The group was in Vietnam for a number of projects, including the delivery of 180 bicycles to needy children so that they can ride, rather than walk, the long distances to school. The group also built and donated some houses, and housing improvements, to some people in need.
Here is a pic from a recent GCSF event when a bunch of bikes were given to school kids.
The group invited us to join them one day on a visit to Mekong Delta to witness a small ceremony when they handed over a new home to a poor family in the village of Tan Thanh. Dr Phu said a few words (pictured below), in Vietnamese of course, to mark the occasion, as did the woman of the household (pictured left, standing). It was touching, despite the fact that we couldn't understand the words.
Some of the village kids came to see what the commotion was all about:
After the ceremony, we visited a house in another village which was to have a floor added (the floor is currently just the dirt on the ground.) The man of the house is also having some health difficulties and in need of a hernia operation which the group is trying to facilitate.
After the group had finished their work for the day, we all jumped on a boat in the Mekong for some lunch and recreation, hopping from island to island. First stop was a delicious lunch in a stilt house, with seafood and chicken, Jack fruit, and the ubiquitous warm beer.
Yummm, grilled fish.
And here is some Jack Fruit on a tree. Apparently it tastes great in a fruit shake for breakfast.
This pic was snapped from a boat in the river after lunch. These local lads were swimming in the river and enjoying the shade under the bridge... It sure gets hot in the Mekong...
After lunch we visited another island with a (very manual) coconut candy factory, and shop for tourists. These women are hand-wrapping the candy.
Our last stop was on another island which featured an orchard with various fruits where we were treated to a recital of old Vietnamese songs, sung by members of the family who run the orchard, while we feasted on fresh fruit dipped in chili salt.
Some kids watching the performance:
After the performance, we took a stroll through the orchard and climbed into little boats on a little river that runs through the island. This pic shows our oars-woman at the front of the boat, who is five months pregnant.
Thanks to Doctor Phu and friends for sharing their day with us.
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For more background, these two articles (1,2) from earlier in the year describe some of the good work that GCSF is doing in Vietnam, while this article describes the recent trip by Dr Phu and his friends and family. Another organization represented in the group was Viet-Nam Assistance for the Handicapped (VNAH) which provides wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs. The group also lobbies for rights for the handicapped here, for example, ensuring that building codes include wheelchair access.
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