Day 13- April 29, 2009

Final Day: Farewell Saigon and Vietnam

Our final day was an open day until we had to meet at 7:30 at the farewell dinner. I decided to come along with Miss Lynne who organized a trip to visit a school for disabled children, The Nguon Song School, 10

miles from Saigon Center. The school is a branch of the main orphanage, Nguon Song Orphanage.
Disable children and
poor children cometo the
school to study and learn some skills of making crafted things like bamboo lamps, bamboo wind chimes and painting.


The children also had lunch at the school. They were adorable and respectful to us. Miss Denyce walked around to give each of them candies and cookies. They were shy, smiling and waiting for their turn for little treats. Miss Helen took several pictures with her tiny camera as the children gave her the peace signs with their tiny fingers. We also enjoyed seeing the artwork displayed along the hallway. Some of them were copies of famous artworks but some were originals by disabled students and workers. Alexandra, our 16-year old member, Miss Anita and Mr. Bob enjoyed the experience very much. Miss Helen bought 2 original artworks. She posed for pictures with the two artists.
The prices were quite cheap. It might cost Miss Helen more to frame the artwork in America than the artwork itself, but the artwork is priceless.

The farewell dinner was at the private dining room on the second level of Com Nieu Saigon Restaurant. The atmosphere was quite emotional. Chef Khai came to the restaurant early to arrange the gifts for everyone on the tables.

Each couple received a group picture in a frame of bamboo design and a special designed apron with the memories of our trip. Everyone was quite chatty with each other and signed each other’s aprons. I went up to each person and thanked them for being such wonderful traveling companions during the last 2 weeks and their support and kindness towards me. Chef Khai and Chef Chu thanked everyone for the wonderful trip. Miss Lynne, Miss Helen, Miss Denyce, Miss Alexandra and Mr. Bob reported to the whole group about the morning trip to the school for disable children.

Chef Khai opened Champagne and invited everyone for the final toast. Com Nieu was a special way of cooking rice in the clay-pots. The rice was kind of crispy at the bottom of the pot. Because of the fragile texture of the clay pot and its small neck, the pot had to be broken in order to get the rice inside. The servers broke the pots and threw the rice across the dinning room as our entertainment. Mr. Goerg and Mr. Peter tried to catch the rice too. They eventually caught

some after failing miserably a few times. The food was amazing. I loved the lotus root salad with shrimp, sauteed Thien Ly flowers with garlic and clay-pot fish. As the night came to an end, I got a list of emails from everyone. I hoped to keep in touch. It would be lovely to see them again at Ana Mandara.