Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: Hon Thom cemetery, where good sense & shame meet

Monday, March 31, 2008

Hon Thom cemetery, where good sense & shame meet

There’s a special cemetery where unborn babies are buried. Located on Hon Thom Mountain in Vinh Trong commune, Nha Trang city, the central province of Khanh Hoa, the cemetery, opened by Tong Phuoc Phuc, has nearly 7,000 small tombs.

In mid 2004, Phuc began to collect aborted fetuses from health stations to bury on Hon Thom. He also adopts abandoned children and dissuades unmarried pregnant women from committing abortion. He even takes care of these women till they deliver their children.

As abortion is rising, many benefactors know about Phuc and his wife’s job and they participate in these charitable activities. The Hon Thom cemetery was opened in late 2004 by Phuc and other benefactors. In 2006, President Nguyen Minh Triet sent a letter to Phuc to praise Phuc and his wife for their benevolence.

The benevolence of Phuc and benefactors is a mirror for those who discard their children to look into. Nearly 7,000 small tombs at Hon Thom cemetery are enough to wake up anyone’s heart.

1. Hon Thom Cemetery (top)

2. On a tombstone: “Father, mother apologise!”

3. Nameless tombs, where only numbers (burying day) and abbreviations (the place where unborn children were aborted) exist

Phuc is bringing up 34 children

A 19-year-old woman, thanks to Phuc’s heartfelt advice, didn’t abort and delivered a lovely girl child

This 17-month-old child has been raised by Phuc since she was born

(Source: Dan Tri)

VietNamNet - Hon Thom cemetery, where good sense & shame meet

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“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.