April 9th, 2010

After a quick breakfast, we strolled along the rice paddies, learning about the Vietnamese ways of farming, as well as their simple, yet quite workable irrigation methods. We reached the White Thai village to find older women at their hand-made looms, weaving intricate patterns with their colorful threads. All the homes here were on stilts-not for protection from water, but to provide the homeowners with storage space, work space, and retail space! Chickens were in open bamboo coops, and the family cow or water buffalo was penned in. This village was quite clean and the homes were beautifully made - especially the wooden shutters.

This was in stark contrast to the Hmong village we visited next. We had to drive up in to the mountains to reach this place, not known to tourists. We were hoping to see school in session but it had just let out when we arrived. Lam had brought a bunch of cookies along so that Hudson, Matt and Carly could give them to the kids in the village. We also handed out colored markers (which I'd brought from NY) but I don't think the children knew what they were. A few times I drew little smiley faces on paper so that they would understand how to use them!

As we walked around the village, we saw the thatched roof huts where families lived. Inside one, an old woman was using her hands to remove corn kernels from their husks, to then be ground as meal and flour. We walked on the dirt floor into the other room where they slept and where they kept the family alter.

Although the children in the village were extremely dirty, they seem happy. A few little girls were outside playing a jump rope game using some string, and groups of boys were climbing trees or just hanging out. One little boy was fascinated with my camera! He would break out in laughter every time he saw himself on the screen. In fact, whenever I lifted my camera, he would run in front to be sure to be in the picture! They do not have toys, let alone ipods, and they are no worse off for it. Most interesting is how these children don't beg. In fact, we have not seen any begging on our entire trip.

On our way back to Hanoi, we talked with Lam about the nature of the Vietnamese people. We are continually amazed that they do not hate Americans after what we did to them and their country. (11 million casualties!) The Vietnamese are used to being attacked - by China, then French and then the Americans, and when the war is over, they just move on. They have strong relationships with these countries now, and they couldn't be nicer to us, as tourists. We find the Vietnamese to be warm, caring and happy people, regardless of where or how they live. It is a pleasure to be in the country!