Viet Ville

We were set to go to Underground River for the 2nd day as part of the AirPhil Express Puerto Princesa Adeventour Package.  Along the way was Viet Ville where we stopped over for a few minutes.

Viet Ville is the place where a little over a thousand Vietnamese people took refuge during the time their country, Vietnam, was ruled by communists.  They took refuge in this community located at Puerto Princesa, Palawan provided by mayor Hagedorn.

This small community village, Viet Ville, is a popular tourist attraction in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.  Their french bread is one of the main reasons why people kept going there.

Catholic Assistance for Displaced Persons (CADP) setup Viet Ville for the refugees.  In return, the Vietnamese refugees work for the CADP by manning the restaurant, the bake shop and the noodle factory located in Viet Ville.

The small community in Puerto Princesa is self-sufficient.  I wish we tried the restaurant but we have to stick with our itinerary.  Nevertheless, when I get the chance to go back to Puerto Princesa, I’ll make sure I’ll try to eat at Viet Ville Restaurant.

According to history, there were about 1,500 Vietnamese refugees in Viet Ville when it was first setup.

However, when ethnic Vietnamese lawyers based in United States and Australia started helping the refugees to go abroad, a lot of them left the community.  This is particularly visible when you go the place.  It looked deserted but actually there were Vietnamese refugees who decided to stay in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.  Some reasons may be they’re contented already or may have married Filipinos.

We toured the place for like 15-20 minutes and just took pictures in the churches inside Viet Ville.  There were catholic and protestant churches.  There was a temple there too!

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Viet Ville
Kilometer 13, Barangay Sta. Lourdes, Puerto Princesa City, 5300 Palawan, Philippines
+639182437252