Duong Van Ngo started working for the postal service at the age of 16
August 10, 2023 12:57 PM   Subscribe

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The last public writer for the Vietnamese postal service passes away at the age of 94. In 1990, he retired but was given special permission to continue to work in the Saigon central post office as a "public writer," a position he retired from in 2020. From 2019: Every morning, he tapes a piece of paper with the words “Public Writer” in French, Vietnamese and English near his table at the Saigon Central Post Office. Ngo has written letters for hundreds of people in Vietnamese, English and French in the past 28 years. From 2007: A Day with Saigon's Last Public Letter Writer.
posted by spamandkimchi (12 comments total) 35 users marked this as a favorite
 
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posted by clavdivs at 1:05 PM on August 10, 2023 [5 favorites]


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posted by clew at 1:53 PM on August 10, 2023


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posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 3:18 PM on August 10, 2023


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posted by Glinn at 3:38 PM on August 10, 2023


Wow. Amazing. I was just in Saigon a few months ago and visited the Central Post Office. I wish I had known about this!
posted by slogger at 3:56 PM on August 10, 2023


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posted by JoeXIII007 at 6:39 PM on August 10, 2023


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this reminds me of Violet Evergarden, a very beautiful show about, among many things, the power of letter writers
posted by wooh at 8:00 PM on August 10, 2023


How interesting... I wonder if there are still his compatriots located in the other government offices? They're a dying breed here too, but I definitely used see a couple around immigration and the registration department, helping to write official letters. I should pay closer attention next time.
posted by cendawanita at 12:19 AM on August 11, 2023




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posted by furtive at 10:55 AM on August 11, 2023


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posted by brundlefly at 12:13 AM on August 12, 2023


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posted by socialjusticeworrier at 3:38 PM on August 12, 2023


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