MEET NGUYEN THUONG HAI—HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL/EDUCATOR

MEET NGUYEN THUONG HAI—HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL/EDUCATOR

   I met Mr. Hai through his daughter, An Na (she’s a wonderfully talented artist, currently attending University in Australia). An Na and I met on the bus from Cua Lo to Vinh. We struck up a conversation and became quick friends.    I met her family while I was...
CUA LO MORNINGS

CUA LO MORNINGS

    Ah, those Cua Lo mornings. The sun popping up—peeking from the cover of the horizon. Arising in flamboyant flare. Hurling soft hues skyward and spilling them onto a gentle, lulling sea. The ritual of a Cua Lo sunrise…     Photos curtesy of Cua Lo local singer: Amy...
MEET LINH AND TRANG OF CAFÉ BOOM

MEET LINH AND TRANG OF CAFÉ BOOM

    Nguyen Dam Linh is 26-years-old. He’s spent most of his life in Cua Lo. He’s a dedicated dad and entrepreneur. Linh, is in the process of expanding his business (his family expanded a year ago, with the birth of his second son).     Linh’s wife, Trang, is a few...
MEET NGUYEN THI LAN OF THE BINH MINH HOTEL

MEET NGUYEN THI LAN OF THE BINH MINH HOTEL

    Nguyen Thi Lan is a savvy business woman. Her hotel knowledge and people skills come from real-world experience. Her talents in the kitchen, come from her sheer joy of cooking.     Lan was born in Thanh Hoa, a coastal town about 2.5 hours from Cua Lo (she moved...
MEET NGUYEN THI VAN OF CU DO VINH VAN

MEET NGUYEN THI VAN OF CU DO VINH VAN

I’m a sucker for romantic stories. And when Mai and I met Nguyen Thi Van, she provided a doozy. It seems that Van was working on the same road crew as a guy named Vinh (In Vietnam, women do the heavy-lifting, right alongside the men in construction projects etc.)...