, a surprising guest appeared: 15-year-old shoeshine boy Quang Quyet.

Walking into the hotel on Thanh Nien Street, Quyet was overwhelmed by the luxurious atmosphere and the presence of elites. For the first time in his three years living on the streets, he felt a desire to become someone who could positively influence others, like the people at the event.

"That encounter was like a beautiful dream. Even now, whenever I think about that night, my heart still skips a beat," Quyet recalls.

A challenging childhood

Quang Quyet, the third child in a family of four in Nam Dinh, grew up under extraordinary circumstances. His father had a mental illness, leaving the family’s burdens on his mother’s shoulders. Meals consisted of boiled vegetables and rice bran, and Quyet was isolated at school, frequently bullied, and had to "fight to be left alone".

"At 12, I ran away from home with the dream of changing my family’s life," Quyet said.

He arrived in Hanoi and found work at a noodle shop in Dong Da District, where he was given food and a mat to sleep on. After nearly six months, he was thrown out when he asked about his wages.

"I sat in front of a hospital from morning till late afternoon. A kind woman gave me over 100,000 VND to take a bus home," he recalled.

With the money in hand, Quyet hesitated, knowing that returning home meant facing bullying, beatings, and a hopeless future. Hungry but determined, he used the money to buy a basket, brushes and shoe polish, starting his career as a shoeshine boy.

Over the following years, Quyet occasionally earned enough to share a rented room but hunger was a constant companion. He survived on scraps of food he found on the streets and even when he had money, it was often taken from him by extortion.

"I experienced every dark and ugly aspect of society as a street child," Quyet said.

Finding Blue Dragon

After three years on the streets, a woman approached him one day. She told him about Blue Dragon, an organisation supporting street children and promising hot meals at its centre. Skeptical from past betrayals, Quyet reluctantly listened, but the thought of warm meals overcame his doubts. He began visiting Blue Dragon every day for lunch.

The kindness and good meals gradually eased his defences. However, it was the patience of Michael Brosowski, the founder of Blue Dragon and a CNN Hero in 2011, that helped transform Quyet's life.

Every day after work, Michael would visit Quyet for brief chats. "He would sit on his motorbike while I sat on the roadside, and we would talk about random things," Quyet recalled.

In mid-November 2015, Michael invited Quyet to dinner. At the last minute, he revealed they would attend a reception for then New Zealand Prime Minister John Key during his visit to Vietnam.

Quyet initially wanted to refuse. No street child wanted to meet strangers. But Michael said, "You can choose to go or not. If you don't go, I'll cancel this dinner and eat with just you."

Quyet eventually agreed.

Michael Brosowski had no hesitation in bringing Quyet to the event. Blue Dragon had a strong relationship with the New Zealand Embassy and he knew Quyet would be welcomed like any other guest.

"I saw no difference between the people in suits and ties and this teenage shoeshine boy," Michael said. "In the end, we're all the same; only our life circumstances differ."

A life-changing night

That evening marked a turning point in Quyet's life. "In a luxurious and polite environment, I was not looked down upon as a guest. The opera music transported me to another world. That night made me dream of becoming someone with refined manners and dignity like them."

Quyet began reading books Michael gave him, starting with How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, followed by How to Win Friends and Influence People, The Alchemist and Two Friends.

Michael later took Quyet to a bookstore and let him choose books himself. "If Michael guided me, books transformed me completely," Quyet said. Reading helped him see the brighter side of life, shed negative thoughts, abandon wrongful behaviours, and let go of resentment.

Armed with newfound knowledge, Quyet's biggest goal was to reconnect with his family. He realised that despite his father’s mental illness, he had lovingly carried Quyet on his back through village roads during childhood. His mother, though harsh and quick to scold, was a resilient woman who taught her children important life lessons.

"This was a revolution in how I rebuilt relationships with my family members," Quyet said.

Family love also drove Quyet to quit school in 12th grade to support his younger sister's dream of attending Hanoi University of Architecture. Starting as a motorbike taxi driver, he aimed to buy a car to become a taxi driver within a few months.

Turning challenges into opportunities

Shortly after buying a car, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Determined, he found ways to adapt. As Hanoi entered lockdown, Quyet shifted to operating on the Hung Yen-Nam Dinh route, where travel was still permitted. With a Facebook page to attract customers, he managed to earn around 20 million VND per month even during the pandemic, clearing his debts within a year.

In 2024, at 25 years old, Quyet launched a service model allowing others to invest in vehicles. Starting in May, he became the owner of a fleet of five cars, aiming to create better job opportunities for underprivileged youth like himself. Until that dream is fully realised, Quyet continues to give back, even if it's as simple as sharing positive thoughts.

"My life feels like a dream, and I’m grateful to those who appeared and gave me incredible opportunities," Quyet said.

This article was originally published in a Vietnamese newspaper.