In Xihu Township, Changhua County, a four and a half section chive flower field is maintained by Ms Nguyen Kim Hong, a new immigrant from Vietnam, and her husband He Yan Guo. They have long relied on manually harvesting chive flowers to support their family. They work diligently in the fields during early mornings wearing boots and bending over, contributing each day to their livelihood. Over the past twenty years, they have treated every chive flower as a symbol of hope, supporting the family and investing significantly in their children's education, ultimately raising two successful National Taiwan University students, illustrating the perseverance and dedication of new immigrant families in Taiwan.
Ms Nguyen recalled that she initially worked multiple jobs to support her three children with unstable income. Later, a farming relative suggested growing chive flowers, providing more stable income and flexible working hours, allowing her to balance family care and education. Even in cold weather, she continued working. She harvested in the early morning, sent her children to school, and delivered fresh chive flowers to wholesale markets. Regardless of weather conditions, she and her husband maintained this routine for twenty years.
The chive flower field not only sustains the family but also witnesses the children's growth and success. The eldest son has graduated from National Taiwan University and works in the north. The daughter is pursuing a doctoral degree at the same university, and the youngest son is attending university. Ms Nguyen expressed that she endured hardships for her children's future and hopes society recognizes new immigrant families and their children positively, breaking biases against the second generation. She also hopes her children will contribute to society and the nation in the future.
Chen Junxuan, Director of the Changhua Service Station of the National Immigration Agency, noted that Ms Nguyen's perseverance in supporting her family and the outstanding achievements of her children inject positive energy into Taiwanese society. The Immigration Agency continues to provide legal consultation, life adaptation support, and other services to help new immigrant families live securely in Taiwan. The 12th Dream Program for New Immigrants and Their Children is currently accepting applications, offering up to 100,000 NTD for selected participants. Details are available on the National Immigration Agency website.
