Amazing Vietnam Catholics Part 1

Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country on the South China Sea known for its beaches, rivers, Buddhist pagodas, and bustling cities. Hanoi, the capital, pays homage to the nation’s iconic Communist-era leader, Ho Chi Minh, via a huge marble mausoleum. Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) has French colonial landmarks, plus Vietnamese War history museums and the Củ Chi tunnels, used by Viet Cong soldiers.

We are foreseeing that being an International Eucharistic Congress, dapat International. But kay sa Asia man, murag gi foresee na mas daghan Asians ang manganhi kay Asian man. So in that context, nang-contact mi sa mga Asian countries kung maka promote ba. So gidawat mi sa Vietnam. We went to Vietnam and particularly, in the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Min, the famous Saigon. By the way, ang Vietnam naa ra sa atong west. In fact, we went sa Diocese of Saigon, kung sa mapa, ka level ra na sa Cebu if you will fly straight pa west, you hit Ho Chi Min.

So we went in the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Min. Now, ang pirmero nako — two weekends mi didto to promote the Eucharistic congress, two weekends. Ang usa ka weekend, Pentecost tapos balik na pud mi sa weekend sa Holy Trinity. So kini akong impressions noh.

1. Nationalistic kaayo sila. All ang Misa — Vietnamese. Nag expect ko na naa’y mga French kay French colony man na sila sa history. Unya wa ju’y French, puros Vietnamese. The entire city, only two masses ang English. Duha lang jud. Dili two churches ha, two masses. One in the cathedral for the international community, and one also for the international community. But all in Vietnamese.
2. They sing. Ang organ sa ilang Cathedral, lupig ang ato-a. Murag naa’y concert na dako kaayo. Unya ang ilang choir sa ka daghan, gipangbutangan jud ug microphone kana bitaw hulog-hulog. Ana. They sing, very participative and Vietnamese songs.
3. People come to mass. And families come to mass, men come to mass.