Dan Harley's Ventures in Vietnam

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2012-01-28T15:05:00.001+07:00

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2012-01-25T18:10:00.001+07:00

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2012-01-18T16:10:00.001+07:00

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2012-01-16T19:30:00.001+07:00

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Rotary Club of Apple Valley, California’s Project Vietnam

2008-03-31T22:11:00.003+07:00

Rotary Club of Apple Valley with the grateful assistance of Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund funded $1,000 US for a humanitarian project to help five families affected by unexploded ordinance (UXO) accidents in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam in 2007.

Quang Tri Province has the unfortunate distinction of being the most bombed region in the world. More bombs were dropped in an area that can fit inside San Bernardino County than all of Europe during World War II. The U.S. Department of Defense estimates that about 10% of the ordinance used did not detonate as designed, which means that thousands of munitions still lay in Quang Tri waiting for the moment to be disturbed to unleash it’s devastation. UXOs are still harming and killing people over 30 years after the Vietnam War ended. It is estimated that nearly 7,000 innocent people are harmed or killed from UXO accidents since the Vietnam War ended over 30 years ago.

Quang Tri is also one of the poorest regions of Vietnam due to the devastation from the Vietnam War. The area is heavily dependent on agriculture and the intense bombing combined with use of defoliants, such as Agent Orange, left Quang Tri looking like a virtual moonscape after the War.

Rotary Club of Apple Valley has coordinated through Project RENEW to provide support for this issue (more on Project RENEW can be found on their Web site: http://www.landmines.org.vn). Our effort funds a micro-loan program supporting animal husbandry for families who had been affected by a UXO accident. These families had a loved one killed or incapacitated by a UXO, but the tragedy doesn’t stop at the accident.

Those involved in UXO accidents are usually the family’s breadwinners and the family as a whole is driven into extreme poverty by this loss. Our funds gave five Vietnamese families an opportunity to turn their life around from such tragedy and lift themselves out of poverty. I know first hand how resourceful the Vietnamese can be with just a little assistance. My Mother has been helping Vietnamese families in need in Thai Binh province for years. We have seen families take money to buy a couple pigs, turn it into several pigs, put their kids through school and their kids come back to buy their parents a new house. In Vietnam, the cost of a couple pigs or a cow can be enough to bring a whole family out of poverty for good.

Our money is not done working, but will continue to work indefinitely to help other families in the region. The funds were distributed through a micro-loan program, where the beneficiaries are expected to pay the money back when they can and then re-disbursed to other families in need.

This was not an easy project to put together and any level of success was uncertain. Most all Rotary International projects work through a Rotary Club in the region to assure Rotary funds are spent as designated. There are no Rotary clubs in Vietnam, so this project had to be managed from Apple Valley instead. Perhaps the most critical problem was Vietnam’s notoriously corrupt government, which could have caused our funds to disappear instead of reaching those who need our support. Thanks to Project RENEW and their staff, 100% of our funds reached Quang Tri province and disbursed to the beneficiaries in accordance to our instruction.

Rotary Club of Apple Valley will continue to support this project by direct funding, partnering with other Rotary Clubs and increase awareness by promoting this project through Rotary channels and media networks. It is hoped by this Rotarian that more Vietnam Veterans become involved with this project, because this project was created in their honor as well as their assistance through the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. It is also hoped that this and other Rotary projects in Vietnam will bring Rotary clubs back to Vietnam again.

Respectfully Submitted By,

Dan Harley, Jr.
danharley@applevalleyrotary.com
President-Elect, International Chairperson
Rotary Club of Apple Valley, CA
http://applevalleyrotary.com
District 5300
http://district5300.org

[ Dan in Vietnam ] Hello From Saigon

2006-12-24T10:05:00.000+07:00

Hi Everyone!

Ha and I are finally in Saigon. Lots of things have happened since the last time I wrote, but I haven't had much time to write about it. My Internet connection is currently through my cell phone, which can get a little expensive. I will need to make this short and sweet.

Everyone here is doing good. Ha and I are getting excited about celebrating our first Christmas together. We both wish everyone a wonderful Christmas.

Dan and Ha Harley

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A Whole Lot of Nothing…

2006-12-08T20:21:00.000+07:00

Hi Everyone!

It’s been a little over a week since I’ve written, and I should update you on what’s been going on here in Hanoi, Vietnam.

There’s not much new news since last week. I’ve fallen into a daily routine, which doesn’t change much, and I’ve already seen as much of Hanoi as there is to see. Most of my time is spent trying to repair my technology so I can get back to work. I’ve posted the few important items into their own blog posts for easier reference.

Read through them, and please posts some comments.

Take Care!
Dan Harley, Jr.

Marital Bliss and Technology Abyss

2006-12-08T20:16:00.000+07:00

I had setup several systems that would allow me to continue working while in Hanoi. Everything worked great just before the wedding, but fell apart sometime during the wedding day. Some of you asked how I had setup to work remotely, so here’s the details of what I used to work remotely and why it doesn’t work now.

GoToMyPC.com
Perhaps the most important task is accessing my computers back home. Doing so will allow me to perform about 80% of my work. I had setup GoToMyPC.com (http://GoToMyPC.com ) because I had thought that I would travel more than I have, and I might use Internet café computers instead of my laptop from time to time. The monthly service charge is a little steep, which is about $20/month to access two computers. I could have used PC Anywhere or other remote access software to perform the same task and save some money. On the other hand, the system was very easy to install, easy to use and has been about the only thing that didn’t break down on me while in Hanoi.

Skype
Ha and I have used Skype (http://skype.com) to chat with each other for months. Skype is a glorified instant messenger service, like AOL and Yahoo Messenger. Skype uses the latest VOIP technology, which makes for very high quality audio and video chats. Skype has services that allowed me to make and receive calls while in Hanoi at very reasonable rates and with very high sound quality. I was making calls through Skype to friends and clients who thought I was still in America. Everything worked great until Skype decided to block my account.

It appears that Skype thinks I stole my credit card, and I’m making calls from Hanoi with it. I have spent the past few weeks trying to convince them otherwise, but have been unsuccessful so far. I have a backup system for outgoing calls, but the sound quality is very poor. Long story short, I’m unable to call my clients from here and must rely completely on E-mailing them.

Computers at Home
I became impatient while trying to fix all the technical problems that I was having and overloaded my main computer at home. Murphy’s Law ruled the day, because the crash happened on a Friday night and there would be no on around my house until Monday morning to reboot my computer.

Internet Services
What really shut me down was something that would cause problems even if I were still at home. The E-mail server I use through my ISP service crashed and the problem hasn’t been fixed yet. Much of my outgoing E-mails are not delivered, and I’m not sure if I’m receiving all of my incoming mails. Those who have AOL E-mail addresses are probably not receiving my E-mails because my E-mail server has been banned by AOL.

Time Zone
The one non-technical thing that is tripping me up is the time difference. The work day here in Vietnam starts about the time the work day in California ends. This causes a problem when I need to call clients back home. I have to get up very early in the morning or work very late at night to make calls at a decent hour in California.

All these problems amounted to a lot of work just to get me back in operation. Fortunately, I’m quite technically inclined and very resourceful or I would be unable to work until I returned to America. With a lot of patience and a little luck, I should be able to crawl my way back to some level of productivity in a few days.

Dad’s Health Condition

2006-12-08T20:15:00.000+07:00

Several of you asked me to elaborate on my Dad’s health conditions, so here’s the reader’s digest version of the story.

My Dad served in Vietnam from November 1964 till November 1965. He was in the Air Force installing encrypted communications systems between the military bases. His assignment had him travel through the brunt of South Vietnam and exposed to a lot of pretty bad stuff.

His health issues didn’t appear right away, but evolved over a period of time. Sleeping disorders and asthma were some of the mild issues. What really hit hard was his bipolar disorder issues. We had not linked his health issues to Vietnam until my Dad visited the Veteran’s hospital in Loma Linda for the first time.

My Dad had always been acutely ill, and we found after the fact that private medical systems were misdiagnosing his problems. They medicated him heavily, and the medication itself caused health problems. My Dad developed a Parkinson’s like health condition due to medication taken over decades for his bipolar disorder. The VA system knew exactly what to do because they have been treating veterans with the same problems for years. His medication was corrected, and my Dad was able to live as normal of a life as he could with the health condition hat he was in.

As good as the VA system was in taking care of my Dad, they still fell short in properly treating him. They were fixing the symptoms but not really fixing the problem.
We heard of Vietnamese suffering from the same ailments as my Dad being successful treated in Vietnam. We had planned for years to take my Dad here, and my wedding here made for a pretty good excuse to come.

As mentioned in a previous E-mail, the treatment that my Dad is receiving here isn’t incredibly spectacular. It is a combination of acupuncture, ginko biloba, vitamins and massage therapy administered over a four to six week period. He started the treatment just before my wedding, and we seen positive results a couple days later. He is much more mobile and active than before the treatments, which caused our family to immediately change our plans.

My Dad has been on heavy medication for many years, so it will take some time for the treatments to completely take effect. He still has times during the day when he becomes tired and reverts back the previous condition. His first series of treatments will end next week, and will continue again in a couple months at a new acupuncture center in Tijuana (this will cut the drive time down considerably).

George and Bill Come To Hanoi

2006-12-08T20:14:00.001+07:00

I’m a God fearing red-blooded American and I have to travel 10,000 miles to a communist country for an opportunity to get a glimpse at my president. If you don’t know already, George Bush and Bill Clinton took turns visiting Hanoi during my stay here. In fact, I believe Bill Clinton is still in Hanoi and staying at the Hilton, which is an easy walk from my house here. George’s arrival was known months in advance, while Bill’s arrived virtually unannounced.

What I find interesting is the difference coverage of the President by the media here and back home. It was a huge event for Bush to arrive in Hanoi. People and the press here were talking about it well before my own arrival. The coverage was so big that information about leaders from Russia, Japan and China were snubbed. On the other hand, just about every news story I read in America about Bush’s visit here was pretty harsh. It was interesting to see how another country shows more respect for our president than us Americans do.

Clinton’s arrival was a big surprise to everyone, and he received just as big of a reception as Bush. Clinton has some liberties now that he’s not president, such as relaxed security that allows him to mingle in the crowd. He walked around Hoan Kiem Lake and through the old quarter with crowds of Vietnamese surrounding him.

Questions & Answers

2006-12-08T20:11:00.000+07:00

I’ve received numerous questions about my Vietnam ventures, which I will try to answer in this segment.

Q: How do the Vietnamese feel about Americans?
This is the most asked question, and for good reason. We were at war here over 30 years ago, and many of them could still be holding a grudge. The simple answer is the Vietnamese love Americans and wants to be friends with us.

Most of the Viets today were born after the war, and know little of what happened then. The American War, as they call it, is not studied in detail as our schools studied the Vietnam War. Even the older generation has put the war in the past and moved on a long time ago. In fact, I was hard pressed to find anyone who would talk about the war.

My visit here last year has shown me that the Vietnamese are among the nicest and happiest people that I’ve ever met. All of them seem to want to meet me and be my friend.

Q: How did I meet Ha?
I met Ha the real old fashion way. My Mom set us up.

Ha was supposed to be an interpreter and tour guide to me for a couple days during my trip here last year. I didn’t like her when we first met. I thought she was mean and didn’t care to be around me. All that changed after just one kiss.

Q: Do I feel safe when I travel through Vietnam?
I feel extremely safe and confident during my travels here. Then again, this is my second time here and I’m usually with my wife if I go anywhere. I’ve ventured off on my own a few times, and have no problems trekking out on my own if necessary. The one issue I have is the language barrier, which has caused some small problems.

Q: Is it easy to find women in Vietnam?
I’m not sure if I can answer this without getting in trouble with my wife. I guess you can say that it is easy to find women here, because I met my wife within three days after I arrived here last year. I will tell you that there are incredibly beautiful women here. I’m taking just one home and leaving the rest of them here.

Q: Can I be a travel guide?
Those who choose to use me as a travel guide here could meet the same fortune as the Donner Party traveling to California.

Q: How is the food?
The food here is absolutely incredible and cheap. You can get a decent meal for less than $2 US. Most of the Vietnamese food I’ve eaten here is the same as what I’ve eaten in America.

Q: Do I want to live in Vietnam?
I’ll admit that the thought has crossed my mind, but I have no immediate plans to do so. I do plan to visit more often as well as travel more too. I’m seeing that most Americans are not well traveled, and there is so much to see in this world.

Q: Do I speak Vietnamese?
I have been learning Vietnamese as quickly as I can since the last time I came here. I believe that I’ve improved remarkably, but I’m still far from being fluent.

Do you have a question? Leave a comment with your question, and I'll do my best to answer it.

Dan Harley, Jr.

[ Dan in Vietnam ] AOLers - You DON'T got mail...

2006-11-30T09:55:00.000+07:00

Hi Again!

Those of you who use AOL have not received a few of my recent messages, because my E-mail server had apparantly crashed around the time of my wedding. I'm making a few desperate attempts to fix my E-mail server in hopes to soon be back in complete operation here in Vietnam.

For those of you who missed me, make sure you check my blog and pictures for updates. Updates on my ventures can be reviewed at:
http://danharley.blogspot.com/

Pictures are at:
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/danharley/albums/

If you're on AOL, please reply to this so I know that you received it.

Dan Harley, Jr.

[ Dan in Vietnam ] Dad's Health Is Improving

2006-11-29T18:09:00.000+07:00

Hi Everyone!

I've been having problems with my E-mail server, and need to change how I will deliver my messages to you back home. I will posting my travel scribes on my blog site (http://danharley.blogspot.com) in lieu of sending them by E-mail. Please go to http://danharley.blogspot.com for future posts, and please leave comments.

My friends with AOL E-mails probably didn't receive my last E-mail and may not receive this one too. The problem is beyond my control at this time, and I will appreciate it if the rest of you can pass the word to them about my blog site.

Don't forget about my photo site at:
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/danharley/albums/

I've posted new photos of the wedding and of a recent boat trip up the Red River.

Everything here is is very good, and I hope everything is well back home.

Dan Harley, Jr.

Dad’s Health is Improving!

2006-11-29T17:56:00.000+07:00

Hi Everyone!

I thought that I should update everyone on what’s been happening in Vietnam. I should tell you that the original honeymoon plans have been shelved for the moment. Ha and I are still in Hanoi, but very much enjoying the time we’re spending together. Why we haven’t embarked to Southern destinations has something to do with my Dad’s seemingly miraculous improvements in his health.

A friend told me that everyone would be taking care of his or her parents sooner or later. The time came sooner than later for me. My Dad’s health issues have directly impacted my life for several years. This has caused my family to make some tough decisions to best accommodate my Dad’s increasing health needs. The decisions for my Dad’s care would become more difficult to make now that I’m married. About the only thing that would keep my family and myself out of ever increasing hardship is a miracle, and it appears that miracle might be happening.

Some of you know that my Dad suffers from several health complications, which are related to his tour of duty in Vietnam. The American medical system, and especially the Veteran’s Administration have done a pretty good job at helping him, but have fallen short in properly treating him. It seems like the solution to health problems in America is to take a pill for it, and that has caused more harm than good for my Dad.

Perhaps my Dad’s worst ailment is Parkinson’s disease. His body is riddled with this disease so bad that he can barely walk at times. He hardly goes out in public because his hands and legs always twitch uncontrollably. Sometimes the problems are so bad that he can’t get out of bed. The Parkinson’s and his other health problems have been my family’s biggest concerns for several years. This certainly raised serious doubt if he would be able to travel. Somehow, my Dad put himself together well enough to make the trip and see his Son get married.

We heard of successful medical treatments in Vietnam for ailments similar to my Dad’s, and my wedding in Vietnam gave the opportunity for him to undergo such treatments. The treatment is a combination of acupuncture; massage therapy and large doses of vitamins and ginkgo biloba. The treatment may seem mystical to Western healthcare, but is very common practice in this part of the world. You cannot receive this kind of medical treatment in America, because the AMA won’t approve it. I had my own strong doubts that it would work, and I regularly have acupuncture treatment. I quickly changed my mind when I seen dramatic improvements in my Dad’s health after just a couple days.

My Dad started going to a health spa here in Hanoi, which was a part of the acupuncture school. The spa almost immediately started to improve my Dad’s health. He was examined for acupuncture treatment between the spa visits, and started therapy a couple days before my wedding. The doctors indicated that two weeks of treatment would be required to see if there would be any effect on my Dad’s advanced ailments. It didn’t take that long, because improvements could be seen in just a couple days.

At this time, my Dad’s health issues appear to have rolled back four to six years. His Parkinson’s shaking has diminished considerably, while his strength and energy has increased. His speech is strong and clear, where it was very difficult to hear him just a few days before. An important effect from the treatment is my Dad being more aware of his own health issues. This is important, because he can better access if or when he needs his medication and can take care of himself again. Long story short, my family is watching a medical miracle happen right in front of us.

His health could improve enough that he would become completely ambulatory, and would not need the constant care that he has had for several years. This would allow Ha and I to start our lives together without the burden of taking care of my Dad right away. That in mind, it’s worth postponing our honeymoon a couple weeks to accommodate for my Dad’s improving health conditions.

Although Ha and I aren’t where we would like to be for our honeymoon right now, we’ve made the best of the situation. Even though our honeymoon has so far been spending time in our bedroom, I believe the situation has worked out to be beneficial for us. We’re both learning that our time together is more important than where we spend the time. There is so much that both of us need to learn about each other.

We’re finding out that we will encounter problems like any married couples would, and we need to find new ways to deal with problems now that we’re married. One of the big problems we’ve been having is communications, but our communication problems are not what you might be thinking. There are times when we literally don’t understand each other. Ha’s English and my Vietnamese can often fall short, and we often misunderstand each other. The problems from this are comical most of the time, but there have been some situations where the problems were more serious. Other than that, life has been wonderful.

We’ve been practically inseparable since I arrived, and constantly being together seems to make time itself slow down. I hardly realize that it’s been a little more than a month that I’ve been here. The down side is I will eventually leave for America, and we both know that day will be the saddest day of our lives. We both try not to think about it for now, and enjoy the time we have together.

There are dozens of other events that have happened, which I will provide more detail in other blog posts. I will close this for now, so I can enjoy a quiet night with my wife.

Take care!

Dan Harley, Jr.

Pass the word

2006-11-23T09:05:00.000+07:00

Hi Everyone!

I am finding out that my Internet technology back home is not working as it should. Many who were supposed to be receiving E-mails about my ventures in Vietnam have yet to hear from me. So I need your help to make sure all of my friends and associates hear about my ventures. Please feel free to forward any of my E-mails to interested parties and make sure they know about my blog at: http://danharley.blogspot.com/

Thanks!

Dan Harley, Jr.

P.S. Happy Thanksgiving!

Just Married (but still in Hanoi)

2006-11-22T08:43:00.000+07:00

Hi Everyone!

My travel plans and itineraries have changed slightly since my last E-mail. Im married, but have not traveled to Hoi An for the honeymoon yet, which Ill explain later. I first want to give some details about the wedding, because many had asked about it.

The Wedding

Ha and I were married in traditional Vietnamese custom and ceremonies. Although different from a Western ceremony, the wedding turned out to be a lot less complicated than I was lead to believe. The wedding had four basic parts to it, which are:

Engagement Ceremony
Ceremony at Has Parents
Wedding/Reception
Reception at my familys house

Vietnamese couples have an engagement ceremony in lieu of a wedding proposal. This is basically a party between the families to formally announce the marriage intentions of the bride and groom. The engagement ceremony was held on the November 9^th. My family caravan to Has parents place with food candies and booze. Pictures were taken. Speeches were made. I was told to fetch Ha out of her room, which formally indicates that Ha and I were engaged. After that, everyone ate like pigs and drank like fish. The engagement ceremony is usually a few months before the wedding. Ours was set just a few days before our wedding to accommodate for all the traveling that my family had to do.

Ha and I had our traditional Vietnamese marriage ceremony last Sunday (November 12^th). The wedding was in three parts and two ceremonies. This would give the impression of being complicated, but it turned out to be very easy and simple.

The first ceremony was at Has parents place, and followed a similar pattern as the engagement ceremony. My family had caravan over. Pictures were taken. Speeches were made. Someone told me to get Ha from her room, and we were married after that. It was literally that simple. No preacher, monk, church or vows were involved. Ha and I were whisked away shortly after to take wedding pictures around Hanoi while the family caravan to the wedding reception.

The wedding reception is where the rest of the family and friends participate in the wedding. It was held at the Government Guest House, which is a stones throw from Huan Kiem Lake in Hanoi. Heres some coordinates for those of you using Google Earth: 21° 1'36.60"N, 105°51'16.63"E. It seemed like Ha and I were taking pictures non-stop for two hours straight after we arrived, because every aunt, uncle, cousin, friend or neighbor lined up for photos with us. We were ready to parade through the reception when the photo-op drew down enough for us to work our way into the building. I was still expecting a formal exchange of vows, even though we were already married by this time. The only formal exchange was the rings and a kiss. Once again, no preacher, monk or church was involved. The whole ceremony was remarkably simple. It just took three days to go through it.

Ha and my family spent several months preparing the reception and especially the selection of food. The food was excellent from what I heard. However, I didnt get a single bite of it because Ha and I proceeded to greet and take pictures with every single person that came to the reception. We were, again, whisked away to take more pictures moments after we greeted the last guest.

Both families caravan to my familys place and proceeded with the final part of the wedding ceremony while Ha and I were taking more wedding pictures. It is customary for the brides family to inspect the bedroom before the wedding couple is allowed to retire to it. I figured this would be the most embarrassing part of the whole wedding, and I was correct. Not only did both families parade through our bedroom, the photographer took dozens of pictures too. The line was crossed when the photographer wanted pictures of us in bed. Subsequently, I threw the photographer and anyone that wasnt my wife out of the bedroom, which ended the public part of the wedding. Shortly after that, Ha and I unwrapped our presents.

What Happened to the Honeymoon?

As I indicated a few times before, Ha and I were to be on our honeymoon in Hoi An right now. These plans have been set back a little bit, because of my Dads recent change in his health condition. I am happy to say that his health is improving.

My Dad suffers from numerous health problems related to his tour of duty in Vietnam, and, the best place to treat him appears to be Vietnam. He just started acupuncture therapy that is already causing great improvements in his health. It will take a couple weeks before it can be determined whether the therapy is working, and the familys travel plans will be determined based on the results. Its likely that Ha and I will leave for Hoi An sometime next week and then to Saigon where we will stay until I return to America.

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures.

There are a few of you who would swim here and beat the hell out of me if I didnt produce some pictures for you to look at. Im not going to let you down. Following is a link to some of the wedding pictures with many more to come:

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/danharley/album/576460762343835183

[ click here ]

Other Stuff

Things are settled down a bit since the wedding, and it looks like I will be in better contact than I expected during my honeymoon travels. Ill catch up on things with a few e-mails over the next few days.

Ha wants me to unwrap my wedding present now, so Im going to close this E-mail.

I hope everyone is well, and please write back with more questions.

Dan Harley, Jr.

Last Call...

2006-11-12T01:00:00.000+07:00

Hi Everyone!

Today's the big day! I have some time to myself to think about my past, and ponder my future. This will probably be my last E-mail for a while, as I will be on my honeymoon.

Ive avoided marriage all my life, and had thought that I would be at least a little nervous towards the last few moments of being single. Whats strange to me is not being nervous, and actually being a little anxious. The last few weeks with Ha has removed any doubts that I may have had about marrying her. Her and I are soulmates, and are meant to be together.

It turns out that my wedding is going to be a pretty big event with or without me. I have relatives from all over the country here right now. Ha and our families have done an incredible job at planning and preparing for this event, that Im assured to have a memorable experience. The reception will be held at the Vietnam Government Guesthouse near Hoan Kiem Lake, which is a spectacular place with or without a wedding reception being held in it.

Tomorrow is also the beginning of APEC 2006 here in Hanoi, and the whole city is decked out for it. George Bush is supposed to show up tomorrow with an entourage that requires four 747s to transport. Its going to be interesting to see how my wedding party is going to get through town with the President here.

Ha and I will be heading to Hoi An by Wednesday, which is when I will start doing some real traveling around Vietnam. Ive been enjoying Hanoi so much that Im probably going to miss leaving it.

Thanks to everyone that have been writing to me. I really appreciate it, and will catch up with answers to some questions after my honeymoon.

Take care!

Dan Harley, Jr.

Updates from Hanoi

2006-11-08T21:05:00.000+07:00

Hi Everyone!

The wedding plans are coming down to the wire, and I haven't had much time to write. I have been taking lots of notes on things around here, which could make for some interesting reading. I have been living in Hanoi for the past few weeks, and making the best of it in this strange world.

Welcome to the Neighborhood
The house that my family is renting is located in a rather busy area. We’re about 1 block from the Red River, and about 1 km from Hoan Kiem Lake. There are all kinds of noises and smells that I can experience by just opening my balcony door. I call it the essence of Hanoi, while others call it the essence of spoiled garbage.

The house opens into a busy street. Directly across the street is a beauty salon, and two doors in either direction are Bia Hoi and Bia A Chau. Both are places that serve draft beer. Every once in a while, there is a lady that cooks and serves food right from the steps of our house.

There’s a couple infamous spots very close to the house. About a block away is the Titanic Night Club, which is moored in the Red River. Also not far away is the Bia Toilette, which is another infamous hang out for locals and expatriates.

Fivi-Mart
My last trip to Vietnam convinced me that this country is not as backwards as I had thought. This trip is quickly proving how much Vietnam has in common with America. One thing that’s common are supermarkets. Hanoi has a few chains of supermarkets, which FiviMart is my favorite.

The FiviMarts are stocked somewhat similar to a Super Wal-Mart, but about half the size of a regular supermarket. There is a food section, clothing, household appliances, etc. The items lean toward an Asian market (for obvious reasons), so you will a lot more rice and vegetables than huge meat department. The FiviMarts are so similar to an American supermarket that I don’t think Ha will experience as severe of culture shock as I had originally thought.

A perk for me is being able to reach the top shelf for an item, because everything here is designed about six inches lower than in America.

Bia Hoi
Bia Hoi literally means gas beer. It is draft beer found virtually everywhere in Vietnam. Locals come to these places for more or less the same reasons Americans go to a bar. There is an infamous Bia Hoi location not far from the house, which is nicknamed Bia Toilette. The name of the place almost sounds like toilette. The place is huge, and is usually packed every night.

Food
Food is abundant and incredibly cheap in Vietnam. You can get a decent meal for less than $2 US. Lunch with Chuck Searcy, Ha and myself cost about $3.00 US. Much of the food here is very similar to Vietnamese food that I’ve eaten all of my life in America. What I found interesting during this trip is the abundance of Western Food available here.

As I mentioned in a previous E-mail, Ha and I went out for pizza. Although the pizza was a far cry from the quality found in America, it is edible. What’s interesting was the salad bar, where local greens and things of different colors was served.

For the Dog Lovers
If you are a dog lover in Vietnam, you will have to determine exactly what you love about dogs. There is an ancient myth about Vietnamese and other Asians eating dog. The myth is actually true, but I still found some irony about how Vietnamese look at dogs.

Believe it or not, owning a dog is considered a status symbol here. I had seen many Viets walk their dogs around Hoan Kiem Lake, just like they were Americans taking a stroll with their trusted four-legged friend. There seems to be a commonality among these “man’s best friend” varieties. They all are very small or toy dogs. Putting it bluntly, there’s not much there to eat. I believe that staying below appetizer size is what keeps such dog alive.

For the record: Some Vietnamese do eat dog. Furthermore, dog is not served in secret from a street restaurant in the dark allies of Hanoi either. My uncle went to a huge “dog” restaurant that could seat over 300. Also for the record: I did not eat dog, cat, rat, mice or anything exotic during this trip (yet). I’m sure this snippet is not going to go over well with PETA.

The Missing Communist Flags
If I can choose one distinct difference between Saigon and Hanoi, then that difference would be the numerous hammer & sickle flags found in Hanoi. The communist flag was seen in massive numbers around Hanoi and North Vietnam, while only seen on government buildings in Saigon. The communist flag is flown at the same level as the Vietnam country flag, which symbolizes that the party is equal to the country.

There is something distinctly missing in Hanoi today. I haven’t seen a hammer & sickle flag anywhere in the city. Even Lenin Park failed to display a communist flag. This is unusual because the communist flag was quite prevalent during my last trip here.

Ha jokingly said that the Vietnam Government knew I was coming, and removed all of the communist flags while I was staying in Hanoi. She said the flags are stored in Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum.

Actually, the APEC conference is in Hanoi this weekend, starting the day of my wedding. A special guest to this conference is George Bush, which spells out why any trace of communism in Hanoi has been hidden for the time being.

Spa & Massage
My uncles, Dad and I had visited this incredible spa and massage place. My Uncle Hung claims that he has never visited the place before, which seem unusual because all of the staff there knew him. Nevertheless, we weren’t there to meet one of my uncle’s girlfriends, but to see if the therapy treatment could help my Dad with his numerous health issues. Also, I had a stomach flu that I was having problems trying to shake off for the past few days.

The therapy starts with a cup of tea made from herbs and ginseng. The tea was like a miracle elixir, because I could feel my stomach problems go away almost immediately. Afterwards, we sat in a wine barrel filled with warm water mixed with herbs and then sat in a whirlpool filled with the same herbal elixir. I was beginning to wonder if I was going through a health spa or being prepared to be the main course at a dinner that night. My Dad went immediately to massage therapy, which I sat for a while in a sauna that was steamed with lemon grass.

The real experience was the massage therapy. A tiny Vietnamese girl contorted my body like a rag doll for about an hour. She was doing things to me that I’m sure would be illegal in several states, and especially Utah. She massaged just about every bone in my body, from my fingers to my toes. She even walked on my back, and I didn’t know someone could do things like that with their feet.

The session ended with a bowl of hot chicken soup. My stomach flu disappeared, and my Dad was walking without his cane, where he could barely stand up just a couple hours before.

I have a few other things that I've taken note of around nere, and will save it for another E-mail. Ha is yelling at me to eat dinner now (looks like she's getting used to married life very quickly), so I gotta go.

Talk to you later!

Dan Harley, Jr.

Latest from Hanoi

2006-10-31T22:24:00.000+07:00

Hi Everyone!

Its been about a week-and-a-half since I arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam. Ha and I have been spending a lot of time together, and its been a slice of heaven so far. Ill save the mushy love stuff for later, and give an update on other things that are happening. Here are some bytes from Vietnam.
Pics and Blogs
I havent taken many pictures, because I havent gone anywhere where I havent already taken a thousand pictures. Pics from this and the last trip are located at:

http://pictures.yahoo.com/danharley

Also, this and other posts can be viewed on my blog at:

http://danharley.blogspot.com/

Vietnam Is Not Just For Weddings Anymore
Some of you know that Im in Vietnam for many reasons other than getting married. Ill be here for a few months, and thought that I should make the best of my time. So, Ive planned for some Rotary related activities and some business opportunities too. Such activities are starting to roll out very smooth.

Working from 10,000 miles away.
Contrary to popular belief, I am not here on a long vacation. I am actually working every once in a while. I setup my equipment in Apple Valley for remote access through the Internet in order for me to continue working. I also setup an Internet phone that allows free incoming and real cheap outgoing phone calls from here to the U.S. The only hang up I had was getting Internet access to the house in a timely manner. It took a week longer than expected, but Im finally completely connected in Hanoi just like I am back home.

Meeting Chuck Searcy
Ha and I had a very good lunch with Chuck Searcy yesterday. Chuck is a Vietnam Veteran who has done some incredible things here in Vietnam. He has already been a valuable contact for potential Rotary activities. Chuck immediately came across as a very nice person with a kind heart, and has already made a lasting impression on me. I am looking forward to becoming good friends with him. We covered a lot of ground in short time, and Im expecting to meet him several times before I return home.

Not Much Traveling Yet
I had traveled several hundred miles across Vietnam in just a couple weeks during my last trip. The brunt of this trip has so far been in Hanoi for the most part, and will be this way until Ha and I take off for our honeymoon. I have traveled extensively thorough Hanoi though. There is a lot more going on here that I had thought during my first trip here.

The Worlds Largest Wal-Mart
This might be a strange way to describe a city that happens to be the capital of a communist country. Then again, I tend to see things from strange angles. The Huan Kiem District in Hanoi can be like a great big Wal-Mart. Each block or street here seems to specialize in a particular item product. You go to the computer street if you want anything for your computer. Shoes? Go to the shoe street. Books? Go to the book street. Chuck Searcy told me of a street that can be compared to a Home Depot.

Pizza in Vietnam
I wouldnt believe there was a pizza joint in Vietnam if I didnt see it myself. Whats even more amusing is they deliver. Ha claims that pizza is her favorite food, and I naturally had to find out why. Ha and I went to Pepperonis on our first pizza date a few nights ago. The pizza was a little different from American style, and was pretty good.

Where the Heck Am I?
I know Ev Butcher is waiting for travel coordinates so he can follow me with Google Earth (http://earth.google.com). I havent gone anywhere yet, but I dont want to leave Ev without anything to do. So heres the coordinates of my house in Hanoi:

Lat 21° 1'52.25"N
Lon 105°51'31.91"E

The satellite pics dont show the tennis courts behind the house.

The Wedding and Marriage Debacle
Several of you wrote expressing confusion regarding the status of my marriage, so let me clarify everything. Ha and I have been legally married since last Monday. Our wedding will be on November 12th. For those of you who wanted to know if we consummated the marriage, I will say that the gifts were passed out, but the presents havent been unwrapped yet.

That's going to have to do for now. Ha has a honey-do list for me to finish before we go to bed. Write back with questions, and I'll do my best to answer them tomorrow.

Take care!

Dan Harley, Jr.

What's been happening

2006-10-27T23:05:00.000+07:00

Hi Everyone!

My wife's gallivanting around town somewhere, which gives me another opportunity to write a few more things about what's been happening here.

I want to thank everyone who has written to me so far. It is always endearing to hear from everyone back home, and several of you have really touched my heart. I have read some very heartwarming things that brought tears to my eyes. Thank you very much.

Some of you are wondering what the heck is going on with this funky E-mail that you've received from me. That's because I just added you to my mailing list, and you're about to share my journey through Vietnam over the next couple months. You and everyone else can catch up on what's happened on my blog, which I will discuss a little later. But first... What's Happened So Far?

I arrived at Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi) with my Uncle Hung last Thursday morning (Wednesday for most of you) after an uneventful, but somewhat annoying set of flights from LAX through Taipei, Taiwan that took about 18 hours to complete. The annoying part of the trip was the rude flight attendants on China Airlines. I believe China Air should consider replacing their flight attendants with vending machines, because vending machines don't talk and therefore will not annoy their passengers like their flight attendants do.

We were greeted at the airport by my Uncle Bui, Aunt Ha Bui, cousin Cun and my beloved fiancee' Ha. Ha and I have seen each other only over the Internet since December. My heart was pounding out of my chest when I finally got to hold her again. Words cannot accurately describe how wonderful that moment was for both of us.

This trip will be much different from my last trip in just about every aspect, and that includes accommodations. My family has rented a house in Hanoi for a few months, and we went to it right away. The place is in the Huan Kiem District, which is the epicenter of Hanoi, about 1/2 block East of the Red River and about a kilometer West of Huan Kiem Lake. Basically, it's within walking distance to most of the popular areas of interest in Hanoi.

I took several cat naps during the flight to avoid jet lag, while my Uncle Hung decided to stay up the full 18 hours. Subsequently, my Uncle hit the bed and was out till the next morning, while Ha and I started right away in making up for lost time. We have numerous things to do in preparation for our wedding, and done so many things in a week's time that everything seems to be a blur. Well.. With exception of one thing.

On Monday, Ha, her Dad, her older Brother and two of my uncles traveled to Tuyen Quang. This is a town province about 60 km North of Hanoi. It took about 4 hours to get there, but was well worth the effort. That's where Ha and I obtained our marriage certificate after signing some papers and a short ceremony at the Town government center. So, Ha and I are now legally married or I just joined the Army of the People's Republic of Vietnam (the document's in Vietnamese, and they could be enlistment papers for all I know).

My wife's back, and we're supposed to do some dinner thing tonight. So, I gotta go again...

Take Care!

Dan Harley, Jr.

Hello from Hanoi (again)

2006-10-27T18:18:00.000+07:00

This is the start of E-mail posts for my trip to Vietnam starting October 19, 2006.

###

Hi Everyone!

I've been getting lots of E-mails and calls since I arrived
in Hanoi a week ago, and I figured that I better write back
before I get too busy again.

In case you're wondering why you are receiving this, you're
family, friend or an associate of mine that I've included
into a mailing list to receive updates of my travels through
Vietnam. This is my second trip to Vietnam in recent times.
My previous trip late last year was shared with my Rotary
Club when I regularly sent E-mails back home to them. This
made the trip much more interesting, because I suddenly had
about 100 of my friends along with me through my journeys.

This trip is going to be much more exciting, at least for me,
because I'm here to get married. I'm also here to do some
Rotary related work and I may even make a buck or two if I'm
lucky. The dynamics of this trip is quite different, and not
just because I'm getting married. I was basically on a
vacation during my last trip, while I'm actually living here
this time. I will be here until after Christmas, and will be
staying in Hanoi and Saigon for significant amount of time.

I hate to cut this first e-mail short, but my wife and I
have a date to eat pizza tonight. I will catch up on
everything as soon as I can.


Take care!

Dan Harley

###

Hello from Apple Valley

2006-10-27T18:12:00.000+07:00

This is the last of a series of E-mails that i sent during my trip to Vietnam in late 2005.

Original post date: 21 Dece 2005

###

Hi Everyone!

I'm back in Apple Valley a little earlier than expected. I already talked to Darryl who was going to post a message about me being back, but I figure that I should beat him to the punch and add more entertainment value to the announcement.

I arrived Sunday afternoon and trying toget past the jet lag. I'm still having problems with speaking English in short choppy sentances. The trip was incredible to say the least. It was without a doubt the trip of a lifetime. I have memories and stories to last several lifetimes.

One of the best things about the trip was being able to communicate with everyone back home every once in a while. I thought that I would be cut off from everyone here until I returned. Obviously, that wasn't the case. I want to thank everyone who sent E-mails to me while I was gone. It was great to hear from you and especially receiving all the questions while I was traveling. I've compiled answers to some of the questions here:

How do the Vietnamese feel about Americans?
This was by far the most asked question and my own most concerning question before I arrived in Hanoi. I was especially concerned about how the Vietnamese treat half-breeds, such as myself, because I've heard terrible stories about those similar to me who were left in Vietnam after the war ended.

The actual answer will take some explaning because there is distinct differences between the North and South about Americans.

The short answer is most of the Vietnamese are just as concerned about how Americans feel about Vietnamese as we feel about them. The people I met and especially the younger people are very curious of everything about America. They want to see more Americans visit their country and especially make friends with more of us.

Did the Vietnamese speak English?
Most of the younger generation learned English in school, but speaking English is challenging to them due to the lack of opportunities to speak it. My girlfriend and I worked a system out that I would write down complex communications so she can more easily understand it.

Speaking English in Saigon was much easier than in the North. I would compare Saigon to Tijuana in English speakers.

How is the economy is Vietnam?
The economy is a lot better than what I expected in Vietnam and is improving very rapidly. There are a lot of foreign businesses where the younger generation prefers to work due to better pay and capitalistic work environment.

It is very obvious that Saigon's economy is bursting with success. Much of the city that I assume the Veterans would remember is new and modern. The tin huts that I rememberd when I was a kid are pretty much gone. There are many high rise buildings and newer houses. It looks a lot like Orange County.

Who is the girlfriend?
Her name is Vu Thi Ngoc Ha or Ha for short. For those of you who were wondering, Ha is actually her name and not half of a laugh.

I was not looking for a girlfriend much less a wife while I was over there. However, my relatives had different ideas. My relatives literally had over a dozen women lined up for me to date during my visit. They were carefully picked for me. They were all very beautiful, intelligent and some of them came from very rich families even for American standards. I was set off on my first date less than three hours after arriving in Hanoi. Ha was not a part of this group.

My Mother knew Ha from her last trip to Hanoi. Ha was supposed to be a tour guide for a couple days rather than a girlfriend prospect. Long story short, Ha became much more than my tour guide.

Did you eat any dogs?
I honestly can't tell you if I did or didn't eat dog. That goes with eating cats too. I do know that I ate things much more exotic than a dog or cat. I also lost a lot of weight while there. I call it the pig brain diet.

What did you drink?
Most of the major cities had their own beer; Hanoi Beer, Thai Binh Beer, Haiphong Beer, Hue Beer and Saigon Beer were of the many that I've drank. My favorite was Hanoi Beer.

The rice wine was very good and very strong. It came in the same container as bottled water so I had to be careful about what I was drinking. There was some very exotic drinks that would blow everyone's mind. It comes from various fermented animals. I took a swill of some and was surprised that it was a lot sweeter than it looked from the container that it came from.

Did you pee on Ho Chi Minh's grave?
Hi Chi Minh is inturned in a huge mausoleum. When I came to visit, it was guarded by two platoons of guards on the outside and eight guards armed with AK-47's on the inside. I was immediately seen as an American and watched very carefully. That in mind, it was not a good idea to relieve myself on Ho Chi Minh's grave.

Did you get into any trouble?
I was a good boy for the most part, but did push the envelope a few times. The communists are very touchy about taking pictures of certain things. As everyone knows, I'm loaded with cameras and coudn't resist the opportunity.

Ha and I worked a system out that I would play the dumb tourist and take pictures of things that I wasn't supposed to as long as I could until someone tried to bust me. When a guard or someone tried to stop me, I would speak Spanish until Ha ran over and pulled me away. It worked perfectly.

I will see everyone at Rotary tomorrow...

Dan Harley, Jr.
###

Hello from Saigon

2006-10-27T17:59:00.000+07:00

This is another of a series of E-mails that I sent back to my friends in America during my trip through Vietnam in late 2005.

Original post date: 13 Dec 2005

###

Hi Everyone!

I'm finally in Saigon and will be here for the rest of
my trip. It's been a little tough trying to get to an
Internet cafe' here. This might be the last time you
hear from me while I'm in Vietnam so I'll make the
best of this message.

I was shocked as to what I had seen in Hanoi when I
first arrived there. My shock is doubled here in
Saigon. There is a huge difference between here and
the North in just about every aspect. It's like being
in another country. I'm glad that I visited Hanoi
first, because I wouldn't appreciate the difference as
much if I didn't.

I arrived at Tan Son Nhut airport a couple nights ago,
and was driven throught the brunt of Saigon on the way
to where I am  staying. There a so many lights, and so
many things going on here. Comparing Saigon to Hanoi
would be like comparing Las Vegas to Sacramento
(Saigon being Las Vegas).

The natives in Saigon are more like me in size. Most
are in pretty good shape, but there are many that are
fat like I was (I think I lost 10-15 pounds so far on
this trip). The differences between North and South
people go much further than that.

The people in the South for the most part don't care
for communism or Ho Chi Minh while the people in the
North seem to be brainwashed to think the opposite.
One of my aunts indicates that the South don't believe
that Ho Chi Minh actually won the war, but rather the
American stopped fighting. Many still call this city
Saigon instead of Ho Chi Minh City. If you could see
what I've seen, you would question if the South
actually lost the war.

The lifestyle is much more open and less stuffy than
the North. It is difficult to describe this without
seeing it firsthand. You can sense freedom here where
you didn't sense it as much in Hanoi.

If there is such a thing as a Northern or Southern
Vietnamese, I would certainly be a Southern boy. I can
easily blend in here where I stood out like I was
wearing a bright green T-shirt in Hanoi.

The economy in the South is much better and more
active than the North. There are a lot more cars,
newer scooters and better drivers here. Saigon has an
incredible skyline with new high rise buildings being
built in droves. There is a lot more European style
accomodations which is better suited for American
travel. I feel much safer being an American in Saigon
than in Hanoi.

Some of you know that I started school in Saigon. I
attended a private school that I will try to find
before I leave. The reason for being in Saigon is
mostly for business, and I won't be spending as much
time being a tourist as I had in the North. I will do
my best to capture as many pictures as I can though.

It looks like I have to go right now. I'll do my best
to write again before I head back to the states. My
other E-mail account is flooded right now, so send you
questions and comments to me at ###.####.

Dan Harley

###

Hello from Laos

2006-10-27T17:50:00.000+07:00

This is another of several E-mails that I sent home during my last trip through Vietnam.

Original post date: 7 Dec 2005

###

Hi Everyone!

I'm not really in Laos, but we got close enough to
throw a rock into it today.

The family, Ha (my girlfriend) and I had spent all
yesterday viewing all the sites in Hue. I took
hundreds of pictures, and will try to send some when I
get back to Hanoi.

We've been heading back to Hanoi, and stopped at an
open market where everything under the sun was being
sold. I picked up a pair of Nike running shoes for $7.
Ha thinks the shoes are fake. Nonetheless, I now have
a new pair of sneakers to wear while in Vietnam. This
market is very close to Laos.

We stopped at the DMZ, and seen the memorials there. I
took some historic pictures of my three uncles near a
bridge that oficially seperated the North and South.
All them served in the war, and I'll tell everyone
some interesting information about them when I get
back.

We stopped in a village for the night. I'm not sure
where I am right now, but there's an Internet cafe
here too..

I should be in Hanoi tomorrow, and able to use my own
computer for a change. This wll make it easier for me
to send pics from here. Check your inbox for this!

Dan Harley

###

Hello from Hue

2006-10-27T17:43:00.000+07:00

This is another E-mail sent home during my trip to Vietnam in late 2005.

Original post date: 5 dec 2005

###

Hi Everyone!

I'm still alive, and have traveled a lot more since my
last writing.

Several of you have written back with some great
questions. A big hello to Chuck and Anthea in Austin!

A concern that most of you have is how do the
Vietnamese in the area that I'm visiting think about
Americans.

Some of my stay was in a province called Thai Binh.
This area is about 60 kilometers South of Hanoi and
similar to the Victor Valley in size and population.
During the war, this area was bombed heavily. If there
would be any issue with Americans, it would be in this
area. I was greeted with nothing but kindness and had
absolutely no problems whatsoever being an American
there.

I took a tour through Ha Long Bay & Cat Ba Island.
This area is an incredible sight. Words can't
accurately describe how beautiful it is. Yesterday, I
took a hike through the jungles of Cat Ba Island, and
almost died two or three times. My new girlfriend
saved my life.

I'm currently in Hue, which is the historic capital of
Vietnam during previous dynasties. There is an
emperor's palace similar to the Chinese which I will
be visiting tomorrow. I also have lots of family
around here that haven't been in contact for several
decades.

The Internet cafe here is about to close for the
night, so I need to go. Send your questions or
comments to ###.####.

Bye for now...

###

Hello from Hanoi

2006-10-27T17:32:00.000+07:00

In the latter part of 2005, I took a trip to Vietnam for the first time since I was a child. This trip was the trip of a lifetime that was shared with many of my friends back home, thanks to the Internet. The message below and others that followed during my trip helps to tell the story of a Vietnamese American venturing into an unknown world, discovering my roots and falling in love.

###

Original post date: 29 Nov 2005

Thought I would drop a message to tell everyone that
I'm made it safely to Hanoi, and I'm having a
fantastic time here. It's nothing like I imagine it
would be. Words can't accurately describe how
sensational it has been so far.

I will be in Hanoi for a couple more days, and then to
Thai Binh for a few days to observe my great
grandmother and grandfather's reinturnment.

To answer some questions for those of you who are
wondering:

No - I didn't get married yet.

No - I didn't eat any chicken here. I did eat some
pickled bug larve this morning for breakfast - and it
tastes like chicken...

Yes - I'm coming back.

Hope everyone is doing well, and I'll try to keep
everyone updated when I can.

Dan Harley, Jr.

###