The members of our novitiate house had the incredible opportunity to travel to Vietnam last week to visit the IBVM community there. It was a whirlwind week of new sights, sounds, and tastes. I loved exploring Ho Chi Minh City with our sisters (usually on the back of their motorbikes) and learning about their culture. I really fell in love with the city, the culture, and the people. Such an intoxicating mix of East and West.
More to come soon on our visit but first a selection of photos to whet your appetite!
The Post Office – a beautiful example of the French architecture found in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City.
A portrait of Ho Chi Minh is prominently displayed in the main hall of the Post Office.
At Ben Thanh Market.
Bags, bags, and more bags!
Bowls made from coconut.
Amazing embroidery work – gorgeous scenes stitched by hand.
“The Church of 3 Bells” or the “Dominican Church” – an extraordinary example of the fusion of East and West. The church was built in the style of a traditional pagoda as a way to incorporate the Catholic faith into Asian culture.
A pair of dragons greet you at the entrance to the church.
A mountain of fresh spring rolls!
I visited the museum that commemorates the American War (Vietnam War) – shocking photographs of the atrocities of war and the effects of the war on generations of Vietnamese. A lot of propaganda as well.
After the museum, I visited Independence Palace – the seat of the Vietnamese government in the 60s and 70s.
If you visit Ho Chi Minh, look up! Tangles of wires greet you everywhere.
It’s a work of art.
A hem (lane) leading into a Japanese neighbourhood.
Beautiful Vietnam!
Love, the driving force: a journey of discernment 