In 1986, Le Van Canh, born in 1938, and Nguyen Thi Vuong, born in 1944, moved from Thanh Hoa to Dak Lak to reclaim the new land. Despite their hard work, raising a large family kept them in financial hardship.

In 1999, they began scavenging at the Dak Lak Urban Environment Company’s landfill (Village 8, Cu Ebur Commune, Buon Ma Thuot City). There, they and local residents found, prepared, and buried numerous abandoned infants.

Canh recalled that due to poverty, they often went to the garbage dump to collect scrap metal to sell. One day, at around 7 am, when the garbage just poured from the truck, Canh discovered a new, carefully locked travel bag.

Thinking it a valuable find, he showed it off, only to discover a carefully wrapped infant boy inside. He rallied others to contribute for a ceramic urn and offerings, and then he and his wife cleaned and buried the child.

Another day, at 5am, Canh came to the landfill and found a plastic bag with a baby girl inside, still warm. He and his wife attempted resuscitation, but they failed to rescue the baby girl. They buried her with help from others.

Canh said many scavengers at the landfill encountered abandoned infants. “Each time we found one, I felt no fear, only heartache. We called for donations to bury them. We pitied them and did our best,” he said.

Over nearly 20 years at the Cu Ebur landfill, Canh and his wife, alongside locals, recovered 19 infant remains. Thirteen were buried at the Village 8 cemetery, with the rest handled by local authorities.

Canh gave all 19 infants his surname, Le, and named them. Abandoned by their parents, they became nameless, without parents or relatives. Canh decided to give the children his surname Le as they deserved a family identity. He also gave names to the ill-fated infants.

Regarding the naming, if a baby was picked up in the morning, Canh named it something that meant morning or dawn, such as Le Thi Mai, or Le Binh Minh. If picked up in the afternoon, the baby would be named Le Van Hoang or Le Thi Hoang Hon, which means sunset.

In 2017, the landfill relocated to Hoa Phu Commune (Buon Ma Thuot City), ending the couple’s scavenging days. They now live with their youngest child in Village 8, Cu Ebur. Through frugal living, they acquired land for farming beans and corn. Their eight children all lead good lives and take care of their parents.

Hai Duong