Viet Nam Trip Report 2011-2012

In December 2011, representatives of Sowing Hope Foundation went to two provinces in South Vietnam in search for families living in poverty with dilapidated, uninhabitable huts to rebuild.  All the huts we visited have dirt floors, thatched wall and/or roofs that are well beaten and worn by time and weather.  All of them have big holes and most of the thatched roofs and walls are rotten.  Thanks to our local representatives who did the initial search, our visits were more productive and we were able to arrive at our final evaluation and decision much quicker.

All of the adults in these families did not have the fortune of a formal education; therefore, most are illiterate.  They work as hired hands or day laborer which may mean masonry work including mixing cement and laying bricks, picking and sorting vegetables or fruits, washing dishes, or anything that requires labor with their hands.

Ben Tre Province

On December 19, 2011 we went the town of Ben Tre of Ben Tre Province for the first time.  We visited four families; here are their stories:

1. Tran Thanh Phong – 37 years old male, single parent with 2 children, day laborer (phu ho). 
   1. Daughter, Tran Linh Khanh Ngoc (age 8)
   2. Son, Tran Le Thanh Duy (age 6)

1. Pham Van Long –42 years old male, blinded from an automobile accident.

Wife works at fruit farm sorting cherries.  They have 2 children, one of whom is a monk and no longer living at home. 

1. Daugher - Pham Thi Anh Tuyet (grade 10)

1. Do Huu Chau -70 years old male living by himself

1. Phan Van Muoi – 39 years old male – day laborer

Wife - Mai Thi Pha – age 47 – sort cashew nuts

1. Son, Phan Mai Phuc Hau (age 5)

In Mr. Phong Tran’s case, the local people had collected 40% to rebuild his hut.   Sowing Hope donated 800 USD (60%).  The house is nearly completed except for a few cosmetic touches.  After evaluating the other three candidates, we have decided to build a small room 3x5 meters (10x16 feet) for Mr. Do next to his hut to protect him from the elements.  He is able to continue to use the existing hut for his usual familiar activities.  The cost is 800USD.  We plan to rebuild Mr. Long Pham’s hut later on this year.  As for Mr. Muoi Phan, we will add his file to our record for future plan.  We are in negotiation to find the best contractor in Ben Tre who is willing to work within our budget.

Long An Province

On December 21, 2011 we went to Duc Hoa of Long An Province.  We visited five families.  Four out of those five huts meet our qualifications for rebuilding.  Here are their stories:

1. To Thi Dung – 30 years old female whose husband (Pham Van Mot – age 31) was imprisoned for fatal automobile accident on the way home from work.  He was released December 2011, after 2.5 years.  The wife works as a day laborer.
   1. Son, Pham Minh Tuong (age 9)
   2. Son, Pham Minh Vu (age 3)

1. Nguyen Thi Hong – 33 years old widow with 2 children, she works for local factory.  Her father-in-law has promised to give her a small plot on which her hut resides.
   1. Son, Ho Dang Khoa (age 14)
   2. Daughter, Nguyen Thanh Thao (age 8)

1. Nguyen Thi Lon - (age 45) – She lives by herself in a dilapidated hut, quite malnourished.  She has nothing of value except for the little piece of land that was given to her by her late father.  She uses two old rusted oil lamps for lighting.

1.  Old couple Nguyen Van Duc –(age 66)

Le Thi Mien – wife (age 61) –

Of the four candidates in Long An, we have decided to rebuild the first three huts.  The fourth one will be kept in our file awaiting new funding.  In Long An, it costs approximately 1620 USD per home.