Hong Phuc "There’s a retard here," a corpulent woman shouted as she punched on my apartment door. "There’s a retard here!," she kept yelling. We were living in Hanoi back then, when my son was five years old. That woman, a neighbor, rushed into my house to find "the retard" because, she said: "He stole my grandkid’s toy, he even opened the fridge to take biscuits himself." That day, my son lost a piece of his toe because of the iron folding door. That neighbor tried to push him out of her apartment while my son tried to get back in. After she left, I followed the trail of blood to find my son hiding in a corner of the bedroom. He did not cry and his eyes were wide open as if he had never been chased away so many times before. Then he lay down, very still, rolling the wheel of a toy car as I bandaged his toe. When was the last time that you had peace of mind? My answer to that question would be: the time before a hot summer afternoon in Hanoi, more than 13 years ago. … [Read more...] about After 16 years of living with an autistic child, I am grateful
Books every child should read
Bilingual book of childhood stories launched
Charming read: The book by Trần Ngọc Anh Thư helps readers recall beautiful memories and think positive. — VNS Photo Minh ThuViet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Simple children’s stories are told in a new book by Trần Ngọc Anh Thư which has been released in Hà Nội. The book, Just The Way She Thinks, was launched on Tuesday in Vietnamese and English to serve both domestic and international readers. In the book, Thư shares her own memories from when she was young, including beautiful moments and difficulties that every child faces. The book is about emotions that Thư expects readers can relate to and children can find lessons to solve their troubles. The book is illustrated with sketches by Thư’s daughter, Nguyễn Khánh Vy. Thư considers the book a gift for her daughter and other children. Parents should read the books together with their kids, and help them understand how precious life … [Read more...] about Bilingual book of childhood stories launched
Nun gets children reading
Viet Nam News Thích Nữ Quảng Phát is a woman who has given her life completely to serve her religion. Such women are called nuns. She chose not to marry and have a family, especially after seeing a couple who were her neighbours fighting all the time. As a nun, she has started a library at a pagoda where children comes and read books. Lê Hương chats with her about her passion. Inner Sanctum: Please tell me about your faith and Buddhism. I was inspired by my parents, who are Buddhists, at a very young age. When I was four, my dad took me to a pagoda in the southern city of Vũng Tàu to learn Buddhist teachings. Though my homeland is in the central province of Quảng Trị, when I was one year old, my family moved to Vũng Tàu. There have been many incidents that made me decide to lead a nun’s life. But I strongly remember a ceremony I witnessed when I was young. People flocked to a local pagoda … [Read more...] about Nun gets children reading
National festivities in full swing
Viet Nam News PHÚ THỌ — A constant stream of vehicles have been flowing to Nghĩa Lĩnh Mountain in Phú Thọ Province to commemorate the Hùng Kings and the early ancestors of the Vietnamese people. Parking lots surrounding the area are practically full as people of all ages and regions arrive to pay tribute to their ancestors. Stages have been constructed on one main road leading to the mountain, where musicians and artists are performing, bringing a festive atmosphere to the area. The stream of people continue from the parking lots up the mountain, where they pass Đền Hạ (Low Temple), Đền Trung (Middle Temple) and Đền Thượng (Upper Temple), as well as the Hùng King Mausoleum and Đền Giếng (Well Temple). Towards the top of the mountain the journey becomes more challenging, as the crowds congratulate at the temples, although nobody is in a rush, and delight seems to be … [Read more...] about National festivities in full swing
Cold Beer
Viet Nam News By Phan Triều Hải Ever since her 32nd birthday last year, Vy had been afraid of gaining belly fat. So instead of eating cheese and drinking lots of beer before sleeping, the couple only drank two small glasses of beer at dinner. The weather in Sài Gòn encouraged beer consumption. Cao thought Sài Gòn was the best place to drink. This city had all sorts of problems: crowdedness, noise, heat, suffocation, traffic, lack of hygiene, pollution and beer was the solution that could dissolve all these issues in the fastest way. A gulp of beer enabled people to endure and relax, and made them irritable but energetic enough to do unexpected things. Beer lovers would never feel tired of Sài Gòn. Nor was there a better place for beer to show off its ability to excite, relieve stress, connect friends or accompany a solitary person. Nevertheless, Cao rarely went out to drink. He wasn’t social. Cao always wanted to be alone. His world … [Read more...] about Cold Beer