There were many “coincidences” that I attribute to my father’s duyên (fate or destiny), starting from the creation of the book “Eating and Drinking in Vietnam Through Popular Literature”.
1.-He was an ophthalmologist, dedicated to restoring vision to his patients.
2.-Here is the support association proposed, MATA (Mái Ấm Thiên Ân) for visually impaired children, founded by a blind man, Mr. Nguyễn Quốc Phong.
3.-The graphic designer of the poster placed a pair of eyes that illuminate and immediately catch the attention of passersby.
All three of these points crystallized without any coordination!
At the beginning of it all, it was Patrizia Ceresa’s proposal to lend the facilities of the Maison de Quartier de la Jonction (large hall, kitchen, and equipped performance room). I must admit that since my arrival in Geneva in 1973, I had never concerned myself with Vietnamese cultural heritage. It was my daughter, Sonia Thương, who gave me this incredible energy to reconnect with my roots.
It seems like there are some typographical errors in the text you’ve provided, especially in the latter part. Here’s a cleaner translation of the part I can interpret: “Step by step, always with my father’s duyên, I met Hùynh Đắc Kháng, an acquaintance I had lost touch with for about forty years. He is from the Association Pont du Pacifique, which originated the Âu Lạc Việt School, teaching Vietnamese. At the suggestion of Hoàng Văn Khẩn, president of the Association, who introduced me to Master Serge Pralong, a passionate Vietnam enthusiast, a versatile individual who crafted the Việt Võ Đạn and Diện Chẩn programs with his expertise, including equines and other related practices. The only criticism would be to delegate tasks more, as she cannot split herself into four.” If you’d like to clarify any specific parts of the message, feel free to let me know!
The two seminars, one given by myself on my father’s book “Eating and Drinking in Vietnam Through Popular Literature” and the other by Dr. Khan Hoàng-Văn on “The Contrasts in the Vietnamese Plate”, were able to successfully outline for the public the crucial role of “ăn” = Vietnamese eating, as well as the fundamental differences between Vietnamese cuisine and Chinese cuisine.
This event allowed me to meet a multitude of interesting and generous people (over 200 attendees). In particular, the emails from Nguyễn Quốc Phong, the founder of MATA, convey a contagious serenity, and thanks to the high technology of the internet, the instant communication filled with images and sounds with him gives us all the courage and motivation for his cause of integrating blind and visually impaired children into normal social life. The financial result of this memorable day exceeded all expectations, as nearly all the dishes were quickly sold, raising a good amount, of which 1,400 Swiss Francs were donated to MATA. Mr. Nguyễn Quốc Phong sent us a letter of thanks (attached). The congratulations from the public and friends continue to pour in, and I share in the joy with all of you.
I would like, along with the Association Pont du Pacifique and the Âu Lạc Việt School, to thank all the friends who contributed voluntarily to this Vietnamese cultural day at the Jonction in Geneva.

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