I know this may not sound like a big deal but I found it to be very important. When I went back to VN in 1999, my childhood friend and I were talking and I told him about the importance of community services in the U.S. as a part of High School culture and he said that hopefully Vietnamese youths would start the same tradition. And now, 5 years later, here is its beginning =)

With VN's recent gift to Cambodia, the Phillippines backing the legitimacy of the Spratly tour, China's supporting Vietnam's organization of the 5th Asia-Europe Alumni meeting, and now this, hopefully Viet Nam can be seen in a much better light within the region.

^ i heard my cousin talk about that 3 years ago.. where students go to the undeveloped rural areas and help them build houses.. or was it because there were flood and the house were gone.. i forgot but the reason, but the idea of volunteer occurs a while ago...a lot of students are doing that now i think it's good to volunteer

That's good that Vietnam is starting to help its neighbors. Except some of them just don't get it...

Give them time Tuan.

Hy, volunteering did exist awhile back but it used to be a domestic issue, this is an international effort so it's on a grander scale and the message seems to be saying, "okay, now that we can help ourselves, we would like to help others as well."

okay

I hope the Laotians are grateful, not like the Khmers.

I was goin' to say the same thing.