Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Vietnam's future.................

A fashionable young lady on the river bank in Hoi An.

They say children are happy for the most part, no matter the environment in which they are raised.  With loving parents and a safe home, education, and the creature comforts we all expect, children grow and thrive where their families choose to live and work. 


Vietnam is a very small country, roughly the size of New Mexico, and home to 66 million people.  Despite being a rapidly developing country, there is a widening gap between the urban rich and the rural and ethnic poor.  Large pockets of acute poverty, malnutrition, high mortality and low levels of education exist.

A young boy outside his family's restaurant.

With no wish to get into a political and humanitarian debate here, climbing on a soapbox to try and right the wrongs of this often sad world is not what my blog is about.  However,  I was at times quite disturbed when I saw how the lives of some of the beautiful children in southern Vietnam teeter on the edge of tragedy.


Minding the store.......................learning retail (which is a gigantic employer of every age group - never seen so many shops) at a very early age.


 River boats, often family homes, transporting tourists and locals through Hue's waterways.


These were the children of the family who live permanently on this actual boat which we took on a very wet day........as it was a Saturday the boy was not in school and was spending his time with his sister.  I saw no toys or books to help pass the hours for these two beautiful children on board their home and only playground.



This family lived a very simple life on their small river 'dragon boat' home...........dad at the helm, mother trying to eke a living from selling a myriad of goods to tourists.




The prices were small, her efforts to sell were difficult to refuse. She modeled silk blouses and pajamas, draped robes around our shoulders, even tied a skirt around my waist. Thoughts of having to purchase yet another piece of luggage loomed so buying more than a just a few items was out of the question.  I felt guilty.  

Pity is a word which always sounds miserable.  Perhaps misery to us is much different than what is perceived in situations such as this.  I first felt it in an African village last year, and was then made to see that the children were happy with their lives because they knew no other.


Her smile as we left the boat was comforting.  Knowing we had perhaps helped put a nourishing meal on the family table that day was good................


................but I think about these children daily, hoping and praying their childhood floating on the murky river will be safe.  I hope that sooner rather than later the government of Vietnam will do more to help these people have a better future by providing more advanced education, cleaner conditions, a safer infrastructure, and pensions for the people in the south as well as the north.  I felt the love of family in these hard working people and they deserve more assistance. I feel strongly that all these children deserve a better, safer life. 

8 comments:

  1. I so agree with you ..I have been moved to tears many times in my travels ..Adult poverty is hard to witness,but the children just hurt your heart so much..
    Both Africa and many parts of Asia are a delight to travel in but so hard not to feel guilty that you are enjoying the best that their own land has to offer and they are not

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  2. How beautiful those children are. They sure do have a different life than most American children.

    I loved your posts on your elephant ride! Wish I could have been there in person!
    Hugs,
    Penny

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  3. This is a very powerful and touching post. I wish the same for these lovely gentle people. Thanks for your insight and beautiful photos, Mary!

    XO,
    Jane

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  4. Yes, it is a hard life, I've seen it too.

    My prayer is education for all.

    Thank you for visiting my blog. I'm off to see your African photos.

    I too have a love affair with the continent. This will be the 7th time I have gone there:
    Egypt (twice)
    West Africa-Togo, Ghana, Burkino Faso and Mali
    Kenya
    South Africa and Swaziland (twice)
    Namibia and Botswana
    Zambia and Malawi

    And this summer we're going back to Botswana and Zambia. I agree Botswana is the most magical place of all.

    Sft x

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  5. Your photos are beautiful, what a great camera you must have. Ours is very easy to use and we hope to get a new one for this year as you need to have the best that you are able to use, don't you agree?

    My nephew is coming with us this year, he came with us to South Africa/Swaziland in 2010 too-we treated him, I thought it was money well spent as travel is a great educator. Well, he got home and told us that he want to return and this time he'd pay! He's been saving soooo hard and as you can imagine, Botswana is not cheap although I think it's worth every penny don't you?

    We won't be staying in luxury accommodation. Our trip scrimps on direct flights and provides clean accommodation without the flash bits. But it doesn't scrimp on the safari part and sometimes we are out all day. I love birdlife so I take the best guide with me and always find something interesting to see. Often people become birdwatchers because my enthusiasm is infectious.

    We're going to the Okavango Delta and Chobe Nat Park in Botswana.

    CAN'T WAIT! I BET YOU CAN'T TOO!

    Sft x

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  6. So true and so sad when you see their faces and put a face to this need. I am glad you were able to do a small thing by traveling with them for awhile.

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  7. Thank you for your comments. The photo's from your trip look amazing. When my youngest daughter adopted her two daughters from China in 1998 and 2003 I travelled with her and her husband. Loved that country, but also feel like yourself, such poverty is gut wrenching.
    Visit often, love to hear from you.
    Patricia

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  8. Children are always the ones who suffer, even here in the states, but as long as they are happy with loving parents that is what really counts.

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