Every Sunday morning at 10:15, a special yoga class takes place on Pham Ngoc Thach Street, Hanoi. People of all ages gather, chatting about their week while waiting for the instructor. The room is filled with energy and laughter. This class, however, is unique—all the students are battling cancer.
 A special yoga class held by Salt Cancer Initiative (Photo: Hong Phuong) |
“I think this yoga class is beneficial for post-surgery recovery of cancer patients. My body has clearly changed after doing yoga. My joint pain has eased, I sleep better, and I get to try things I never thought I could do before.”
“This yoga class not only improves my physical health but also my mental health. People come here to meet and share their stories with others, which makes me feel happy and peaceful.”
 Kim Dung, participant of an SCI yoga class (Photo: Hong Phuong) |
Kim Dung and Hai Ninh are among the cancer patients who have been regularly attending this special yoga class for a year. This class is one of many activities offered by the Salt Cancer Initiative (SCI), a non-profit organization founded in 2017. The unique name of the organization comes from its founder, Truong Thanh Thuy, nicknamed Thuy Muoi (Thuy Salt), who was a cancer patient herself. Thuy, a prominent female entrepreneur, was honored in Forbes Vietnam’s “30 Under 30” list in 2015. In 2016, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. Despite the terminal illness at 31, she refused to give up, and this led to the birth of SCI.
Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung, SCI Chief Executive Officer, elaborated on the organization’s goal: “Unlike other cancer support groups, SCI does not provide financial support to patients. Instead, we offer accurate information from leading medical experts. With the motto ‘You don’t have to fight cancer alone,’ SCI organizes activities to build a community for cancer patients to share their feelings. This form of psychological therapy can aid in their treatment.”
 SCI founder Truong Thanh Thuy at an event in 2018 (Photo: Salt Cancer Initiative) |
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that three out of every four cancer patients may experience distress. However, with the right emotional support, better clinical outcomes are possible, according to the US National Cancer Institute. SCI excels in lifting patients’ spirits through various activities such as art therapy, candle-making workshops, and yoga classes. Some events also welcome family members and anyone interested in cancer knowledge.
Nhung said: “SCI cares about patients’ families, who are the direct caretakers and spend the most time with the patients. We encourage family members to participate in our activities, such as art classes or oncology conferences.”
 SCI CEO Hong Nhung (left) at a 2023 meet-up event about breast cancer (Photo: Salt Cancer Initiative) |
Since its establishment, SCI has expanded to operate in five cities in Vietnam: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Da Nang, and Thai Binh. The organization faces challenges, such as finding trusted partners as the team grows and activities are expanded.
Bui Hai Nhu, SCI Finance and Human Resource Manager, said: “SCI collaborates with high-quality partners to organize free events for cancer patients. Therefore, when we expand our projects to other cities, we have to find partners with similar prestige in those areas to ensure the quality of our projects.”
And perhaps for the members, the toughest moment was when Thuy, SCI founder, passed away. Losing a friend, a pillar of support and guidance, there was a point when the remaining members struggled to navigate SCI’s future path. Despite the trials and tribulations, Nhu said Ms Thuy’s words of encouragement kept them going forward.
“Since joining, I've had countless memorable experiences, but one stands out. A few years ago, while preparing for the Cancer Patient Forum, we were under immense pressure. Ms. Thuy, SCI's founder and president at the time, reassured us by saying she didn’t need the best people, only that we try our best and take pride in our efforts. She believed in us completely. Sadly, a few months later, Ms. Thuy passed away, leaving us to navigate SCI without her guidance. Despite the challenges, her words continue to inspire us. Whenever we feel stuck, we remember her encouragement and strive to support cancer patients to the best of our abilities,” said Nhu.
 5000 Happy Steps, a charity walk event held by SCI in 2019 (Photo: Salt Cancer Initiative) |
And with Ms Thuy’s encouraging words in mind, SCI has kept her legacy alive. In 2019, SCI received the National Volunteer Award from the Ho Chi Minh Youth Union. Four years later, they achieved the Human Act Prize, honoring significant societal contributions. SCI has cooperated with over 50 partners across Vietnam, creating a network of over 40,000 cancer patients, family members, and medical experts.
Thanks to their tireless efforts, like-minded individuals can find each other, and strangers have become friends. Along the way, some patients even choose to stay to be a part of the SCI family. That’s the story of Nguyen Anh Hoa, a long-time member of SCI. This 26-year-old girl with a radiant smile is a blood cancer survivor.
“The first SCI activity that I joined was the 2018 Vietnam Cancer Patient Forum in Da Nang. When I signed up, all the slots had been filled. I commented on Ms Thuy Muoi’s Facebook, saying that I really wanted to join but maybe I would wait until next time. And then a friend of hers offered to sponsor my trip. After attending the forum, I felt renewed. I met many other cancer patients including Tom who was only 2-3 years old,' said Hoa.
"At that moment, I really wanted to do something to help other people. Some have been fighting cancer for 2 or 3 years. I wanted to help others and become a source of motivation, showing them that an 8-year cancer patient can still be alive and well,” Hoa added.
 Anh Hoa used to be a cancer patient, now she is a beacon of hope for others (Photo: Anh Hoa) |
Hoa is among the many patients and family members who returned to SCI as volunteers eager to help those in need. More than anyone, they know what it feels like to be faced with a life-threatening disease, and thus they understand the true value of SCI.
She said: “Actually, I think the main reason why people come to these classes is to join a community where they are treated like a normal person. They don’t want people to treat them differently just because they have cancer. I used to be the only young cancer patient in my hometown, so I understand what it feels like to be given special treatment for a long time. I don’t like it. Even now, my parents are so protective of me and always think I’m different from other people. SCI’s activities make cancer patients feel like they can also do things like normal people.”
According to Nhu, SCI now has 9 periodic activities and 6 annual events, but they are far from finished. Expanding and diversifying the ecosystem is SCI’s main goals in the near future.
Nhu said: “SCI aims to build an ecosystem for cancer patients to help patients more comprehensively, from assisting them with medical check-ups to improving their physical and mental well-being via yoga or art classes. We will work with more partners to provide free services for the patients, setting us apart from other cancer support organizations.”
 Diversifying and expanding programs are SCI's long-term goals (Photo: Salt Cancer Initiative) |
Building an ecosystem that can support cancer patients' multiple needs is ambitious. Still, considering the impressive list of achievements when SCI is only in the second phase of its development, the team has a promising future ahead.
Beyond all the accolades, however, it’s the little yet impactful moments in their work that the team members cherish. For Manager Nhu, it was when the patients still remembered her name even though it had been a while since she returned to the classes.
Nho told VOV: “It’s the patients who inspire and motivate SCI members on our journey. When you join in a yoga class held by SCI, you’ll barely notice any differences from a regular class, except for maybe some yoga poses we have to change to suit the patients’ capabilities. Everybody is happy and they always share their stories and knowledge with others. Some of the members even go on trips together and ask SCI members to join. I’m glad they still remember me even when I’m not in charge of the classes anymore. Those are some of the memories that I will always treasure.”
 The patients are the ones who motivate SCI members (Photo: Anh Hoa) |
As for Hoa, the fight against cancer years ago never stopped her from being a beacon of hope for others. Like Nhu, she intends to stay with the team for a long time.
Hoa said:“I’m really proud of being an SCI member. I feel like I’m doing something good for society. At the Cancer Patient Forum last year, when I was on stage, the MC asked me the reason why I chose to stay in SCI. I didn’t answer right away, and instead asked the participants four questions: ‘Do you think SCI did a good job supporting cancer patients?’, ‘Was the cancer knowledge provided by us helpful to you?’, ‘Did you feel happy joining our events?’ and ‘During those events, did you feel like a normal person, not a cancer patient?’. After each question, they answered me with a loud yes and rounds of applause. At that moment, I think it’s clear I should continue being a part of this organization.”
Through SCI activities, many patients have found relief in their new-found community, and most importantly, a sense of normalcy in the face of life’s unexpected detours. With a team full of young, talented individuals who love what they are doing, there is no doubt SCI’s activities will be further expanded, reaching out to more cancer patients, giving them a helping hand, ensuring they know they are not alone in their fight.