5/15 Mike's Village, Vietnamese war veterans, and meditation by Robert

5/15 Mike’s Village

Visiting Mike’s village (our tour operator) is one of my favorite days on the trip. The village lays about 40 km outside of Hanoi, but feels like another world. Mike’s family has lived in this village forever, so he knows everyone (in fact, we met many of his relatives). We visited the Tuesday morning local market, briefly toured the village, watered the pigs, then headed back to Mike’s house, where we asked questions of the Vietnamese war veterans, then had a delicious lunch in Mike’s home, all prepared by Mike’s extended family. After relaxing in Mike’s house during the heat of the day, we went to a tributary of the Red River for a refreshing swim before heading back to Hanoi. 

Guess who bought a new hat (worth 5 points for the correct answer)

Mike's older brother, also named Ha, with Mike's daughter Trang and Ha's son Min

dragon fruit

Watering the pigs - one of my favorite things to do 

Mike, with his aunt

laundry shot

5 veterans of the American war came to share their stories (while our guide Ha and our chaperone Khoi translated) and answer their questions:

• Mike’s father, Do Van Ngu
• Chung (80 years old, who participated in both the French and American wars)
• Hien (73 years old)
• Sung (78 years old)
• Suyen (66 years old)

Mr. Sung started the sharing. We was involved in the American War from 1965 to the final South Vietnamese surrender. He participated in the Tet Offensive. He told the students, “What I saw was so terrible but that was the past. There is no animosity between Vietnam and the United States. All the fighting is in the past.” When asked why he joined the North Vietnamese army, Chung replied, “I am the Vietnamese person. I am a native. I have an obligation to join the army to protect Vietnam.”

Next, Mrs. Suyen spoke. This is the first time we have had a women veteran to share her story. Suyen joined the army when she was 17 years old. She was in the military from 1972 to 1977. It was explained to us that women prepared the weapons, the food, and the roads.

The question was asked, “If you met an American vet, what would you say to him?” Mr. Hien answered, “Look to the future. No talking about the war. We are friends together. Build the two nations – the economy and happiness. If I see an American vet, I shake his hands and say hello.” Next, Suyen answered the same question. “War was caused by the army, by the president. Not the people. The war has nothing to do with us. You did your job and I did my job. That is all.”

When asked what was the most difficult thing about the war, Suyen responded, “No green vegetables due to all the vegetables destroyed.” It was then explained to us that Suyen and Hien both suffer from exposure to Agent Orange, but their children were not affected.

There were a few questions about post-traumatic stress experienced by the Vietnamese veterans, and it was explained that the Vietnamese vets came home as heroes and were treated so well by the government and their communities, so they did not experience what many of the American veterans experienced. Make’s father has suffered from lung problems since the war. He said that the American war was much more severe than the French war, and that he sometimes relives the fires and bombings. Suyen mentioned that many of her friends died from B-52 bombs. “During the war, I was not afraid. But now I think about it and I am scared.” And Mr. Hien answered, “American soldiers – compulsory to fight. But I am volunteer. I give my blood to fight. I have no sorrow. I am happy to fight for my nation. I fight to liberate my people. No guilt. No remorse.”

When asked how the war affected them, how it changed them or their personality, Mr Hien responded, “We always suffer from war.”

The next question was, “As you experience your daily life, what makes you proud that you fought?” Hien said, “I feel very proud and people are proud for the victory.” Suyen said, “All people are proud for our nation. We know how to protect the country. We are proud to be Vietnamese. We are proud of our grandfathers, and proud of our fathers.”

Finally, the veterans were asked what advice they would give the younger generation. Mrs. Suyen said, “Forget the past. Look to the future. Study hard. Build your country.” Mr. Sung said, “Work hard. Build a good relationship with other countries.”

Group shot with the Vietnamese war veterans

Hieu, with Mike's father Do van Ngu

Mike's family meal after all of the students finished lunch

We are entering the final 10 days. It is time to get serious and a bit heavy. The meditation/lesson tonight was about turning adversity into growth through an exploration of the masks we wear sand the limited perspectives we hold, and owning our biases and expanding our perspectives through investigation of the stories we tell ourselves of who we are.