Viet Nam Village Children Fund

I have now set up a children's charity -- the Viet Nam Village Children Fund. It's primary mission is to provide basic safety and to promote educational opportunities for the children in rural villages of the Mekong Delta. At the beginning, efforts will focus on Luong Tam (Truong An) village. More than thirty years after the "Vietnam War", this village still has not recovered from the massive destruction by intensive bombings and chemical defoliants. The level of poverty is severe, with 200 victims of Agent Orange (many are of the third generation of those originally infected).

We would be most grateful to accept any donations from individuals, institutions, and corporations, large or small, regular or one time.

For more details, please visit the website of the Viet NamVillage Children Fund at www.vietnamvillagechildrenfund.org

A new school building

I was out of touch for many months. There had been four deaths in my family. Aunt Di Nam and Uncle Nam died in December, 2007. My brother Nghia died in February 2008. A week later one of my nephews died, at age 29.

Aunt Di Nam left me a piece of land before she died -- designated for a kindergarten, in Hamlet 5. My plan was to partially finance its construction with royalties from my books.

However, the village's residents have expressed their wish to replace the elementary school building in Hamlet 4, with a five-classroom building. The current two-classroom building offers classes of the first two levels only. And the building is badly deteriorated. While the parents recognize the need of a kindergarten, they feel that highest priority should be given to elementary education. Many children age 8 to 10 who should have been in school are spending their day at home because classes are not available.

Les Fleurs du Viet Nam

I am pleased to announce that the French translation of Late Blossom, "Les Fleurs du Viet Nam" will be released by Editions Premium in the Spring, 2009.

Editions Gallimard will promote and distribute the book in French speaking countries. More details later.