Note to Parents: In the last journal, you read a story about Thi Lien (tee lee-YIN) and her family (if you missed the story, find it here). They are Vietnamese, a Southeast Asian people group. What would it be like to visit the Old Quarter of Hanoi? Learn how Vietnam’s history influenced the street names in this district. Then create some street signs of your own.
Long ago, the first ruler of the Ly Dynasty chose the site of Hanoi for his capital and built his palace there. Soon many craftsmen came to the surrounding area to make and sell their goods. Craftsmen who made the same items set up their shops along the same street. Each street name came to reflect the business of the craftsmen who lived and worked there.
Today, many streets in the oldest part of the Hanoi still keep these names. Here are some of them: Hang Bac (Silver Street), Hang Ma (Paper Street), Hang Son (Paint Street), and Hang Quat (Fans Street). The Vietnamese word hang (hong) means merchandise or shop.
Cultural Activity:
Pretend that each person in your family owns a shop in the Old Quarter where Thi Lien’s family lives.
- Work together to think of 15-20 different things you could sell.
- Let each person choose one item.
- Use paper and markers to make street signs that match each product. For example, if you are selling toothbrushes, your sign would say “Toothbrush Street.”
- If you prefer to use the Vietnamese word for “shop” on your sign, write the word “Hang” first. Then add what you are selling. For example, “Toothbrush Shop” would become “Hang Toothbrush”!
- Set up displays of your items around the house and place your signs nearby.
Afterwards, pray as a family for the Vietnamese people. Ask God to demonstrate that He is real and trustworthy to families who have been taught that God does not exist.
