SJP & The Angels Orphanage

A Journey of Heart, Hope, and Home

(2008–Present)

Prologue – A Knock at the Heart

There are moments in life when a choice changes everything, not just for you, but for hundreds of others you have yet to meet. For Simon J. Price, founder of SJP, that moment came in 2008, on a warm, humid afternoon in Ho Chi Minh City.

He had been invited by a friend to visit Mai Âm Thiên Thần, known in English as The Angel Orphanage, in District 9. The building wasn’t imposing, just a modest three-story home with laughter echoing from its courtyard. Inside were rows of tiny beds, colourful drawings pinned to walls, and the unmistakeable hum of life: crying babies, singing toddlers, and the steady shuffle of caregivers moving from room to room.

But it wasn’t the walls or the layout that stayed with Simon, it was the atmosphere. “You could feel the love in that place,” he recalls. “And you could see the need. It was clear they were doing so much with so little. I knew immediately that I couldn’t just visit once and walk away.”

The Orphanage’s Beginning

To understand the story of SJP’s partnership, you have to know the story of the orphanage itself, and the man behind it.

Mr. Bùi Công Hiệp had been many things in his life: a soldier, a security guard, a businessman. But in his early sixties, he made the decision that would define him forever. After finding and caring for an abandoned infant, he realised his retirement plans would take a different path. That single child became two, then five, then ten. Before long, the home he had built on a 2,500m² plot of land in District 9 was filled with children — most brought to him as newborns, some left at the gate in the middle of the night, some from desperate mothers who could no longer cope.

Hiệp ran the home as a family, not an institution. He rose at 4 a.m. to prepare bottles of milk. He cooked every meal himself, spending hours chopping vegetables and stewing meat to make sure every child had fresh, nutritious food. He insisted that the children call him “Bố” – father, and kept their birth mothers’ names on official records, in case one day they wanted to reconnect.

By the time Simon first visited in 2008, the home was caring for more than 50 children, from babies to school-aged kids. And it needed help.

2008 – First Steps

That first visit was meant to be a brief introduction. Instead, it turned into a turning point.

“I remember holding this tiny baby,” Simon says. “She couldn’t have been more than a few weeks old. She just looked at me like I was the first person to ever notice her. It hit me in that moment, whatever else I did in Vietnam, I wanted to be part of this.”

SJP’s first contributions were modest but immediate: formula, nappies, fresh fruit, and basic medicines. Simon also organised a small fundraiser among expat friends to cover the orphanage’s electricity bill for several months.

It was a start.

2009–2010 – Laying Foundations

In the next two years, the relationship deepened. Simon visited regularly, bringing both practical supplies and moments of joy, birthday cakes, new clothes, colouring books, and toys.

But he also started thinking bigger. The orphanage’s kitchen was cramped and lacked proper refrigeration, meaning they had to shop for fresh food daily, wasting time and energy. Simon began reaching out to his corporate contacts.

By late 2010, he had convinced two companies to donate a $30,000 walk-in fridge and a $35,000 walk-in freezer. The transformation was immediate: they could store bulk purchases, preserve fresh meat and dairy, and reduce waste dramatically.

“I’ll never forget the look on Mr. Hiệp’s face when those were installed,” Simon recalls. “He just kept saying, ‘Now we can feed them better. Now we can plan ahead.’”

2011–2013 – Thinking Beyond Essentials

With food storage secured, SJP turned its attention to the children’s well-being in other ways. Vietnam’s heat can be unforgiving, and most of the children had never been near a swimming pool. Drowning is a major risk for children in Vietnam, and Simon saw an opportunity to combine safety with joy.

In 2012, after months of planning and fundraising, SJP funded and oversaw the construction of a child-safe swimming pool at the orphanage. On the opening day, the yard was filled with squeals of excitement as the children splashed, played, and learned to swim.

“That pool was about more than fun,” Simon says. “It was about giving them a skill that could save their lives and giving them a reason to laugh every day.”

During this time, SJP also began organising day trips, to the zoo, to parks, and to museums. For children who had rarely left the orphanage walls, these excursions were magical.

2014–2016 – Technology and Education

As the children grew, their needs evolved. Education became a major focus, and SJP began supplying computers, televisions, and educational software.

Simon remembers one delivery vividly: “We brought in a set of laptops, and the kids were just fascinated. They’d never used a computer before. Within minutes, they were exploring maps, learning English words, and playing maths games.”

These donations opened up worlds they’d never seen connecting them to information, stories, and skills that would help shape their futures.

2017–2019 – Building the Future

In 2017, Mr. Hiệp made a remarkable gesture: he officially transferred ownership of the orphanage’s land and building to ensure it would always belong to the children. That act cemented the orphanage’s future but the daily needs remained urgent.

SJP continued to provide food, clothing, and school supplies, while also organising annual Christmas parties with music, decorations, and gifts for every child. These events weren’t just about the presents, they were about making sure each child felt seen, celebrated, and loved.

2020–2022 – Resilience Through the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic brought new challenges. Lockdowns made it difficult to get supplies, and fundraising events were cancelled. SJP adapted by sourcing food and essentials locally, often delivering them personally under strict safety measures.

Technology donations became even more critical, as schooling moved online. SJP provided tablets and internet access so the children could keep learning despite the restrictions.

2023–Present – Continuing the Journey

Today, the partnership between SJP and The Angel Orphanage is stronger than ever. We continue to provide monthly support for essentials, coordinate major donations, and fund special projects.

But for Simon, it’s the small, personal moments that matter most:

“When I walk in and a child runs up to hug me, or when I see them proudly showing off a drawing or a school report — that’s when I know why we do this. It’s not about charity, it’s about family.”

Why This Work Matters

The Angel Orphanage doesn’t just keep children alive, it gives them a home, a name, an education, and a chance at a future. But it can’t do it alone.

Government support is minimal, and caring for nearly 120 children is a constant logistical and financial challenge. Every donation, every gift, every volunteer hour makes a tangible difference.