This blog is about my Buddhist discoveries in Vietnam. I am an author and this is not my main blog- it is here for people whom are interested in the dharma, the sangha and matters of the spirit. First I thought I would outline my interest in Buddhism to date and then as my discoveries with the sangha of Hanoi Compassionate Living goes on I will add additional posts.

I was first made forcibly aware of my Buddhist roots when my grandfather died ten years ago. It was the first time I visited a Buddhist temple and my brother and I did a lot of reading around the heart sutra since my brother had to read it at the funeral ceremony. I tried to reach an understanding of ghosts and spirits then- part of my journey is in the play and book – 49 Ghosts which you can access from my website at www.hoapham.net

Since then I had only attended Linh Son temple in Reservoir for special occassions- the anniversary to celebrate the dead, my grandfather’s and grandmother’s death anniversaries and for Tet.

I had tried to start meditating with the University of Melbourne Buddhist group but found myself falling asleep- the lunchtime schedule just did not suit me!

My father gave me Thich Nhat Hanh books to read and I started investigating Buddhist psychology. A book I highly recommend is Emotional Alchemy which is written by Tara Goldman- the wife of the man whom wrote Emotional Intelligence. This engaged my mind and I started trying to meditate again.

Then I went to Vietnam where I stumbled across the Community for Mindful Living in Hanoi which follows Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings in English! This was a real find for me- not only did it provide me with a network of support and friends which I needed- but also provided me with Thay’s teachings in a real live suppportive community space.

So this was the beginning for me and the journey with the sangha begins here.

went on a tour yesterday to nim binh. Saw two ordinary looking pagodas dedicated to early kings of Vietnam- they were not fully restored and not as spectacular even compared to the Chua that I went to for mindfulness day. Then had a lovely rowboat ride through three caves past limestone mountains. it was a bit of a tourist trap after the third cave we were rowed straight into a flotilla of boats selling drinks and fruit and weren’t left alone until we bought something. Then on the way back our rowboat produced clothing and tablecloths for us to buy! It pissed one tourist off so much she didn’t tip the women when we got back to the pier. I’m sort of resigned to this stuff, I regard it as part of the deal when you go on a tour. But we also saw water buffalo, goats (yum!) ducks waddling along the road with the traffic, and a basket of dogs on the way to a restaurant (one assumes!)

Went to a talk by the author Y Ban whom is also an editor of a newspaper the education times. It was very interesting when asked whether she dared write against the party or the mainstream she said that as a writer she had to follow the party since the party is pro democracy. She appears to be a feminist writer from her stories but her answers to some tougher questions was a bit vague- which may have been due to the male professor who was doing the translating.
She invited myself and Karen Turner to her house for dinner this time with Karen’s female translator so we may be able to ask deeper questions.
This reading was held at the Bookworm- and they are going to have an author night featuring me as well!
I also will be residing in their room above the bookshop from December. Looking forward to having a kitchen and a balcony- the shop is run by two Australians whom are left leaning and very literate. Thanks heaps to Rose Moxham for putting me on to this- it should be great!

Just had a fairly decent bun bo hue in hanoi- although the best one is made by my grandmother and my aunts of course! so here is the foody part of my blog- where to eat some great Vietnamese food in Hanoi- sitting on proper chairs (I haven’t been brave enough to try the little stool stalls yet- my stomach is too delicate)

Pho 24 is a chain that has opened up in Vietnam and elsewhere and serves great pho and ice cream
Cha Ca la vong on 14 cha ca st serves fish and greens fried on this little clay stove they bring to your table- yum!
Le place near the cathedral does bun bo hue and some other Viet and Western dishes
There’s a place on Hoan Kiem Lake that you can’t miss that does cheapish nem (spring rolls) and ice cream
Quan An does all Vietnamese food in an outdoor setting and is cheap

Alister likes Hanoi Garden which does do great duck and dumplings

If anyone knows of anyother places espcially in Hanoi do let me know!

Last night went to the opening of the Danish fund for ethnic cultures at the ethnology museum. The Danish ambassador was there and we watched some dancing and singing from the Hmong people in pretty costumes- very romantic dancing with a boy and eight girls twirling parasols about. Also heard leaf singing- sort of like playing a gum leaf like you would at home- except a lot more tuneful I reckon! Unfortunately I didn’t bring a camera so could not get pictures.

The postmodern avant garde music was terrible. Just drones of sound instead of music. I saw a good art exhibition at the Goethe Institute though and took back a magazine of art which is very interesting- including a piece by an artist whom had been imprisoned.

I wrote an article for the Monthly about the unusual culture of censorship here. If you’re interested in reading it just let me know.