Friday: Dinner with Dr. Lily and Her Mother-in-law

Joe and I had dinner Friday night with Dr. Lily, her mother-in-law, and a friend of the mother-in-law. The mother-in-law lives in the Old Quarter, in an apartment in the family's stately, original home.

Dr. Lily's mother-in-law, her friend, and Joe

The mother-in-law is something close to 80 years-old and experienced the whole of Vietnam's recent history. She (and her friend) told us stories for hours about their lives before, during, and after the Vietnamese independence movement, including life during the French colonial area, the war, and afterwards. The mother-in-law's husband--Dr. Lily's father-in-law--became well established in Vietnam during the movement and afterwards.

Here's a photo of Ho Chi Minh--"Uncle Ho" to the Vietnamese--with people including the father-in-law.

Ho Chi Minh

Uncle Ho gave the father the shirt the mother-in-law is holding

Ho Chi Minh, of course, led the independence movement beginning in 1941, established the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945, and defeated the French. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh.

A couple more photos of the ladies.

The ladies and gentlemen...

... and the family cat!