“I work every day and most nights. If I don’t they can find someone who will. I need this job and its benefits. I try to help my parents who still struggle to take care of my younger brothers and sisters. At this point in my life, religion is … [Read more...]
#9 Motorbike Taxi Driver
“I go wherever people want to go,” says Duc as he waits for an older woman to come out of the shop where he brought her. “I like this job because I can work whenever I want for as long as I want. I am my own boss.” If you had a bird’s eye view of … [Read more...]
#8 The Student
“I don’t have time to pray,” says Phuoc, who moved to Ho Chi Minh City from his hometown about 50 miles away. “It’s hard to live here – I am away from my family, my home – it’s so different here. So many people, so many motorbikes, and so much … [Read more...]
#7 The Street Vendor
“I pray for my health,” says Mai as she scans the crowd looking for potential customers walking along the street. “I work every day from 6 AM until 10 PM. I never married, so if I get sick, I have no one who will take care of me.” Mai carries her … [Read more...]
#6 The Restaurant Worker
“I like working here” said Tu as she served food to a customer. “At least I have a job and get to eat from what we cook each day. But I wish there was more I could hope beyond that. If there is, I haven’t ever found it.” Thousands of … [Read more...]
#5 The Families
“When I was young, my parents brought me to the temple to light incense. They showed me at home how to put the fruit on the altar for our ancestors. Now I do the same with my son. Nothing should change that.” The family unit is integral to … [Read more...]
#4 The Factory Worker
“I don’t have time to pray,” said Tan. “Besides, when I live here, I am unable to worship, because I must be in the same place as my ancestors. Now my family who still lives at my home where my ancestors are buried must pray for me.” For a large … [Read more...]
#3 The Chinese
“I don’t think about religion,” says Trang. “But when my family goes to the Buddhist temple, they pray to have a good life, good business, and good health.” Today’s Ho Chi Minh City came together in part as the two metropolitan areas of Saigon and … [Read more...]
#2 The Catholic
“I pray because Mary answers my prayers,” says Binh as we speak to her at one of the many Catholic churches in the city. “I pray for the people of Ho Chi Minh City. There are so many people here, and many people have trouble in their life.” The … [Read more...]
#1 The Buddhist
Historically, the Vietnamese people have never celebrated birthdays but rather give a strong emphasis to commemorating the date of death of family and loved ones. Lien came to the Buddhist temple to do just that. To pray on behalf of her father … [Read more...]
