Minority Village

Huieu drives us across a bridge along path of Ho Chi Minh Trail and into a "Minority Village" which means a village of indigenous tribe or hill people relocated by the government. Every house, on stilts, has a television and radio, but no telephone. Half naked children follow us around. I hand out about twenty small rattles to the kids who are very quick to rise to the presence of a gift. Six kids around me grow to fifteen within ninety seconds. One seven year-old got three or four rattles. As we drive away I'm pleased to see that A) Every kid got at least one and B) I was not giving out candy. Thanks to Jan for supplying some cool stuff.

What if you worked for the wrong side in the war?

After the war, supporters of ARVN and U.S. were segregated until 1986. That year, the foreign minister, Nguyen Van Linh, declared that Vietnamese people needed to forget differences prior to 1975. In the US. we called that amnesty. Interview of detainees were conducted to learn their work experience and level of education. Smart minister!