[Vnbiz] VN Government's Certificate of Appreciation

[Tran Dinh Hoanh]

Dear CACC,

FYI, this morning the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington DC has handed me a
Certificate of Appreciation from Minister of Foreign Affairs/Deputy Prime
Minister. It is for "da co thanh tich xuat sac trong cong cuoc xay dung dat
nuoc" (having performed excellent deeds in the construction of the
motherland).

This gesture is a new milestone in Vietnam-Vietkieu relationship and
Vietnam's attitude toward democratic discussions.  From the beginning of
VNForum in 1994, my admins and I faced serious harassment from the
government, and my VNBIZ admins were also not very comfortable during the
early time of VNBIZ.  The Certificate of Appreciation today completes
a 180-degree turn on the government's part. It proves my theory that "if you
just talk honestly and constructively again and again, and don't quit,
eventually people will listen."

I take this Certificate of Appreciation as the government's signal that it
is willing to listen to what we have talked about over the years, including
sensitive political issues still off-limit to entities inside the country.
We will continue our Vietnam works in the same philosophy that has been
in effect since 1992:  "All Vietnamese are brothers and sisters.  We
will work on all Vietnam issues, without exception, including difficult
sensitive taboo issues, in the constructive brotherly spirit, for the
betterment of our motherland." And I hope that our brothers and sisters in
the Vietnamese government and the VCP will continue to work with us in that
brotherly spirit.

I also take this opportunity to thank Tin Le and Tai Phan, the two VNForum
admins who are still VNBIZ admins today.  Great courage, brothers!  It was
bad for your health and safety to be with me :-)  I also would like to
thank our co-founders of VNBIZ-- Dieu Anh, Thanh An, Hong-Truong.  It
was very risky for you guys to stand with me and it took great courage and
great faith in me for you guys to do such a thing.  Without you guys VNBIZ
would never have come into existence. Great job, guys!  I also would like to
thank our later VNBIZ admins Hong Nhung and Romi for willing to stand with
us.  It takes great courage to be my admins, everyone can see that from our
discussions.

And for all our  VNBIZ brothers and sisters, thank you for sharing your
heart and mind with us, for hanging out with us, lending us your support,
and just being our brothers/sisters.  Collectively we have made much
difference and will make much difference for the betterment of our
motherland.

For thousands of our faithful online readers over the past 14 years, thank
you for being with us.  We are with you. One spirit.  One mind,  One family.

Thank you all!

Have a great day!

Hoanh

-- 
Tran Dinh Hoanh, Esq., LLB, JD
Washington DC
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