On the evening of September 21, 1975, many unknown personalities came to meet Brother Francois, Director, requesting to use all classrooms in the building near the swimming pool from September 21 at 6:00P.M. to September 22 at 6:00P.M. All gates will be closed right away, and the security agents will control any going out and coming into the property.

On the early morning of September 22, 1975, the radio and the other media announced that "within 12 hours, from 6:00A.M. to 6:00P.M. people should exchange the VNCH Dong into new dong issued by Ngaân Haøng Nhaø Nöôùc [Bank of the State] at a location the most convenient to each person." For people in the District of Thu Duc, La Salle Mossard had been chosen as the most convenient location for the exchange. The rate was 1/500, i.e. 500 VNCH dong [old money of the South] were equivalent to 1dong of the State Bank [new money]. In addition, each family-register could exchange up to 100,000 VNCH dong for up to 200 dong of the State Bank. All the excess money must be deposited in the State Bank.

Although gathering all the pennies they had, most of the family-registers could not reach the upper limit of 100,000 VNCH dong. Henceforth, those who had more than the fixed limit relied on their relatives and/or friends, who had less, to exchange with a certain benefit: it was better than to deposit in the State Bank, because nobody was assured they could withdraw their money afterwards. However, there were lots of cases of people who evaded paying.

The La Salle Community gathered all of its treasures which totaled over 3.5 million VNCH dong. Because, as mentioned above, the community had been spread into 5 family-registers - that was the only benefit - we could exchange 500,000 VNCH dong for 5 family-registers, keep 3 million to deposit, and the remaining was given to our friends who didn’t reach the exchange limit. Thus, in that morning, the community could get 1,000 new dong.

Brother Francois Anh, Director, brought the package of 3 million VNCH dong to have it deposited in the State Bank. He was welcomed by a former 12th grade student at La Salle Mossard School during the Complementary Summer Session. She looked at him, a little surprised, and then said, "The Brothers at La Salle School owned only 3 million?"

" That’s true! Furthermore, how and for which purpose do we hide or conceal old money?"

" I thought that La Salle School was very, very rich! At least hundreds of millions, I would guess!"

" Oh no! As you can see, we spend all the money on the Education Mission, e.g. opening new classes, building more facilities for students..."

" I know it! I’m just trying to be funny. Reverend Minh, Principal of Duc Minh School in Tu Duc Parish, just came to deposit... How much, can you guess?"

"...."

" Over 30 million!"

"..."

When all formal papers had been done, she said, "Brother, frankly speaking, this amount should be deposited in the State Bank. You have to wait until there are new regulations about withdrawing to be able to withdraw. But, I know that withdrawing would be not very easy."

She hesitated for a few seconds, then she continued, "Anyway, I can make the exchange for you, at once, for the whole amount you just deposited... "

- But, would you be in trouble in the future, by doing that?

- Do not worry, Brother! I know what to do!

- Thank you so much!

With a cheerful attitude, Brother Francois brought home 6,000 new dong. He joyfully shared this with the Brothers in the community, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

What about the new currency?

Everyone was disappointed in seeing it. The very first person in line to exchange shouted, "F... the new money! It’s worth much less than a coupon for any discount!". Hearing that, people looked at each other and shook their heads. Even though there were no other voices or sounds but deep bitterness and disappointment, each one could share his/her thought that was something like "the change of life-style means life will be hard, and suffering will be great."

Indeed, when they had examined more closely the new money bills, he/she could find out that it had been printed in 1968 - the year of the general offensive on Tet Mau Than. Some interpreted that, even before attacking South Vietnam in 1968, the communist party of North Vietnam had had a thorough expectation of victory over the South Vietnam Army and its allies. Such an interpretation might be correct because on the Second Day of Tet, many young boys, all about 14 or 15 years old from North - being recognized by the accent of their voices, were ready to "accept the capitulation of South Vietnam." Some of them went to the gate of the Military Bases in Dalat and asked the sentry guard for directions to these military bases. To the questions of the sentry guard, they replied, innocently, "We were sent from North Vietnam to accept the capitulation of the dynasty of usurpers of South Vietnam!"

***

After the Complementary Summer Session, the living (food, cuisines, etc.) of the Community had been dramatically difficult. To tell the truth, even though we had lots of cash, there were not enough provisions available to buy as it had been before the event of ‘75. After the exchange, the rations were worse because the cost of everything increased by geometric jumps.

The La Salle Community was luckier than many other family-registers because it had been provided with 5 family-registers, instead of just one for every family-unit. By 5 family-registers, it could buy from the state-managed store 5 times more than any single family. But, the problem was "What could you afford to buy from the state-managed store, every month, based on the family-register?"

In such a situation, it was painful to see the Juniors, from 10 to 16 years old, having almost nothing to satisfy their stomach. Brother Colomban, who had been assigned as a housekeeper holding both finance and food supplies for the community, tried to encourage the Juniors and some younger Brothers to cultivate in the garden whatever they could, not the quality, but just the quantity of food for the daily meal of the community.

To be honest, we were much luckier than most families. Indeed, for one reason or another, some families had to leave their homes in the city and had to resettle themselves in an area called the "New Economic Zone." That was because the Officials of the former Saigon Government and the Officers of the South Vietnam Armies had to present themselves to the new government on May 10, 1975 for the so-called "re-education program". Although it was said that these Officials would attend class of "re-education" for only 3, or 10, or at most 30 days - depending on their rank in the former Saigon Government. But, more than 4 months had passed, and very few of them went back home. Their relatives had "to voluntarily" or were forced to go to the New Economic Zones. The same consequence happened tothe so-called "capitalists", i.e. rich businessmen and businesswomen who had been "radically changed" into needy people, and then must take care of themselves in the New Economic Zones.

There were many such families who, on one side, were not familiar with any kind of agricultural work. On the other side, their children were too young to support themselves in very severe weather in these zones. Therefore, after 3 or 4 months enduring such a hard life, they moved back to the city and became homeless. For them, being homeless in the city might be better for their children than having "a home" in the New Economic Zone.

The "new life-style" had been applied to South Vietnam only for 5 months, and the living standard slipped down so dramatically that many people would rather think of fleeing overseas by boat - even though they knew it was really dangerous. It was better to flee than to live under such hard conditions.

The movement of "fleeing overseas [by boat]" was so popular that there was a saying that was whispered from one person to another, "If the poles for traffic lights were able to walk, they would flee overseas!" However, not everyone could successfully flee overseas. There were people who had attempted this for over 20 times,but still failed and, in the end, resigned themselves to give up. There was another case which was really sad and bitter: a man had attempted for the 33rd time. He had been shot by the coastguards and died while his companions in the same boat were arrested. People said, "It was not this man’s fate to flee overseas!" The diviner or fortune-teller, thus, had the opportunity to make money.

***

 

Do you believe in the horoscope?

Do you believe in psychographic receptor or in the psychic?

Do you believe in predicting by thumbing one’s phalanges?

To tell the truth, I do not believe in what people used to say about "diviner, fortune-teller, etc..." However, there were certain "coincidences" that I, myself in person, had been a "player" and "petitioner", and I couldn’t deny the concrete proof of the true happenings following what a diviner had said.

1. An astonishing case about "the psychographic receptor." At the Junioriate in Thu Duc in 1973 at about 5P.M. the Juniors returned to their classes after having recreation time. They complained that their new notebooks, new pens, and many other things were stolen. There were about 100 Juniors in the two classes at that time. I informed that bad news to Brother Colomban, Director and Brother Michel, head of the 8th grade. It was not easy to find out who did the stealing.

That night at 12:00A.M. Brother Michel and I decided to "play" what people call "the way of the spirit’s" messages obtained through "NGOC CO," a special kind of "psychographic receptor" unknown to Western Occultism, but used in the Orient since time immemorial to communicate with the spiritual world. My question was "Please, give the name of the guy who had stolen these things this afternoon." There was displayed "NGUYEN MINH SANG.." At the Junioriate, at that time, there were two Juniors whose names were NGUYEN TRUNG SANG, and TRAN VAN SANG, but no one with the middle name MINH. Brother Michel and I thought the answer was good for nothing!

A week later, I passed by the room of Brother Hubert, the Econome. He was checking the names of the cook’s family names in the family-booklet. I stopped by, and amazingly, I was delighted to read NGUYEN MINH SANG.. That was a little boy, the 5th of the cook’s family, whose name had been called just by MINH, but never SANG. Brother Michel and I investigated immediately that evening, and in the end, found that little boy NGUYEN MINH SANG confessed in having stolen things from the Juniors a week before.

2. Another astonishing case relative to "the astrology/horoscope and predicting by thumbing one’s phalanges."

Later on, when I was released from prison, one of my closest friends and his family took complete care of me, taling care of my living expenses, for almost 3 years. My duty was to safeguard the boat which my friend owned in order to flee overseas with other people, and to be the "captain" leader in every attempt to escape. [Please read the Appendix for more details on my 13th attempt which was the last and most successful one, but not without many sufferings and challenges].

Because we had been unsuccessful so many times, my friend was dramatically in debt (4). I decided to collaborate with another boat owner. Before each previous attempt, my friend used to consult his diviner, Mr. Tran, in Cholon. He recalled to me that Mr. Tran had predicted the failure of these cases of our attempts. The amazing thing was that it happened exactly as was predicted. He then begged me to accompany him in order to listen to Mr. Tran before this next attempt.

My friend, Mr. Remy Hien, and I entered Mr. Tran’s home at about 6:00P.M. two days before "D" day. He looked like an educated person in his fifties. I said straight out to the gentleman, "Good evening! My friend, Mr. Remy, gave me your name and urged me to meet with you. Please tell me about the attempt I had set to take place in two more days."

- Give me your day and month and year of birth, and if you know it, the time of the day, i.e. the hour of your birthday.

I gave him the exact time and day, not according to the legal papers, but according to what my mother had told to me. He immediately looked at the clock on the wall, then started thumbing on his fingers while his mouth seemed to mumble something. He repeated this action many times, and his eyes looked worried, even anxious. My friend Remy and I looked at each other, wondering. Mr. Tran stood up, then went to his bookcase, searched thoroughly for a certain book, and displayed it on the table. It was a really voluminous book. He opened it and seriously read certain pages. He returned to his seat, looked at me, then at the clock, mumbling something, then said in a soft manner, "Maybe not that easy! It would be worse losing the boat!"

I looked concerned. Mr. Tran saw my reaction. He again looked at the clock on the wall, then thumbed his fingers for several times. I looked at him and realized that he appeared truly serious. A few minutes later, he said, "I know you don’t believe me, but I confirm that it would be dangerous, not only for the safety of people who will attempt to go this time, but for the boat, it would be lost, i.e. confiscated or whatever."

Remy took my hand, then whispered, "What do you think?" I answered, "It’s up to you!" He said to Mr. Tran, "May you give me few more details, e.g. the extent of the trouble?" Mr. Tran, again, looked at the clock, thumbed his fingers, then answered, "In the course of transportation, i.e. you’ll encounter difficulty in placing people onto the boat." As he had noticed my disbelief, he added, "As a proof of what I’ve said will happen, I’m sending my son to accompany the people on this trip!"

...

I had informed each passenger as to the location and time he or she must be present to be picked up, then to be placed onto the boat. The Zoo of Saigon is the most convenient and safest location in which to meet. On the morning of "D" day, I came to the Zoo. Mr. Tran with his son had waited for me. When I ordered, "Let’s go!" he looked at his watch, thumbed again, then he said to me, "OK! Good trip!" Turning to his son, he continued, "Don’t worry! Safe trip! However, I’ll see you again in Saigon this evening!" I laughed.

----

Things happened exactly the way Mr. Tran had said, step by step. The boat was confiscated, even though no passengers were arrested. They were back home late that night.

***

Not everyone got "the lucky and inborn destiny to flee overseas." Whether this statement is true or not, the fact was many people in South Vietnam had been unsuccessfully attempting to flee overseas. In the end, they had to resign themselves to "choose this land (country) as their homeland, although it’s unlovable." However, to resign themselves did not mean to give up. Giving up the idea of fleeing overseas was one option. The other option was to not give up challenging, even fighting, for their own and their relatives’ survival. The problem was how to survive under such a situation of the so-called life-style change. There had been a saying that "destitution leads to robbery and theft." The following two events - among thousands and thousands of these kinds of sad and disturbing happenings for those whose human conscience is still sensitive - would describe the truth about such saying.

1. A man in his fifties, who had been of upstanding character pior to ‘75, was returning home to the New Economic Zone, after a long day working hard to feed his 3 young children. On the road through a hill between two lines of shrub, he heard something like the sound of a bicycle coming in his direction. Several months, since his circumstances had compelled him and his family to be sent to the New Economic Zome, he had dreamed of a motorcycle or at least a bicycle. "Now," he decided, "it’s the opportunity to make my dream come true by force - Thank God!"

He was so excited and enthusiastic after the theft that the very first idea, which came to his mind was to go visit his nephew who lived not too far away, and to show off "his new bicycle." His nephew who saw the bicycle, was a little surprised. He asked his uncle, "When did you get this bicycle?" He replied, more or less proudly, "Just a few hours ago." The nephew looked at the bicycle, more excited, then said, "Wow! How come it looks just like mine? Your son came and requested to use my bicycle for I don’t know what reason. He left about 10 minutes ago." The uncle trembled, more than startled, and said, "What?" and with his nephew immediately went to the place. His son was still lying there. Crying bitterly, he regretted what happened. What else could he do?

2. Before ‘75, the Provincialate Office had been in Phu Tho. Due to the events of April 30, 1975, Brother Lucien, the newly elected Visitor thought it would be better to move it to the old office of Brother Econome, 53B Nguyen Du Street, at La Salle Taberd School. He had remodeled the terrace to transform it into 2 bedrooms with a balcony and an office.

One night, someone tried to open the door of Brother Roger’s bedroom downstairs. Brother Roger, then Treasurer of the District of Saigon, asked, "Is it you, Brother Visitor?" Through the dim lamplight, he saw a human shadow running upstairs. He went to Brother Visitor’s bedroom and asked, "Did you see someone just enter the house?" Both walked around, entered every room, but found nobody. The front doors were still closed and locked.

About 5 days later, Brother Visitor, in a light sleep, heard the sound of footsteps behind the door of his bedroom. He asked, "Who is that?" Nobody answered, but there were sounds of someone running out by the balcony, then a noise like something falling from the second floor. At that same moment Brother Roger came up, and both saw from the balcony, a person trying to drag himself to his feet in order to escape.

Brothers Visitor and Roger were informed that the man, who had escaped from the balcony last week, was dead. A few minutes before he died, he whispered to the nurse, "... the home of the Brothers has supranatural powers... Do not steal from them. If you do, you’ll die... like me!"

Nobody knows, whether because the last words of that poor man were efficacious, or because Brother Roger had set barbed-wire fence around the house and double locked all doors, that since this event, life at the Provincialate was safer and calmer.