Q: How was your club founded and what kind of activities do you do?

Son: VACA was established in 2002 by young members who share a common passion for astronomy. At that time, VACA was one of many clubs belonging to the Trai Tim Viet Nam (Vietnamese Hearts) forum.

VACA works to introduce astronomy to the Vietnamese people. The steering board regularly organises surveys and observes space phenomena. We also provide documents on astronomy and the universe, free of charge, to our members.

The club released the first CD on astronomy in Viet Nam in 2004. A year later, our website was set up at www.thienvanvietnam.org and is now Viet Nam’s most important resource for knowledge on astronomy.

Since 2004, we have successfully organised the annual World Space Week (October 4 – 10), which includes workshops and conferences.

This year, our most important project is to publish the first dictionary on astronomy in Viet Nam. We also expect the club will be upgraded to an association for amateur astronomers.

On the first Sunday morning of each month, we meet at Nhan Cafe, 9 Lang Ha St, Ha Noi, to discuss astronomy.

Members are of different ages but share a common passion.

Q: When did you begin considering astronomy your passion?

Son: When I was a secondary student, I was as timid as a rabbit. One day, I read a book on astronomy by Pham Viet Trinh, late president of the Viet Nam Astronomy and Space Association. A new world of mystery and wonder opened in front of my eyes. I began hunting for other astronomy material and spent nights under the stars without timidity.

Looking at the stars, I wanted to know what they were and how they moved. I also wanted to educate others about them. That’s why I have pursued astronomy.

Q: Have loving astronomy and joining the club brought you any advantages?

Son: I consider VACA my home, VACA’s honour as my own. Joining the club gave me a chance to share my passion with friends. Above all, the club is where I find joy in life.

Everyone needs to choose a road for his or herself. I’m happy I have a clear road and target. I’m not a dreamer. I build my desires into a plan and try to fulfil it so I make my dreams come true.

Q: You are not only a leader of the club, you have your own professional life. How does managing a club with thousands of members affect you private life?

Son: I am an architect. The club certainly takes a lot of time.

Sometimes, I feel tired and stressed, but I think I can make sacrifices for astronomy, for a passion means happiness.

I know that my sacrifice is worth it. In my pursuit of astronomy, I have had to change many habits, but I will never regret this.

Q: How do you express your passion for astronomy?

Son: Firstly, what is passion? Someone says that it is something we lose sleep over. For some, passion is something that brings fame and wealth. For me, that’s not true.

I have never lost sleep over astronomy. I don’t expect that it will bring me material wealth. I simply love it.

I also have other hobbies: science and a nunchaku fighting game. I will never give them up for astronomy.

Astronomy is different from other hobbies. I can work on astronomy all night but still go to the office the next morning without being tired.

When I face troubles in my life, I think of astronomy, which gives me power, belief, endless knowledge and friends.

Q: Now that you have knowledge and experience in astronomy, how do you use them?

Son: I must confess that I only remember the names of popular satellites and sub-planets in the solar system. I don’t care about the names of astronauts.

My memory is limited so I don’t try to remember what I can find on google.com.

I use my brain’s capacity to save necessary knowledge such as theory and the equation of planets’ movements.

I don’t allow myself to earn money from astronomy. I don’t sell documents, but tell people where they can download them.

I don’t sell telescopes, but I will spend a day teaching someone how to make one. That’s much more interesting.

Running the club is very difficult for me because we lack money, but with supports from members, we still manage the club effectively.

Luckily, we are supported by veteran astronomers of the Viet Nam Association of Astronomy and Space such as Prof Dang Mong Lan, researcher Nguyen Phuc Giac Hai and researcher Nguyen Van Hieu.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News