Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City: Send off party and the SCC

Our last fundraiser and epic send-off was a great way to finish what had been an incredibly busy week running round Ho Chi Minh trying to buy puncture kits, box up our bikes and find shops that sold the biggest pots of Vaseline possible (chaffing can be a real problem and it turns out Vaseline is not common in Ho Chi Minh).

After throwing everything I presumed I needed into a rucksack after a long day of teaching I headed over to The Observatory, where the party was in full swing. As I made my way up the stairs to the bar, I passed Andrea having a photo shoot of her thigh being measured – I don’t want to give too much away so keep your eye out for the article in The Word!!

There were loads of people there from the expat community, and there was a definite buzz to the place, with dancing and drinks on the balcony.

Funds were raised by bidding for the next song to be played by the DJ, a silent auction on a bike that had done a previous H2H plus a door charge. Everyone was really supportive and all in all we raised an impressive $1000.

Words by Helen

On March 27th the riders for H2H visited one of the schools we are raising money for. The Thang Long English and Vocational School supplies impoverished children and young people with basic education and work skills so that they can work in the photography, computer, art, and beauty industries in Vietnam.

Andrea getting her nails done by an SCC sponsored student

This was one of the best things we could have done before leaving to Hanoi. It was amazing to see a real difference being made.

Despite the school's location being in a busy part of HCMC, the school itself was neatly tucked away. As soon as we were sitting inside one of the classrooms, there was a feeling of calm and tranquility. It is a place where people are encouraged to give themselves opportunities to work and provide for themselves.

Thang Long School is a center for learning and motivation.

Luke inspecting his nails

This particular school is made up of about 6 classrooms, well supplied with computers, supplies, and books.

Overall, there are 200 classrooms all over Vietnam being created and run by the SCC. Seeing this example of their grassroots work was very reassuring and encouraging.

Your donations are not going to waste!