The La Salle Establishments and Schools in Vietnam West and in Dalat
La Salle My Tho School was founded in 1867.
At the end of April, 1975, all the Brothers at La Salle My Tho Community left for Saigon, except Brother Montfort who decided to live and to die with the school where he had been assigned for over 6 years. Even though the new government had requisitioned the property. On May 1, 1975, Brother Montfort was allowed to live in his room, the room he had ever since his first year.
The new administrator’s family and some new teacher families occupied other rooms, even some classrooms. Anyway, the concrete guidelines of the Education Service about the school re-opening for the Complementary Summer Session had been followed seriously and smoothly, thanks to Brother Montfort skillful job, and special thanks to his reputation as being a good teacher. But, as he was used living "together and by association" with his confreres for many years, it was difficult for him to adapt to the new life-style. The men and women who had been more or less proud of their victory over South Vietnam and who were intoxicated by the doctrine which taught them that "the religion is opium for people," made it difficult for him.
After the Complementary Summer Session, Brother Montfort couldn’t endure the situation anymore. Since he had been attached to his ideal in the service of young people, he was overwhelmed by many the conflicts in the new situation. He decided to leave the Congregation, to get married, and, with his wife’s approval, to continue teaching at La Salle My Tho School. A few months later, due to the policies of the communist party, only the party’s members could get along and live among the administration and staff in the "socialist school." He and his wife had to move out of the school. For "compensation," he received a house nearby the school in exchange for his room.
That finished it for this school. No more De La Salle Brothers, or even Lasallian Associate or Partner within such a socialist school. The property and ownership for La Salle My Tho School was gone.
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La Salle Soc Trang School was founded in 1913.
Not one of the Brothers at the La Salle Soc Trang Community wanted to leave the school on April 30, 1975, even though there had been lots of recommendations from students and their families to do so. Brother Quang, Director and Principal, with Brothers Beùranger, Reùginald and Joseph Hung, all agreed to stay where young people still needed their presence and educational services.
Before the Complementary Summer Session began, the local Education Service requested that the Brothers yield some rooms for the new administrator and his family and, surprisingly, allow them to participate in all of the Brothers’ activities, e.g. meals together, relaxed times together. The Brothers recognized that it was a way to control them. But, who cares? Wasn’t it a good opportunity to let them know "Who We Are?"
The Complementary Summer Session had been so well administered and organized that, despite being suspicious of the new government in regard of "these idiot and semi-capitalist intellectuals," the local Education Service had requested that the Brothers continue to live in the school as before and take some responsibility in administering the school for the school year 75-76.
"So far so good" for the new regional education bosses, but NOT "so far so good" for students and overall for the Brothers! That’s because they started rumors that "the influence of these guys (Brothers) over young people is too much! They do not fit into the policies of the party!" The Brothers knew it; therefore, they were more prudent with relationships with students and their parents. They were wary about dealing with local authorities, i.e. being more parsimonious on the cost of their life - although it had been reduced to the minimum. In order to save money, little by little, they could keep a good relationship with them [The Brothers had learned this tactic from their students and friends!].
On the first Saturday evening of May, 1976, the Brothers were astonished at the absence of Brother Beùranger during the Evening Prayers and dinner. [
A 12th grade student’s father, working at the Police Station, whispered to him that Brother Beùranger would be arrested at any time because he had been a teacher in philosophy. This student informed Brother Beùranger about it and helped him to escape. Brother Beùranger fled to Kontum, his native village.] He was not in his room. Yet everything seemed normal. Some thought, "He was perhaps invited by his 12th grade students to a party," although it was very unusual that he didn’t inform the Community about such an absence. The next morning, a group of armed policemen entered the La Salle Soc Trang School, separated each Brother into an isolated place, then investigated each one about "the rights of religion AND the rights of non-religion." What had to happen, happened. All the Brothers were expelled from the school, and the school was gone. At least one official said that "the so-called crime of the Brothers was not serious enough to put them in jail."All of the Brothers were expelled, except Brother Beùranger who was not home and Brother Joseph Hung who had been allowed to stay as before in his room. Why?
There were two families who, despite all danger they might have to confront and deal with, welcomed Brother Quang, Director, and Brother Reùginald into their homes. A few weeks later, Brother Joseph had escaped from the school, then fled overseas and resettled in the U.S.A. with his family [
In 1986 I came to visit Brother Joseph Hung who had been afflicted with stomach cancer in its final stages and was in a hospital in Philadelphia. He had recalled to me this event, then added that, this had been the most stressful pain of his life. People said that he was their informer, their ‘antenna.’ "Why? Why did they choose me, leaving me alone, only me, in the school while other Brothers were expelled from it? How dishonest and cruel they are!"] Brother Quang escaped from Soc Trang City to Saigon, a few months later. Brother Reùginald had to endure suffering for more than a year, selling potatoes or any sort of snack foods in order to survive. In the end, he would escape to Nha Trang, his hometown.From then on, there were no more shadows of "black crows," "these idiot and semi-capitalist intellectuals" in black robes and white rabats, who had been so familiar to and so esteemed by the inhabitants in Soc Trang for over 60 years.
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La Salle Technical School and the Junioriate in Can Tho were founded in 1966.
A week before April 30, 1975, Brother Cyprien, former First Vietnamese Visitor of the District of Saigon, and Director of the Junioriate, fled to Saigon. There was an unsuccessful attempt to flee overseas by boat. He had been arrested and put in jail for 3 years in Nha Trang. After being released from prison, his relatives sponsored him to France. He died on June 15, 1993, and was buried at the cemetery of the De La Salle Brothers in Paris.
Brother Joseph Hanh also fled to Saigon in company with Brother Rogatien Son on April 28, 1975. Brother Greùgoire Tan, in charge at La Salle Nguyen Thoâng School in Saigon as Dean of Studies, welcomed both of them to the Community. Two days later, on the morning of April 30, Brother Greùgoire took them on a Lambro tricycle to Baïch Ñang Port. They succeeded in escaping on the high seas, and they were rescued by American ships.
Brother Prosper had escaped from Can Tho on April 29, 1975, and returned to his family in Thu Duc. After the events of 1975, he joined the La Salle Mossard Community.
Brother Alexandre, Director, and Principal of La Salle Technical School, stayed home with the intention, first, to keep the school, then second, to re-open the technical classes when it became possible. Brother Maxime had agreed to stay at home, then moved to the Junioriate building because its Director had left.
The Complementary Summer Session had begun for 3 weeks. Everything seemed harmoniously coordinated between the Brothers and the new administrator. Brother Alexandre had a very good reputation for his talents and skills on technical and pedagogical matters. Students and parents alike admired and loved him.
After dinner, on the first Saturday evening of June, Brother Alexandre took a walk around the property. When he approached the fences far behind the school, he suddenly heard on the other side of the fence something like, "Brother! Brother Director!..." He stopped, then as he approached the fence he saw among the bushes the face of one of his 11th grade students, who said, "Brother! It’s very urgent! Tonight, policemen will come to school and arrest you! Please, follow me immediately!" No questions asked, Brother Alexandre jumped over the fence and a Honda motorcycle was there ready to move.
It was gray dark. Seated behind the driver, he gradually became calmer and self-controlled. He said, "How did you know that policemen will arrest me tonight?" The driver answered, "I heard a policeman tell it to my father." Brother Alexandre hastened to ask, "Do you know why they want to arrest me?" The driver said, "I did not hear clearly the reason why they want to arrest you, but something like ‘you had been in the army of the South Vietnam’." Brother Alexandre whispered to himself, "Who can know that I was a teacher at the Military Academy in Dalat, several years before, under the regime of President Ngo Dinh Diem?" - No clue until now. The problem was Sauve qui peut, first!
When they arrived at the bus station, the driver gave him a little bag, then rushed Brother Alexandre to take the bus to Saigon. The driver said, "It’s very urgent; therefore, I have prepared some clothes for you. There is also a little money for your trip to Saigon."
That night, indeed, the police came to "visit" La Salle Technical Community, and Brother Maxime got into trouble with policemen, "Where is Mr. Le Van Anh?" How could he answer the question?
He was in his sixties. Three months later, he couldn’t stand anymore. Brother Lucien, Visitor, had tried to negotiate with the local government and at last obtained a satisfactory deal on both sides: Brother Maxime could move to Saigon, then was assigned to La Salle Phuù Sôn Community, about 40km from North Saigon, and the local government then took over the whole property of La Salle Can Tho.
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The La Salle Schools and Communities in Dalat
After the Scholasticate had been moved to Saigon at Mai Thon, and at the same time, Brother Theophane Ke had finished his contract as Manager for the Dormitories at the University of Dalat, the Community of Student Brothers was re-founded with Brother Theophane Ke as Director.
During the time that the war became more and more serious, Dalat had been in the underground of the Front of the Liberation of South Vietnam for many years. The University of Dalat had to be closed. People in Dalat began moving into Saigon or Nha Trang. The Community of the Student Brothers had followed this wave of displacement.
In fact, less than 10 days later, the invaders claimed victory over Dalat City. Thus, the house at No. 6, Tran Hung Dao Rd. was occupied. There was no hope to return it to the owners.
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La Salle Adran School was the first school that MEP (Missions Etrangeøres de Paris) leased to the Christian Brothers in 1866 in Saigon. The name of this school was changed to La Salle Taberd, after the District of Indochina (renamed District of Saigon) opened another school whose name was La Salle Adran in Dalat.
Brother Herman Laõng, Director and Principal, and all of the Brothers of the Community, except Brother Michel Haûi, accompanied the crowds from Dalat en route to Saigon in search of refuge. When Dalat had been defeated, the North Armies came to La Salle Adran. The presence of Brother Michel Haûi might remind them of what they knew a long time before, that La Salle Adran property had been Church property. The new government mobilized troops there anyway. They drove Brother Michel Haûi into a corner of the building in the School Chaplain’s room. A few days later, Brother Raymundus, a French Missionary in Vietnam for over 10 years, working with and living among Montagnard students, came to join him at La Salle Adran and shared with him the same corner of the building.
After the conflict mentioned earlier with the bo doi about the flag star hung downward, Brother Raymundus had to say farewell to Brother Michel Hai for repatriating into France. Brother Michel chose to stay in "the community of La Salle Adran," even alone, in order to insure the legal ownership of the La Salle Adran property.
Although the establishment was "temporarily" occupied by the new government, Brother Michel still hoped that one day it would be returned to the rightful owner. The problem, and it had been the most critical, was the family-register. It had been very difficult, almost impossible, to move from one family-register to another, or to add a new member onto any family-register. If Brother Michel Hai passed away, there would not be anyone to be "legally registered" onto his family-register. Thus, the whole property would belong to the new government.
Up to the time of this writing, 2008, there has been nothing negative that has happened. But for the future, who knows? Brother Michel is now in his eighties. Brother Greùgoire Taân, Visitor, tried to convince Brother Michel not to give up, but to deal or negotiate with the government. The hope was in exchange for another land outside the La Salle Adran School. This land would be registered under the name of the La Salle District of Saigon. Brother Gregoire, Visitor, in collaboration with some former students, were working on legal documents. We must wait and see!
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La Salle Technical School was founded in 1960 about 3km from La Salle Adran School.
Following the decision of three Brother Directors of the Student Brothers Community, the La Salle Adran School Community and the La Salle Technical School Community, the Brothers at the La Salle Technical School agreed to bring with them as much electronic and technical equipment as possible. All had agreed, except Brother Corentin, Dean of Studies. To be honest, he had wanted to stay at the school and keep safe all the equipment of the School, not because he regretted the La Salle Technical School being taken over by the new government but, to the contrary, he had had an affair with a widow of the "underground" who worked for the Front of the Liberation of South Vietnam for years.
When Dalat had been defeated, Brother Corentin invited the new officials into the school. Just one week after April 30, he suggested that the new administrator send employees down to Saigon to return all the technical equipment that the Brothers had brought with them. Unfortunately, or fortunately[?], these equipments had been dispersed or lost.
Brother Corentin, then, left the Congregation and, as Mr. Corentin, continued to teach at La Salle Technical School, just as a lay teacher. The school’s name was changed to "Technical School of Lam Ñong."