This was my December 2008 visit as Santa at the TamKy Orphanage in Vietnam which I help support. At present I am paying for a complete remodel of the Orphanage Kitchen plus appliances, cooking ware, plumbing and electrical, it was in deplorable condition. Plus we help two poor young Vietnamese through 5 years of University and also help their families. I am considering helping another boy near Chu Lai to go to the University.
Andrew my Saigon Travel Agent and friend, his parents and brother accompanied me on an overnight cruise on Halong Bay outside of Hanoi on a Vietnamese junk, it was a great time. After the cruise Andrew and I went to the Hanoi Hilton where John McCain was a POW. After that we toured around Hanoi and later flew to DaNang.
Andrew left the next day for Saigon. I stayed at the Green PlazaHotel in DaNang which is only three years old, very nice hotel and a great staff.
I had a driver with an air-conditioned van any time I needed him, we went to the DMZ again, Dong Ha, Quang Tri, Phu Bai, no more over the mountain of HaiVan pass, there is now a fancy 4 lane tunnel under the mountain. I also was in Tam KY many times at the Orphanage and to ChuLai where I planted a palm Tree in Honor of out 737th Company, this is watered and taken care of by a farmer who I pay in advance.
Gallery
These are the custom made bunk beds we had constructed for 40 children at the Tam Ky Orphanage including mattresses and pillows, we also received recognition with a Certificate of Appreciation from a Vietnamese Official thanking us for all we do for the orphans of TamKy, Vietnam.
Before this project was completed the children slept 6 per bed on a sheet of plywood with a mat on it.