Thursday, July 24, 2008

VN pictures - July 2008




I went home to visit my Di Hai, the only close relative I have left in VN. Our house looks so tiny now, compared to everything else around. I no longer recognize the street.

Our house is now used as a boarding house for nuns and students who need to study or be in Saigon. Most of them come from Phan Thiet or the Central. It's a good thing, the young nuns look after Di Hai, keep her company, bath her as she's in a wheelchair. I'm so grateful for these people are taking care of her.

I really miss Di Hai now that I'm back. So much memories in that house.

Besides doing the 1-week tour in Hanoi and visited my aunt, I went for an adventure ride with Sister Cecilia. We hired a driver, guide, and van, going from Hanoi to Nghe-An, Phi Loc, a small rural town in North VN. Here we distributed bicycles and sandals for poor children.

I also visited Bishop Paul Hoan's pigs farm in Phan Thiet http://www.bacaixahoi.org/history.html to see the work he did to help the poor in that village. We played music to raise money for his cause too.

I also visited Sis C's boarding house, where our VN Dream For Success (VDS) charity gig money goes to. The money provides scholarships for poor girls who get good grades, poor family condition, and had already been accepted to college but have no means of financing.

Everywhere I went I was so touched by the simplicity, hospitality of the people and the innocence of the children.

I really left my heart in VN!

Please see article(s) I wrote for details (and how you can help if you wish to.)

http://heohocbong.multiply.com/journal/item/1/Sandals_and_Bicycles_

Thanks for visiting! I'll post more pictures soon!

Que-Huong
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57 comments:

  1. minh buiJuly 26, 2008 at 5:39 AM

    I haven't seen con thằn lằn in so many years. Ngày xưa hai ông anh hay lấy dây thung bắn thằn lằn trên trần nhà..;-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. minh buiJuly 26, 2008 at 5:39 AM

    What's that???

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  3. minh buiJuly 26, 2008 at 5:42 AM

    What's that for?

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  4. minh buiJuly 26, 2008 at 5:45 AM

    So many people here. Are they all students? Are they all supported by sister C's group?

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  5. TLe DCJuly 26, 2008 at 5:54 AM

    Tra'i chanh liu. Passion Fruit. QH chua bao gio thay het. An chua chua ngon lam.

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  6. Tri BuiJuly 26, 2008 at 5:57 AM

    Bên VN nghe nói lúc này đa số là "Ninja", ngoài trừ là Việtkiều, :-)

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  7. TLe DCJuly 26, 2008 at 5:57 AM

    Students, nuns and seminarians, yes all supported by Sis C. Our VDS charity gig money goes to the students. The other charity gig for Bishop Hoan goes to the men and the pigs. lol They do a lot of work w/ helping the poor.

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  8. TLe DCJuly 26, 2008 at 5:59 AM

    Ben VN hau het la` bac si giai phau (surgeons). lol Khong deo khong duoc, rat ho^i!

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  9. The Blues Cellar .July 26, 2008 at 6:05 AM

    Dì Hai looks so good...

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  10. The Blues Cellar .July 26, 2008 at 6:06 AM

    Without all the trees, it looks so nice and clean.

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  11. TLe DCJuly 26, 2008 at 6:07 AM

    Hoi xua QH cung hay ngu tren gac nay. Luc tro ve van ngu o day. :)

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  12. The Blues Cellar .July 26, 2008 at 6:08 AM

    Yeah, we spend lots of time on that piano.

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  13. The Blues Cellar .July 26, 2008 at 6:09 AM

    Almost didn't even recognize the kitchen.

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  14. The Blues Cellar .July 26, 2008 at 6:11 AM

    I used to hate these things, especially when they fell into my bed. Yuck!

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  15. The Blues Cellar .July 26, 2008 at 6:11 AM

    Great picture, Hương.

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  16. TLe DCJuly 26, 2008 at 6:12 AM

    Thong (Sis C's cousin) did a great job fixing up the house. It's so clean and functional now, after many many years abandonment.

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  17. The Blues Cellar .July 26, 2008 at 6:12 AM

    Nam Quốc Cang?

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  18. TLe DCJuly 26, 2008 at 6:13 AM

    Thanks! I like it too. That was Tien, the lady who has the drink vending in front of house. Di Hai lets her stay to do some business, in return she cooks and wash for her. She's very nice but shy and won't let me take a picture of her.

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  19. TLe DCJuly 26, 2008 at 9:19 AM

    Di Hai & Duyen

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  20. TLe DCJuly 26, 2008 at 9:22 AM

    Normally only 2-3 people stay here. This week was special :) b/c we were there so everyone wants to come up to greet us. It was also exam season for the girl students, so the guys came up from Phan Thiet (4 hours) to take them to school since they can't drive yet and wait to take them back to boarding house in Binh Trieu.

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  21. TLe DCJuly 26, 2008 at 9:37 AM

    Crazy traffic, they ride so close to car, and in all directions!

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  22. TLe DCJuly 26, 2008 at 9:37 AM

    Crazy traffic, they rode so close to each other and cars, and in all directions!

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  23. The Blues Cellar .July 26, 2008 at 10:11 AM

    I think that's similar to a xylophone, except made of bamboo.

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  24. The Blues Cellar .July 26, 2008 at 10:12 AM

    So, like, who is the hottie?

    ;o)

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  25. The Blues Cellar .July 26, 2008 at 10:14 AM

    I am just amazed how the house looks now. Certainly a far cry from what it was 8 years ago.

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  26. The Blues Cellar .July 26, 2008 at 10:16 AM

    I think the guy in green is a Công An guy, if memory serves.

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  27. The Blues Cellar .July 26, 2008 at 10:21 AM



    Ha, remnant of a long-ago time...

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  28. huong buiJuly 26, 2008 at 4:46 PM

    ơ, lần đầu tiên thấy quả cau đỏ, lạ quá.
    Cám ơn TLe nha.

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  29. Stan MarkJuly 26, 2008 at 4:46 PM

    Dear Theresa.Thank you so much for sharing your photos and memories.
    Hugs, Stan

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  30. huong buiJuly 26, 2008 at 4:48 PM

    phải chụp ở chùa ông Đạo Dừa không vậy?

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  31. huong buiJuly 26, 2008 at 6:31 PM

    Đây là đàn tơ rưng của người dân tộc thiểu số.

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  32. 2chopsticks .July 26, 2008 at 10:14 PM

    so may be we should call that a "xyloboo" ??? :-)))

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  33. TLe DCJuly 26, 2008 at 11:53 PM

    ywc Stan! Got more but no time to post yet. Please visit later.

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  34. Tuan GSJuly 27, 2008 at 6:55 AM

    Swallow them live cure asthma, believe it or not. I don't, hehe

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  35. Tuan GSJuly 27, 2008 at 6:56 AM

    Did you go to Ha Noi too, QH???

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  36. TLe DCJuly 27, 2008 at 8:50 AM

    Yes, I took a 1-week tour to Hanoi, Sapa, Halong Bay, Tam Co^'c, Phat Diem church...then ended tour in Hanoi. Hired a van to take us in from Hanoi to Nghe^. An to distribute sandals and bicycles, on to Hue, Hoi An, Tam Dinh (not sure about name), Danang. Take plane from Danang to SG.

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  37. Elle© ❤ ❥ ❣ ❦July 27, 2008 at 9:41 AM

    Wow - such site hit with network access congestion. Great deeds! Please keep up. Will support. Thanks.

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  38. TLe DCJuly 27, 2008 at 10:21 AM

    Thanks LC! Being among the people is FANTASTIC!

    I get to know Sis C more and she's truly amazing with all the work she's done for the poor - she and Bishop Hoan's community (remember that one charity gig we played for?)

    Her orig plan was to come back this Christmas but the long trips (twice a year) wear her out, plus it really depends on how much money she'll raise.

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  39. TLe DCJuly 27, 2008 at 10:51 AM

    Em khong nho ten cua Chua nay. Chua nay la mot trong nhung Chua em di o Hoi An. Em di nhieu Chua lam khong nho*' ten het duoc.

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  40. Tin NguyenJuly 27, 2008 at 3:25 PM

    that is precious.

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  41. Tin NguyenJuly 27, 2008 at 3:27 PM

    I'm curious about the beauty underneath the mask...

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  42. Tin NguyenJuly 27, 2008 at 3:29 PM

    The xich lo carrying me flipped over last time I was there.

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  43. Tin NguyenJuly 27, 2008 at 3:31 PM

    Would you let us listen to some of the music recording ?

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  44. TLe DCJuly 27, 2008 at 8:53 PM

    Hi A. Tin, look under Video. H'mong singing. :)

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  45. The Blues Cellar .July 27, 2008 at 9:10 PM

    Interesting! Did you have some? :o)

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  46. The Blues Cellar .July 27, 2008 at 9:12 PM

    Phố núi cao
    Phố núi đầy sương
    Phố núi cây xanh
    Trời thấp thật gần...

    I can easily fall in love with some place like this...

    ReplyDelete
  47. The Blues Cellar .July 27, 2008 at 9:13 PM

    This is a TIME magazine-worthy picture...

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  48. Tri BuiJuly 28, 2008 at 4:29 AM

    Law of Physic...maybe b/c your are a lot heavier than the driver huh? hehehe...

    ReplyDelete
  49. Tri BuiJuly 28, 2008 at 4:56 AM

    Thanks QH đã post hình lên. Những cảnh vật này thật sự gây nên một nổi xúc động không nhỏ cho anh. Đả lâu lắm rồi, gần 30 năm chưa về thăm lại VN. Chưa bao giờ đặt chân lên những vùng quê hương này, chưa bao giờ thật sự thấu hiểu được đời sống bình dị, mộc mạc của dân mình tại đây.

    Hy vọng sẽ có dịp về thăm VN một ngày thật gần đây.

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  50. TLe DCJuly 28, 2008 at 5:13 AM

    Hi A. Tri', Em hy vong may anh chi em tui minh co' the di chung voi nhau mot ngay gan day. Di tour thi vui nhung em khong thich ma^'y, di de cho biet thoi... em thich duoc gan va noi chuyen voi nguoi da^n hon nhieu, moi hieu duoc cach song, noi lo au cua ho...Thuong lam!

    VN la noi dde.p nha^'t the^' gioi trong mat em!

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  51. TLe DCJuly 28, 2008 at 5:14 AM

    Most gentle people, and so very polite!

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  52. TLe DCJuly 28, 2008 at 5:20 AM

    >Phố núi cao
    Phố núi đầy sương ...

    Di da(m phu't dda~ ve^` cho^'n cu~...

    Too funny, I couldn't help but sang THE same song when I was up there!! Most appropriate. The clouds roll in pretty low. To the right, you can see Ha`m Ro^`ng (Dragon's Jaw) mountain. See the jaw sticks out? I climbed very close to there and stood in the clouds.

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  53. TLe DCJuly 28, 2008 at 5:45 AM

    A. Tin, here you go! She's a cutie!
    http://tledc.multiply.com/photos/album/18#4

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  54. TLe DCJuly 28, 2008 at 5:48 AM

    Nooo....I didn't see any of them running around in the wild either. I did have some Mountain Goat (De^ Nu'i) though. In Binh Trieu, they have crocodile farm (tra.i ca' sa^'u)...they raise for food. Cha? Gio` Ca' Sa^'u.

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  55. Elle© ❤ ❥ ❣ ❦July 28, 2008 at 1:36 PM

    Or your driver was looking through the masked girl, haha... Hey QH, you're building lots of dynamics here, thus congestion.

    ReplyDelete
  56. TLe DCJuly 31, 2008 at 6:23 AM

    Tear swelled up when I stood here to take this picture. Childhood memories came flushing back... I used to run and fly kites on roads like this...

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  57. The Blues Cellar .July 31, 2008 at 6:39 PM

    What a great pic! Radiant faces!

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