Bridging the Distance to Build Love and Support: Visiting the Ai Linh Love School in Vietnam

The Bridge to Vietnam team from the Sister School Support group (SSS), composed of five high school students, embarked on its annual service trip to Ai Linh Love School, our sister school in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This school provides much needed support for the underprivileged, those with special needs, and migrant children from rural areas in Vietnam. 

"Bridge to Vietnam” is a fitting name for our team and this annual tradition, as spending time with the children formed unforgettable bonds and memories that transcended language barriers. Through “communicating with our hearts”– as one of the Ai Linh Love School teachers put it– we were able to connect with the deepest, most universal parts of humanity in the children, families, teachers, and local communities.

Each day of the week we spent there was filled with meaningful learning experiences—the following lines aim to share the activities we took part in, and the insights we gained from them!

Day 1– Orientation and City Tour
The week started with an orientation by Ai Linh Love school Principal- Sr. Huyen, learning about our schedule, Love School's history, nature, and local customs. We also visited some city landmarks such as Ho Chi Minh City Hall, the Opera House, and the Post Office, ending the day with Sunday mass at the cathedral.

Day 2 – Welcoming and School Activities
The school welcomed us with smiles, open arms, and a joyful dance. We made the “Ai Linh Love School Zoo” with grade 2 through origami and enjoyed coloring time with first graders.

Day 3 – Alumni Homecoming and Cultural Night
After joining the morning classes, we spent time with the alumni, who shared their journeys with and and we introduced Seisen, and life in Japan. In the evening, we prepared onigiri, shared other Japanese foods, and played Vietnamese games.

Day 4 – Crafts and City Exploration
We taught the “Gummy Bear” dance to the children, joined their classes, and made origami watermelon fans with the third graders. Later, we explored more of the city, shopped at Bến Thành Market, and visited the War Remnants Museum, which offered deep insights into the complex and lasting impact of the Vietnam War. Our day ended with a traditional Water Puppet show, a fascinating and beautiful performance that uniquely showcased Vietnamese culture.

Day 5 – Sports Fest and Family Visits
Our group joined the children with the support of local university teams for a lively sports fest, forming ten mixed teams that competed in friendly games before sharing lunch together. In the afternoon, our members visited six families of Ai Linh children, who warmly welcomed them into their homes where we had the opportunity to hear about their daily struggles, inspiring us to plan future activities to support families in need. The day concluded with everyone preparing and enjoying Japanese sōmen noodles with the Sisters.

Day 6 – Farewell and Gratitude
We made thank-you cards with the fourth graders for their mothers and teachers on Vietnam Women's Day; however, surprisingly, many of them wrote the cards for us! Shared tearful goodbyes, and received signed shirts and gifts. Before leaving for the airport, we enjoyed final meaningful conversations with teachers and Sisters.

One week in Vietnam felt dauntingly long at first but to our surprise, the children returned to the school to say their final goodbyes on our last evening before departing for the airport, making us wish we could stay a little longer.

We hope to update you next year, too! 

Bridge to Vietnam Group Members
Sabrina, Yurina, Violet, Tanisha, Miki