October 7, 2005

A vision for a Vietnamese Cultural Garden

By Bea Baechle
Editor

A garden is eager to grow in San Jose.

Eighteen years in the making, the Vietnamese cultural garden and community center project was first initiated by the Immigrant Resettlement and Cultural Center in 1987 and later turned over to the Vietnamese Cultural Heritage Foundation in 1993.

With San Jose City Council’s approval of the Kelly Park site at Story Road and Roberts Street in 2000, VCHF aggressively moved forward in its fundraising efforts to construct a proposed 7,000 square-foot museum and a 4,500 square-foot community hall.

This Vietnamese garden would add to the already diverse flavor of Kelly Park, which currently holds a Portuguese museum, Chinese temple, Japanese Friendship Garden, a village and a children’s zoo.

Viet Heritage Society
At the city of San Jose’s request, the Viet Heritage Society picked up the ball in August 2003.

And that’s where Evergreen resident AnhTuan Truong stepped in. A member of the board of directors of Viet Heritage Society, Truong has been working passionately to raise funds to build this garden.

“The fundraising activities are like a second job,” said Truong. Combined with his “day” job as a fleet manager at Piercey Toyota, this makes for many long 14-hour days. When asked why he works so hard, Truong doesn’t hesitate to share his passion.

Truong and his family arrived in the United States in 1975. Like many refugees, they struggled at first. Through hard work and support from friends, family and community, the Truong clan eventually successfully established themselves in San Jose. Now he feels it’s his turn to reciprocate.

“I joined the board of directors because I share the same vision with VHS,” said Truong, which is to preserve and promote Vietnamese culture and history through the establishment of cultural venues and educational programming that foster community understanding and appreciation.

But he also has more personal motivations for the Garden’s creation.

Like many, Truoung wants to leave his mark on society. He wants an active hand in building a lasting legacy for his children. He wants an active in hand in building a center where his grandchildren can go and learn more about their heritage. He wants an active hand in building a place where elderly Vietnamese Americans, too frail to travel to their motherland, can come to reminisce about the “old country.”

AnhTuan has been involved in a number of VHS fundraising efforts. This past June, he led a charity event to introduce VHS to the community at Kelly Park. He is currently on the planning committee of the “Evening in Saigon” benefit event.

Two other Evergreen residents who serve on the VHS board are equally committed to the project. Henry Le of Lee’s Sandwiches is president of the organization. He is currently in Biloxi, Miss., assisting Vietnamese families affected by the hurricanes. Thao Dang of Century 21 is the treasurer.

The vision
Through the garden, VHS hopes to promote awareness and understanding of Vietnamese art, history and culture, and to showcase Vietnam’s architectural and horticultural uniqueness. The garden will include an array of exotic plants, trees, and flowers often found in Vietnam, as well as ornamental features reflective of Vietnam’s rich history.

From the One Pillar Pagoda in the North, to the Shrine of King Hung in the Central, and the Cham Towers in the South, replicated structures will be exhibited throughout the garden to reflect some of Vietnam’s 5,000 years of history.

Visitors will have the opportunity to discover and explore the temperate regions of the North that allow for the growth of peach blossoms, cherry blossoms and lilies, rare orchids in the Central and hibiscuses that are favorable to the tropical climate of the South.

As visitors venture into the museum, they will come across unique collections of antiques and artifacts from Vietnam. Through the museum, VHS hopes to retain and preserve Vietnamese art and history and to showcase Vietnamese artwork from Vietnam as well as artwork by up-and-coming Vietnamese artists around the world.

From the beautiful arts and ornaments of Vietnam to the lush foliage, exotic plants, flowers, trees, and interactive agricultural activities, the Vietnamese Garden and museum promises to be a stimulating and educational experience.

For more information, go to www.vietheritagesociety.org.

“Evening in Saigon” to raise funds for Vietnamese Garden

A woman, who’s never set foot in Vietnam, pauses to contemplate and marvel at the ancient One Pillar Pagoda.

A veteran, fighting his own nightmares of the war, struggles to grasp the impact of King Hung on Vietnamese history, as the docent discusses the magnificence of the royal shrine.

A grandmother, clearing the cobwebs in her mind, reaches into her past to explain to her grandchild why peach blossoms are essential to the Tet celebration.

This is the dream of the Vietnamese Cultural Garden. To support the creation of this special garden, you are invited to attend an “Evening in Saigon,” a black-tie dinner and fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 22, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Westin Santa Clara, Calif. Cost is $150.

On the evening of Oct 22, 2005, you can find AnhTuan Truong working at the casino tables.