Vietnamese investor brings joy to mothers at Independence Park

March 30, 2025 10:25 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Len Garae.

A 35-year-old South Vietnamese investor, Mr. David To, introduced a new source of joy to the hearts of mothers selling flowers at Independence Park yesterday morning. He invited all the women present to decorate a white calico with palm prints, which he later used to wall the open building opposite the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat with the artwork.

“This is a unique piece of art created by the mothers using their palms to paint the calico,” said Mr. To. “Each pattern is different, making each one a personal contribution by the mamas in their flower sales.”

In addition, Mr. To bought three pots of flowers from each women at VT5,000 per pot before returning all the pots of flowers to their owners, saying his plot of land, where he plans to plant the flowers, is not yet ready. It is unclear whether he intends to take the flowers back once his plot is prepared.

One vendor commented, “We want to thank Mr. To because he didn’t ask us to return the cash payments.”

The President of the Mamas Flower Organisation, Mr. Maurice Horry, said, “Mr. To is like a blessing to us because he arrived when our members weren’t selling flowers. The earthquake on December 17 closed most offices in the Capital and at Independence Park, and many people have either relocated or are not working.”

“I understand that Mr. To is the son of a wealthy Vietnamese family, and he came to look at the flowers for sale before offering to buy many of them.”

Additionally, Mr. To offered to purchase all the unsold food on the premises, seemingly aware that many locals lacked the money to buy the food themselves.

In an exclusive interview, Mr. To shared that his Christian faith influences his desire to help others. “Many people today have a lot of money, but they’re not happy,” he said. “I arrived here about two weeks ago and was amazed by the beauty of Port Vila, especially its people and the flowers.”

When asked about his plans for the flowers, Mr. To explained he intends to start a flower garden or park for visitors to enjoy. “When someone is feeling down, they can visit the flower park to restore their happiness,” he said.

“This is a beautiful country, and I love the environment and its people. I want to secure a home here, then bring my wife and three children to join me.”