Nhóm Phượt Liên Tỉnh (Danlambao) - We are just a group of brothers who passionately enjoy the hobby of travelling. On our stops, we’ve enjoyed viewing wildlife, admired the beauty of our country, and appreciated the boldness of human love in our beloved homeland. By travelling to many different places, we also learn about real life examples of social injustice, the strenuous toil of the people, and the poverty in Vietnam. Especially, we see a vivid contrast between the life of children of the minorities in high mountain regions and of those who live in urban areas. Witnessing adversities happen everywhere as opposed to what the censored books and state-controlled newspapers usually portray with beautifully crafted language, we cannot become heartless but must ask ourselves why life must be so hard? Of whom and for whom is this regime?
In recent years the country has significant problems; we grasp the situation through social networks, blogs and news from the international press. However, we only dare to share or discuss the news when we meet one another. We don’t have enough knowledge or the courage of those who patiently participate in the protests in order to awake the public about the threats of foreign invasion. We also appreciate the advice and support for poor farmers whose land has been taken by force by the authorities. And we do not have the courage of the activists who are publicly advocating for democracy and human rights. Those are issues that we know, you know, and society knows about but very few people dare to fight them face to face or express their political opinions publicly.
But, the event that two youths, Uyen Phuong and Nguyen Kha, loudly justified their actions before the court for the love to the country and the spirit of the courageous actions carried out by the youth to express the nation's problems were the catalyst that makes us express our admiration - although we just follow what you have done in this event.
On a trip to Northwest Vietnam by riding on familiar roads, we tried our best to express our admiration to Phuong Uyen and Nguyen Kha as well as the brave activists of a new Vietnam by writing “PHUONG UYEN,” “SUPPORT THE SPIRIT OF PHUONG UYEN AND NGUYEN KHA,” “FOR THE HONOR OF THE NATION, FIGHT THE ENEMY” on concrete walls, and posting the sign that says “Support the Spirit of the Youth. FREE Uyen & Kha” in many places.
Via Danlambao we sincerely want to communicate with other brothers and sisters who also enjoy travelling. Please provide a hand to help build Vietnam and lift our country out of a prolonged suffering, which is not caused by colonial empires but the torments imposed on Vietnamese by Vietnamese.
Again, we would like to express heartfelt admiration to those who dare to take challenges, dangers, and sacrifices for the dream of a better Vietnam in the future.
Nhóm Phượt Liên Tỉnh * Translated by Như Ngọc
