There are very few of these that we'd recommend.  Some of our competitors claim to support various "clinics" in rural areas but if you're approached to give money to any of these groups please be careful.

More often than not these organisations are set up for the benefit of the foreigners working there & precious little ever gets to those who need it most.  A recent study into NGO's & Charitable organisations found that as little as 4% was getting out to those who need it.  The rest is being spent on the staff & directors of these outfits.

In Vietnam you'll see what we mean as the NGO's & Charities have a big red "NG" on the license plate of their $70 K + luxury vehicles.  Please check out the organisation carefully before parting with any of your hard earned money.

We don't support missionary groups.  They often come into Vietnam as tourists or students & then try to start trouble between the locals & the Government.  

The missionary groups who try to trick or force their beliefs on the local communities are in fact practicing racists.  They'd of course deny this but our argument is "why the bloody hell can't they accept the Vietnamese the way they are ?"

We think the Vietnamese are wonderful the way they are & we'll show them & their beautiful country to you in a way that the other operators just don't know how to.  

We've been in Vietnam since 1994 & only recommend the following organisations because we've seen the good they do with our own eyes.

The Fred Hollows foundation  Fred Hollows was a famous "leftie" & one of the worlds leading ophthalmologists.  The Hollows foundation has a grass roots, honest approach to helping Vietnamese people in their struggle with cataracts & glaucoma.

Apheda  The overseas aid arm of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, has a good, old fashioned, roll up your sleeves attitude to the projects they have in Vietnam.  

Midnight Oil Page  The "Oils" home page. One of Oztralia's best and most progressive bands, sadly said goodbye recently to it's much loved front man, Peter Garret.  He's since joined the ALP & has been given the environment responsibilities.  What a tough job but if anyone can do it, it's Mr Garret !

Ghostwriters page  Rob Hirst's (Midnight Oil) & Rick Grossman's (Hoodoo Gurus) new band.  Great page with links to the Oils and other Oz music stuff.  When Rick isn't playing music he's tries hard to avoid being "Trowelled".

Immedia  Links to everything you wanted to know about contemporary music in Oztralia. Run by Phil Tripp, a great bloke who publishes the Australian Music Industry Directory.

Green Left Weekly   In recent years the sad old colony hasn't had much direction or even a decent opposition to the sad old monarchists that are ruling us.  Most Aussie journos are being good little boys & girls & can be counted on to "not rock the boat.

The Green Left is different.  Have a look & you'll see.  They're well worth it !

The Australian Labor Party  The ALP celebrated its centenary in 1991 & is Australia's oldest political party.  The ALP site has lots of historical & current information on the party & it's platform.

The Communist Party of Vietnam  Our favourite ! The "Dang Cong San Vietnam" has its own website that's updated daily.  The website is very well done & well worth a visit.   

Sinn Fein: The political wing of the IRA  The Sinn Fein home page is worth a visit.  Britain's censorship laws prevent their side of the story from being told.  Make up your own mind.

Maritime Union of Australia  The MUA is one of bravest & best unions we have.  They have been involved with Vietnam since the war years & are highly regarded by the Government, Unions & People of Vietnam for their help & assistance over the years.

Labor NET  A service provided by the Labor Council of New South Wales with links to most other Unions in Oztralia.

Socialists and Communists around the World  Links to the "Party" in the USA, Canada and many other countries.  Also linked to many youth organisations too.

International Transport Federation (ITF)  Great links to trade unions worldwide.

The Australian Republican Movement  On the 6th November 1999, Australians had their 1st ever opportunity to vote in a referendum to decide on our finally becoming a Republic.  It was to be the biggest vote in our history.  Unfortunately though, Australians voted (55% to 45%) to remain a colony of the UK by keeping the Queen as their head of State.  As a result of the short sighted view of the majority of Australians, this unbelievable situation will continue for at least the foreseeable future. 

For many this is their idea of democracy but for us & lots of people like us, it's just a very poor joke.

For millions of us, it was a time to re-write the terrible wrongs of 11th November 1975 when the Whitlam Government was sacked by the Queen's representative in Australia, the then Governor General, Johnny Cur.  It was done just some months after a Federal Election in which the overwhelming majority of Australians had voted for the Government of E G (Gough) Whitlam.  Democracy has a very different meaning in a Colony it would appear.