Story behinds a famous photo!!!

Once again, I went to Cu Chi tunnel and Tay Ninh (Cao Dai temple) yesterday with CET students. Rylan called me the other day to ask for helping with this tour. In stead of staying at home and sleeping on Sat, I decided to go with group 32 persons included professors, American students and Vietnamese students.

I don't know how many time I have been on this tour but especially this tour we stopped at then historical intersection in Trang Bang - Tay Ninh province. The place where the famous photos of Nick Ut took one of the best photos in the war time in 1972. The photo of naked girl ran and screamed in smoky atmosphere after the American soldiers accidentally dropped napalm bombs.

I bet everyone knows these photos cause It's too famous all over the world.

The boy wears with shirt and short in the 1 first photo is Kim Phuc's brother. We stopped at his house, had a nice talk with his wife (Too bad, this guy passed away 3 years ago cause het got heart attack). The she turned on a documentary movie about Kim Phuc's life. She also exposed some stories behind the photo. Phuc was 9 and her brother was 12 at that time. Phuc's back was burned, her brother took off her clothes and both of them ran on the street screamed and her brother shouted "wtf American, why do you that with my sister?" in Vietnamese. And behind them, their grand mom ran on the street, on her hand was death body of Phuc's cousin with some of his skin felt apart from his body. I did saw that in the movie. ;( And another cousin of Phuc also died on the side walk but no one took care of him. That image still stucks in my mind until now.

Phuc's brother family runs a restaurant serve Banh Trang phoi suong and Banh canh Trang Bang (Specialty of Tay Ninh province). This restaurant attracts a lot tourists both locals and foreigners cause famous photo and story about the war.

Here are some photos of the historical spot:

Same place with the frist photo



Outside of the restaurant







Photo on the wall of the restaurant



Kim Phuc's sister in law



Main Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh

New way to go, new plan to do.....

Being jobless more than 3 weeks, and I've been into many formal interview for job with many different companies from Navigos group (Headhunter company), PR companies, real estated company, Winsord Plaza Hotel but there aren't any positions fits me. Otherwise I still waiting for their feedback. That's sucks when you have to wait for a long time and worry about it. I don't know this will happen for how long but it seems to be hard time for me.

One Saturday, I went to Poppy cafe and had a long talk with chi Thao (during the time it rained so hard outside). I don't know why every time I talk with chi Thao, I feel like having good time after our talk. So, Chi Thao invited me free Green Tea frozen yogurt with Almond (The only thing I order when I come to Poppy- that's my favorite). Thanks chi Thao for good advices for my future. Actually, my parents wanted me to apply graduated school in Australia. I thought about it but didn't deeply. Actually, working in Viet Nam you should have qualifications especially when you graduate from an international school and work in Vietnam, you will get salary by grants not by few hundred dollars like local people work really hard. That's why many of my Viet Kieu friend try to go back and work here (sorry my VK friends and White friends if it say it true hehe).

I am marketing for Poppy



With Julie and Ben


Julie, me and chi Thao




My final decision is apply for grad school in Australia. I choose Communication for my master. But firstly and the important thing I have to do is study intensive English in order to get IELTS certificate(certificate for non native English speaker to study abroad) with total average grade is 6.5 for 4 skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. I am kinda afraid my writing and reading skills cause it's still sucks somehow. I hope writing this blog in Eng can improve my writing.

Study in Australia is not really difficult nowadays. The Australian Government wants you have IELTS upper 5.0 and make sure your financial situation can cover 5 weeks intensive English course and 1 semester of main course. In addition, you also have accepted letter from the university. Then you will get a student visa. I hope I can make it easily and go to Kangaroo's country in Jan.

Oh, I don't if you guys know about Acoustic bar or not. But I just want to introduce again. They play live rock music every night like Yoko. But this place is alot better in terms of the size, interior design... and there are some singers sing at Yoko they also sing at this place too. This is definitely a place to go in Sai Gon.

Let's check out some photos of Acoustic bar on the Independent Day







Unlce Ho photos on the top of bookshelf - Viet Nam Muon Nam Yeah



10 years old kid plays drum freaking good (In the middle)

Enjoying jobless time

August 15th was the day I enjoyed 100% free time that means jobless time. I stayed at home all day just chilled in my crib.

Chris and Ben wanted to celebrate Phuong's night for quiting my job and enjoying jobless time(just another excuse for party hehe). We went to the top restaurant at Palace Hotel right in front of Sun Wah Tower. They served really good Beef steak on hot stone and enjoyed nice view of city at night.

At Fusions restaurant
















Beef stake on hot stone














After dinner we went to Bowling hall at Diamond Plaza, caught up with Trang, Thy (CET friend 2 years ago - I haven't seen her in ages) and Nguyet (Classmate from middle school) and Nguyet's friend David from the State. Then I really wanted to dance so we ended up going to Volcano, after dancing Chris, Ben and I went to pool hall.

Me & Thy


At the pool hall



There weren't much things to do, I just chilled at home, searched job online, went to the gym, and met friends. Friends came over and cooked meals. Slutty Hao and Julie Nguyen came back to Sai Gon from Ha Noi. Everyone gathered at our place and cooked lunch. The girls (Trang, Nguyet and Thy) each of them cooked their specialty. Nguyet made chicken soup, Thy made new style spring rolls, Trang made Canh gia chien nuoc mam and che dau xanh.

From the right to the left: Trang, Nguyet and Thy



Spring rolls



Canh Ga chien nuoc mam



Chicken soup


I know you guys will think I am enjoying fun time, yeah it's true but being jobless for a long time until now it's almost 3 weeks, i feel like boring, too many things that I have to worried about. Well, we'll see if there are any new things happen soon.

Update

Sorry for not updating since last week, last week was pretty busy with program wrapped up and still searching for a job.

CET held 2 farewell dinner for Vietnam Immersion group and Robertson Scholar group at Thanh Nien restaurant and Ngon buffet restaurant. I could enjoy 2 buffet night on the road hehe.

It's fast cause I just started and ran around doing stuff for CET, but now it's over and I still haven't found a job yet ;(

Julie went back to Sai Gon last week on Thursday night, I was so sad and sorry for Julie when she processed all bad news from the US. Anyway Julie, thanks for being good DC friend and your sense of humor making everyone closes together. I will alway remember the time you are in Ha Noi and Sai Gon ;)




Last weekend, my house mates Chris, Ben and I went to have Banh Xeo at Cho Lon. It's damn good and cheap too. After lunch we went to checked out new mall in China town - Parkson Hung Vuong Plaza (We made a joke this is Diamond for Chinese in District 5). This mall 's recently opened and supposed to be the biggest mall in Viet Nam (That was the advertising - but I am not sure about that). Actually, It's nice mall, has a lot of foreign brand names.

Walking around the mall, just window shopping. We stopped at the kids' toy display area and decided to check out little car with the remote control. So all members in this house ended up buying 3 cars and raced at home. Ben and Chris were really excited for this new game.

3 little racing cars


Luckily, I joined into the Berkley Alumni meeting which was held by Chris at High land Cafe in the same mall. Most of them are successful in their own career. Confidentially, I introduced my self to the group even I was not from Berkley and tried to market myself see if there were any chances for me . I got most of members' the contact. Minh - a local guy who work for PR company as PR manager is trying to hook me up with some PR companies in Sai Gon. Also Victor - who manages Windsor Plaza (where American club's at) offered me to try on his company with PR positon. That's cool but we'll see how are the interviews going later

Continuing my story, today (Tuesday) is a pretty easy day. I had nothing much left to do with CET, just tried doing some contact to arrange internships for students in Fall Semester in Ha Noi. I went to the gym then went to Windsord Plaza for interview. It's pretty good. I showed all my experiences with CET and my expectations in the future. BUT, at the end of the interview she said they want to find person who has experiences in Hotel PR. OK, fine lady so I am out. I went back home with a normal feeling, I believed taking many interview had made me find out more about myself and learn more about the job applying process.

Today is also Le's brithday (good friend from college that I still usually hang out with beside Thuy - also classmate who just got married 3 months ago , Didi from CET and Trang classmate from High school). We had goat's meat for dinner ( Vú dê nướng - yummy - and lẩu dê). After dinner we headed to my place and enjoyed cake from Tous les Jours bakery - it's delicious. I made some shaking Earl Grey tea for everyone then chilled and made fun each other. It's small and simple birthday but everyone enjoyed it a lot.

Nỗi đau của một cô dâu Việt Nam trên xứ sở Kim Chi

Hey guys,

Let's check out this article about the story of one young Vietnamese woman married to a Korean guy.

Cuộc sống có những thứ dã man, thú tính. đê hèn, khốn nạn ...không biết từ ngữ nào diễn tả hết sự giận dữ

Lá thư cuối cùng của một cô dâu Việt

Cô dâu Việt Nam tên Huỳnh Mai được tìm thấy đã chết trong tầng hầm căn nhà của chồng sau 8 ngày bị giết với 18 chiếc xương sườn bị gãy. Sự kiện này đã được Đài truyền hình KBS phát sóng ngày 9/8 gây kinh hoàng và phẫn nộ cho hàng triệu khán giả Hàn Quốc.

Báo mạng ohmynews đã trích đăng lại lá thư dài năm trang (bằng tiếng Việt) bày tỏ nỗi niềm của Huỳnh Mai (20 tuổi, ở Kiên Giang) trong những ngày sống tại Hàn Quốc.

“Em đã cố gắng rất nhiều để trở thành một người vợ tốt, một người mẹ tốt, em mong muốn một gia đình đầm ấm. Em rất muốn nói chuyện nhiều với anh, em cũng như những người con gái khác rất muốn đối xử tốt với chồng. Nhưng sao anh lại không quan tâm tới em? Em mong muốn có một gia đình đầm ấm và trở thành một người vợ tốt đối với chồng, nhưng ước mơ thật giản dị đó của em đã không trở thành hiện thực”, thư Huỳnh Mai viết, đề ngày 25/6.

Bức thư của Huỳnh Mai viết trước khi chết tại nhà ở phường Munhoa, thành phố Cheonan (Hàn Quốc), nay đã được công khai hôm 6/8. Bức thư viết “muốn nói chuyện với chồng thật nhiều và muốn đối xử tốt với chồng”. Lá thư là nơi trút bỏ những bức bối, nỗi niềm của Mai khi không nói được tiếng Hàn.

Ngay từ khi bước chân vào nhà chồng, Huỳnh Mai đã bị chồng bắt nhốt trong nhà, không cho tiếp xúc với hàng xóm. Mai muốn đi học tiếng Hàn chồng cũng không cho đi. Mai cứ hỏi điều gì liên quan đến tiếng Hàn là bị chồng chửi bới, đánh đập... Sau gần hai tháng sang đất Hàn làm vợ, Huỳnh Mai cảm thấy chán nản với cuộc sống đất khách quê người nên xin chồng cho về VN. Người chồng không những không cho mà còn nổi giận lôi đình đánh Mai đến chết, ông ta dùng chân giẫm lên người Mai khiến cô bị gãy đến 18 chiếc xương sườn. Sau khi sát hại vợ, ông ta bỏ trốn đến Deachon, miền trung Hàn Quốc. Ngày 5/8, từ nơi ẩn náu, ông ta gọi điện thoại về cho người chủ nhà nên bị cảnh sát truy tìm được.

Huỳnh Mai viết tiếp: “Nếu em được về VN, em sẽ tha thứ cho anh”. Huỳnh Mai do bất hòa với chồng nên sang Hàn Quốc chỉ được đúng hai tháng là đã muốn quay về VN. Mai không thể ngờ được rằng đúng hôm sau khi viết lá thư thì cô bị chồng sát hại. Thi thể Huỳnh Mai với 18 chiếc xương sườn bị gãy đến tám ngày mới được phát hiện.

Trong lá thư dài năm trang giấy, Huỳnh Mai viết: “Em rất buồn vì chồng của mình, khi đến Hàn Quốc em đã không biết đời sống Hàn Quốc ra sao. Khi em buồn anh, anh phải hỏi em lý do chứ, anh giận em sao? Anh không biết rằng khi khó khăn thì cả hai đều phải bàn bạc với nhau và anh phải che chở cho phụ nữ sao? Khi em mệt mỏi, gặp khó khăn, em muốn nói chuyện với anh, nhưng mỗi khi trở về nhà anh đều thấy không vui. Mặc dù em nhỏ tuổi hơn anh nhưng chúng ta phải sống cho nhau tình cảm vợ chồng chứ”.

“Khi anh buồn anh lại muốn ly hôn, nhưng điều đó không được, bởi mong muốn của em là trong một gia đình hạnh phúc thì bất kể khi vui hay khi buồn cũng như lúc khó khăn vợ chồng đều phải hiểu nhau và bàn bạc với nhau. Mặc dù em ít tuổi hơn anh nhưng em cũng hiểu rằng sống với nhau phải vì tình nghĩa. Khi kết hôn rồi không phải lúc nào cũng chỉ toàn là niềm vui mà có cả những điều không hay”, Mai viết trong thư.

Huỳnh Mai trước khi lấy chồng sang Hàn Quốc từng làm việc cho công ty thủy sản, xưởng đồ gỗ, làm nông. Mai viết: “Lúc còn ở VN, em làm rất vất vả nhưng vẫn không đủ tiền cho sinh hoạt và cũng không thể để dành được. Em sang bên này cũng mong muốn anh hiểu cho em”.

Mai viết rằng: “Thật sự là em muốn về lại VN. Em mong rằng ước mơ của anh sẽ thành hiện thực và mong anh sống đàng hoàng. Khi về VN em sẽ làm lại từ đầu và đối xử tốt với ba mẹ em”.

Nếu như em có một nơi để cầu cứu...

Dịch và công khai bức thư của Huỳnh Mai là Trung tâm Hỗ trợ người nước ngoài thành phố Cheonan. Trung tâm này cho biết lá thư của Huỳnh Mai viết trước khi bị sát hại một ngày và để trong hộc bàn, chồng cô đã không phát hiện. Hộ chiếu của Mai bị xé vứt trong sọt rác.

Trưởng Trung tâm Hỗ trợ người nước ngoài Kim Ki Shu cho biết: “Các cô dâu nước ngoài khi có bất hòa với chồng chỉ cần có một nơi để cầu cứu thôi thì đã không có chuyện đau lòng như thế xảy ra. Trong trường hợp này, chỉ cần Huỳnh Mai có một nơi để nhờ tư vấn thì chắc chắn là đã không xảy ra chuyện này”.

Ông Kim nói rằng với trường hợp của Huỳnh Mai, công ty môi giới cho Mai đã giải tán, vì vậy Mai không có nơi nào để hỏi han. Chính quyền thành phố đang xây dựng trung tâm cung cấp dịch vụ thông dịch, nhưng một cô dâu nước ngoài mới đến đây chỉ được vẻn vẹn hai tháng như Huỳnh Mai thì không thể biết về dịch vụ này được.

“Một người vợ còn quá ít tuổi mà sống với một người chồng quá nhiều tuổi sẽ dẫn đến tình trạng không hiểu nhau và có suy nghĩ muốn về nước. Tuy nhiên, việc chồng đòi ly hôn là cả một sự đe dọa rất lớn đối với các cô dâu nước ngoài không có chỗ dựa”, ông Kim cho biết.

Cảnh sát Cheonan cho biết ngày 5/8 vừa qua, tại một phường của thành phố Daecheon, chồng của Huỳnh Mai, ông Jangamuke, đã bị bắt và giam giữ chờ ngày xét xử. Ông Jangamuke khai rằng trong tối hôm xảy ra sự việc, Huỳnh Mai đã đòi về VN khiến ông ta nổi giận mà sát hại vợ mình. Huỳnh Mai đã được hỏa táng ngày 18/7 và tro của Mai được bảo quản tại tại Cheonan.

Báo mạng ohmynews viết rằng thời gian gần đây đã có rất nhiều vụ việc liên quan đến các cô dâu VN ở Hàn Quốc bị đối xử tệ bạc, bị ép ly hôn, bị đuổi ra khỏi nhà chồng khi không có nơi nương tựa..., cho thấy đây là tiếng chuông cần cảnh báo về thực trạng bất ổn khi các cô dâu VN sang Hàn Quốc lấy chồng.

Back to Sai Gon

Hey guys,

Before I start updating my news, please be patient when you read this long update because I was busy last week plus a little bit of laziness so I just wrote on my hand book then now, I typing on the this blog. Ok, here is the story

Back to Sai Gon, back to reality. That means I have to look for a job cause in 2 more weeks, CET summer program will end and I still waiting for the feedback from AVC - a local marketing & PR company. I am confusing now because after my graduation in college which International Business Administration is my major. They taught me a lot of stuff and everything seems like too general. It's true because my other friend Thuy who was my classmate has the same ideas with me. So I think to start with PR first see if it fits me or not. Everyone told me that I have some skills which are related to PR. Actually, my job with CET program pretty awesome. I've learned a lot from it during the past 2 years. From meeting people with different background, race, gender to learn how to over come my non confidence in meeting people or before doing some difficult works and know how to party as well. Thanks for all my students and my VK friends ;)

Today is Tuesday. The weather is so cool. There is a gentle rain because of a storm #2 which is affected directly to VN and Sai Gon is also affected. I spent all afternoon with Slutty Hao at Tous Les Jous bakery (Korean bakery with a French name - that's weird) to help him translated his research questions about Education in Viet Nam






Vietnamese roommates in CET program cooked Vietnamese dinner for American students. Otherwise American students have to cook for Vietnamese students. This is one of exchange culture activities that CET recommended. The food was so good I was surprise because this group did a good job in making: Canh chua cá lóc, chả giò, thịt bò xào bông cải, rau câu and especially nước mơ (Apricot juice) Which was brought from Ha Noi. That's delicious dinner

After dinner, Dave , Hao, Tien, Matt, Thành ( Matt's roommate) and I went to an Arap Lounge for Shisha. This is my first time having shisha in Sai Gon. Surprisingly, It's better than shisha at Balcony bar in Ha Noi. (Sorry anh Phúc) I just want to say the truth hehehe. I walked home right after chilling at that bar while some others wanted to go clubbing at Volcano.

Next morning, As usual chị 10 (our maid) come to my place at 7:30 am and started ringing the bell and calling my name out loud cause my room is next to the window. I am sure that everyone in the neighborhood will know in this house has 1 person named Phuong. Although Chris and Ben are staying in the same house with me but she's never yelled their names ;(

I decided to go to the gym and registered for membership which kinda expensive (450.000 ngàn đồng). I rather pay for this instead go clubbing and drinking too much booze(??) (As a result, I have a beer stomach and last week I went back my house and my mom said "you look too fat, stop more eating" :( . The gym is kind of small but it has new equipments, sauna and shower after working out. All my body felt sore after the first day.

Friday night usually us a party night for me and my friends. But this friday was different. It's rained so hard. My house mates were not at home Chris is in the US, Ben was hanging out with his friend from the US. Suddenly, Minh and Katie friends from SIT program called me out. They were at Vasco. I took a taxi there. Man, there are a lot of White dudes there. After having few drinks, we decided going to Lush for wiggling my butt (As James said to me whenever I go clubbing ;). Do you believe or not? Lush started charging cover fee (100 ngàn/person, included 1 drink I think) That's sucks. My friend and I both left Lush. I went straight to MGM cafe on Nguyen Dinh Chieu Str. caught up with Ben and his friends. We had couple drinks and went back home.

I took it easy this weekend just stayed at home most of the time. I went to the gym then call Slutty Hao for dinner. We had Cơm tấm which is the best Cơm tấm of Viet Nam, I think (Julie,Ben, Chris,Shaun and some others had said that when I took them there) Anyone wants to try it? Call me next time. I will charge you one dish of Cơm tấm sườn chả for service. hehe Ok stop talking about food ;)

I came home after dinner, read book, listened to music and download some new albums then watched Sherk 3 with Hao. At 2:30 am I was so hungry but there was no food in the frieze. Hao and I walked around the neighborhood to find Pho but that Pho restaurant was closed. I took my motorbike and drove around looking for food. I was so happy when there were some hu tieu mi shop still opened at Tan Dinh market. We ordered hu tieu mi and hu tieu thit heo. I could tell they put a lot MSG in it but how could I do, it still tasted damn good at that time ;)

Sunday morning, I woke up at 11:30 am and went straight to Thi Nghe market. I bought a lot of fruits, lettuce, pork, tofu... I am planning to have a campaign "Living healthy and cheap" Song khoe va re". I cooked my own food for lunch and dinner which cost 12.000 đồng (cheap huh) After lunch, I lied on the couch and tried to finish the Norwegian Wood book and listened to Norah Jones. That was my first time in a while since last Fall in Ha Noi that I was by myself and I enjoyed it a lot.

Trang (high school classmate) came over and we went to Poppy cafe. Trang has never been there so I took her there to try frozen yogurt. We met chi Thao and had a long talk cause I haven't been back to Poppy in about 2 weeks. Poppy donated 1 million dong for Fun Run Fund (Thanks a lot James - my old buddy kakaka).

Trang and I left Poppy and stopped at the corner of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and Pasteur for Hot Vit Lon (My favorite hot vit lon at night). Well, that's all for my weekend. Tomorrow is a new week. Something new happen? We'll see.

LAST MEKONG TRIP WITH CET STUDENTS IN SUMMER 07

I can't remember how many time I've been to Mekong with friends or with my students. But it's good for me to get out of the city life for a few days which is noisy and polluted. Here is the river, rice fields, orchards... and good food too.

We departed for Can Tho City on Thursday(26/7) around 4 PM then stopped in Cai Lay town at Minh Phu restaurant for dinner. I've been to many places over Viet Nam, I can tell this place has the most beautiful and sanitary public bathroom I've seen (This is my favorite bus stop in Mekong, Sorry I forgot to take photo this place, but trust me ;)). This restaurant has specialty "Ca com chien gion". It's little fried crunchy fish. I don't like fish but with this kind of fish I can eat a package hehe

Arrived Can Tho city at 9:30 pm, Most of us were tired cause we had to sitting in a tiny bus during 4 hrs. We (Hao, Dave, Long, Tien, Tam and I) decided to go on the 5th floor of the hotel to have a group sauna and massage. After that we just walked around the town at mid night to find some xoi ga then go straight to hotel for bed time.

Next morning (27/7) we left early for Hoa An - Biodiversity - Application - Research Center 20 Km further from Can Tho City on the way to Hau Giang province. This is really cool research center which is operated by Dr Truong Van Ni. He is a professor at Can Tho university. He went to Philippine for master and U.K for his PhD. He has run this center since 1993.

One aspect of his research that I am really interested in that is Socio - Economy. Dr. Ni gave land for poor families in his research area. This is a unique model, they live next to a canal, take water from the canal for daily use by pipes then they use some kind of chemical to make the water clean and safe for using. They also make fish bond and raise fish next to their house. Waste water after using are taken to smaller canal next the house. It's filtered by water hyacinth (cay Luc Binh) then lead to the rice field. They also raise goat for meat, milk. The goats' dung are used in many ways. First, it used to raise worm for raising chicken and duck. Second, they put rice straw and dung together. It takes few months to become organic fertilizer. This is type of model "Vuon - Ao - Chuong" (Garden - Bond - Cage) where farmers can live and make income at where they are staying.


On our way to visit families in research center Dr. Ni and Rylan



Fish bond next to the house



We left Can Tho at 3 pm and arrived Vinh Long at 4:30 pm. All together, we jumped on the boat which can carry over 20 persons. The boat drove across Mekong River. It's amazing when the sun set reflects on the river. That's the best scenery.

We arrived Mr. Muoi's house for one night home stay. Everyone hung out until 7 then had dinner. Dinner was fantastic. Every time, I come to Mr Muoi's house I am crazy for vegetable soup which is cooked with pork. It'a simple but very delicious. After dinner, next program was Cai Luong show by local singers which was appropriate with Mekong environment. The show last 45 minutes. All singers ended up with a song Viet Nam - Ho Chi Minh.

Slutty Hao suggested a poem game. Every one had to write and perform a poem in front of the group. I came up with a poem which has 2 sentences:

"Neu khong di tu
Hay su dung bao cao su"

After the poem game, Rylan(My boss) started the game "Psychologist with patients with mental problems". The symptom was when the psychologist asks the patient - he or she has to answer all the questions but that belong to the person who sits next to the right of patient. This is a cool game I've ever joined in a group, we laughed so much that night.

28/7 We caught up with Robertson students in Ben Tre for "FUN RUN FOR POOR CHILDREN" in Dinh Thuy commune. Surprisingly, we raised 19,700,000 VND = $12300 more than last year was 7 or 8 millions dong. All the money will give to poor families and help Dinh Thuy elementary school repaint all the wall and make new table top in classrooms.





I can tell Robertson students looked exhausted because they have to work all day. They get up at 7 am, have breakfast then bike from Mo Cay town to Dinh Thuy commune around 4 - 5 km to build house for 1 poor family. Everyone has a break for lunch around 2 hrs then get back to work like teaching English for kids in elementary or middle school. There are some students working on social work which is associated with local government. This year, Green Summer Campaign runs smoothly so far after 2 weeks. Everyone enjoys working with friendly local people in Dinh Thuy.

In general, besides the slow government system in the countryside. I had to work out side the office at 7 pm at a Bia Hoi place with 2 authorities guys to have our plan approved , but that was last year, this year, it's getting better. That's a good sign ;)

We headed back to Sai Gon at 1:30 pm, arrived SG at 4:30 . Right after I arrived home. It's a big heavy rain started. That's end of my Mekong Trip. Hope I can go back there again soon in the future, back to the place has fresh air and GOOD FOOD. ;)