We got up for a 7am visit to the Saigon School for the Blind, the only school for the blind in Vietnam. The children were delightful and sang for us and we for them. We were able to play with them a bit and brought them gifts of stuffed animals, squishy balls, and playdoh.
They thought we smelled good and that we must be dressed up and coming from work! The boys in the second photo were making beaded jewelry, and we bought some bracelets and rings from them. Mr. Tom runs the school and showed us a poster that the children had made. We were glad for the opportunity to see the school, which is subsidized from government and private support. Mr. Tom is very well-regarded in Vietnam. Even so, it is difficult to get funding, as people are more willing to give money for food, rather than for a school. Also, although attitudes have changed greatly in recent years, in Vietnam, blindness is still often looked on as a stigma, or even a curse for what one has done in a past life. And some still believe that being blind also means one is mentally challenged. Mr. Tom and his dedicated teachers are changing the culture, and it was clear that the students are flourishing under their care.
They thought we smelled good and that we must be dressed up and coming from work! The boys in the second photo were making beaded jewelry, and we bought some bracelets and rings from them. Mr. Tom runs the school and showed us a poster that the children had made. We were glad for the opportunity to see the school, which is subsidized from government and private support. Mr. Tom is very well-regarded in Vietnam. Even so, it is difficult to get funding, as people are more willing to give money for food, rather than for a school. Also, although attitudes have changed greatly in recent years, in Vietnam, blindness is still often looked on as a stigma, or even a curse for what one has done in a past life. And some still believe that being blind also means one is mentally challenged. Mr. Tom and his dedicated teachers are changing the culture, and it was clear that the students are flourishing under their care.
As we had been in perpetual motion ever since arriving in Vietnam, the boys decided they had had enough and wanted to stay on the ship for our last few hours in port. Charis and I took the opportunity to do some power-shopping in the 100 degree heat. We cooled off a bit with some coconut water, but in truth, it didn't taste very good and we pitched most of it. Charis is posing (but probably not drinking) in front of the Opera House, which unfortunately was dark during our days in Saigon.
Charis found a funky pair of sandals at Aldo's and paid 1 Million.....Vietnamese dong! That's right, we spent a million on those high end shoes, which were actually on sale. We were often millionaires in Vietnam as 20,000 dong equal $1. Tough to keep track of this. Sometimes during our stay when we were bargaining, we would realize we were haggling over $2 and just drop the banter and pay up. Anyway, we splurged on the fancy sandals and spent about $50 on them. The women in the picture shop were lovely and were so happy that I bought one of their 4-piece wall hangings. It weighs a ton, but they wrapped it up nicely so I think we'll be able to get it home.
Charis and I walked back to the Rex Hotel, which is where the shuttle bus for the ship stopped. Our ship was located just 1 kilometer from downtown, but was across a busy highway, so the program ran a shuttle bus to the Rex every half hour. The shadowy photo is of the rooftop cafe at the Rex Hotel, a place where foreign correspondents would gather during the war to look out over the city.
Charis and I walked back to the Rex Hotel, which is where the shuttle bus for the ship stopped. Our ship was located just 1 kilometer from downtown, but was across a busy highway, so the program ran a shuttle bus to the Rex every half hour. The shadowy photo is of the rooftop cafe at the Rex Hotel, a place where foreign correspondents would gather during the war to look out over the city.
Back at the ship, the boys were swimming in the pool with the Ho Chi Minh City harbour as a backdrop. The ship staff just opened the pool as we arrived in Vietnam and the climate changed.
Here is a short clip of the children singing at the blind school:
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