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BUTT CHEEKS BARED, Hanoi’s ragtag nudist club ignore the chilly weather to do their daily exercises – some swim, some jog, one performs military drills – stripping off and defying norms in the conservative communist nation.
Tucked behind banana trees on the banks of the city’s Red River, the men meet to shed their clothes, and modesty, for a cheeky dip, a game of chess, or yoga headstands in the buff – which they believe comes with health benefits.
“It’s important for us to come here because we want to be healthy, we call ourselves addicts,” said Nguyen Tuan Nghia, 43, a self-taught Buddhist who’s been disrobing at the meeting spot for 18 years.
For Nghia, who recently embraced Protestantism, getting naked is his way to return to infancy, making him feel like he was just “given birth (to) by Jesus or Buddha”.
Most of them have straightlaced day jobs as civil servants, journalists, or even state officials.
Skinny dippers
Many come every day – a temperature of 18 Celsius did not keep a few dozen skinny dippers out of the water on a recent afternoon, though many warm up over hot tea by the fire.
They say shedding their clothes makes them feel uninhibited, a rare chance to stray from the pack in the one-party state where social compliance and strict norms are taught from a young age.
“I feel relaxed… and it’s fun. I feel at ease when I come here, I exercise and it makes me feel better when I return to my day job,” vendor Nguyen Hoang Duong, 23, told AFP wearing nothing but an army green cap.
‘No skin disease’
Though public nudity remains taboo in much of Asia, nudist swimming clubs have popped up in conservative China, and tourist-haven Thailand boasts several ‘naturalist’ retreats mostly for foreigners, while public bathhouses have long been popular across Japan and South Korea.
But nudist bathing and beach-going is rare in Vietnam, a one-party state where porn is banned and communist propaganda posters are ubiquitous.
Nudity in art, photography, film and dance is subject to strict censorship by eagle-eyed authorities, though some exhibitions featuring nudes have been given the greenlight in recent months.
None of this phases the men at Hanoi’s nudist enclave, who also brush aside concerns that the Red River might not be clean enough for swimming.
They are not worried by rising levels of trash on the river’s edge, nor do they pay much attention to reports about polluted runoff from nearby factories.
“We’ve never had any skin disease or feel itchy at all, we think it’s quite clean here,” said 67-year-old Le Duc Lam, who says his own health has improved after swimming in the river, which flows from southern China to the South China Sea east of Hanoi.
For Lam, the skinny dipping sessions under the 115-year-old Long Bien bridge, today buzzing with motorbikes, are also a chance to escape the commotion of the fast-growing capital and have a bit of fun with friends.
His group is one of a handful that meet in different spots along the waterway, including one for women to swim in the buff.
Some hope the trend will catch on.
“Vietnamese people should be more open when they talk about nudist bathing. We shouldn’t be so modest about it like in the past,” said naked bather Nguyen Thi Thuy, wearing nothing but the hair on her head.
- © AFP 2017.
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You’d think after the exposition of the horrifyingly widespread child abuse carried out (and covered up) by those in the church they’d have a bit of humility.
Sadly, all we’re seeing is a cover-up by the Vatican. This disgusting behaviour by Rome has surely resulted in many pedophiles facing no consequences for the lives they’ve ruined.
I applaud this woman for even engaging with the Church in the first place after what she went through – that must’ve been so hard. The Vatican betrayed her attempts to seek justice. It’d make you sick to your stomach.
Never mind humility, just a basic concept of humanity.
Only the other week they were praising the virtues of the late cardinal as practically been instrumental in reforming child abuse. It didn’t really pull much weight though, and today’s article goes so far as say the same.
I’m not surprised by this news. If the church have any hope of maintaining their faith let alone growing it, they much be seen to be proactive moving forward. The fact that this is not happening really demonstrates the denial of the church about the sincerity of the situation. They have have created their own downfall and I for one have no sympathy for them.
However I do have massive sympathy for those that had to suffer at the hands of these twisted vile people. There are many that had to suffer in silence. Those voices will never be heard.
Not surprised,
The Vatican only care about one thing…them, nothing more.
They don’t really care care about children and most certainly not abuse children or those sold by the church, they only care about money and the Vatican.
Fair play to her for trying, but what did she expect. They know what they did and they know what they are still doing. The voice one person (particularly a woman) in a chauvinistic religion was never going to make a difference.
Having read and bookmarked this after the Murphy report, I can see where she is being stonewalled. As hard as it is to accept the reality, this is not new and it isn’t going to change if the church can help it. I think the victims deserve better. This was the American Catholic experience; https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/tom-doyle-addresses-priest-sex-abuse-survivors
As a practising Roman Catholic, I am so frustrated and disgusted by the attitude which says canon law before people. It goes against everything that Christ taught.
@Thomas McGilly: Then leave… oh wait you cant. The’ve removed that option too.
Don’t be such an ass
@Thomas McGilly: Really? The religious culture he was a part of wedded girls at puberty to men without their consent and he went as far as to validate such unions by banning divorce and saying whoever marries a divorced woman is an adulterer. Culture is no excuse for violation of a child nor is religion. You cannot expect senior clerics to care about the victims of abuse when the Bible condones it.
I am closer to dying than looking forward to a long life but without fear I have abandoned all interest in or affiliation to the Church. My conscience simply would not allow me to respect such an organisation. If there is a God I truly believe He , She, or It, would understand and agree. Unfortunately, since this decision I am drawn towards observing the pomp and ceremony and elaborate and no doubt expensive dress within the Church with growing disdain and I regret not having seen through the facade throughout my life of allegiance to and respect for this organisation. It makes me feel bad every time I reflect on it. Wasted years living with a Lie
I agree wholeheartedly. My faith was eroded until there was nothing. After all this lady has been through and the fact that she dedicated three years of her life to putting right disgusting abuse of innocent children, must be frustrating beyond measure. What can be done? I would not know where to start.
@Ann Carroll: Everybody has faith even if it is just a vague hope that motivates you to do good for yourself and others. Religion merely tries to direct faith to suit itself. Look for faith and live it and you won’t need religion or anybody. Faith is natural.
When paedophiles and their protectors get walled up safely in the Vatican, it’s obvious that SFA will be done to purge rapists from the ranks of the catholic church. Francis is supposed to be running the shop and it’s seems he’s more impotent than infallible.
Still, I suppose, god’s will and all that!
They made a safe house of the Vatican for the most vile type of humans, SS murderers, at the end of WW2 and facilitated an escape to South America.
No perpetrator of crime that they’d condone, especially in vile human behaviour would surprise me.
Just to clarify.
Marie Collins had high praise for Pope Francis’s efforts in dealing with issues of child abuse affecting the Church.
I think we can all agree that Francis is demonstrating true leadership qualities on this matter.
Marie Collins also criticised Pope Francis for the “mercy” he showed recently to pedophiles in the church, deciding to reduce their punishments in a bizarre push for clemency for convicted child abusers. He even went back on defrocking an Italian priest, Mauro Inzoli – who despite his proven sexual abuse will remain a member of the priesthood.
Marie had absolutely no time for this nonsense from Pope Francis. Let’s get all the facts out there, shall we?
@Emmet O’Keeffe: do you think Pope Francis doing this is good leadership qualities. I don’t think so. This has recently been done….
Pope quietly trims sanctions for sex abusers seeking mercy..
Pope Francis has quietly reduced sanctions against a handful of pedophile priests, applying his vision of a merciful church even to its worst offenders in ways that survivors of abuse and the pope’s own advisers question.
One case has come back to haunt him: An Italian priest who received the pope’s clemency was later convicted by an Italian criminal court for his sex crimes against children as young as 12. The Rev. Mauro Inzoli is now facing a second church trial after new evidence emerged against him, The Associated Press has learned.
The Inzoli case is one of several in which Francis overruled the advice of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and reduced a sentence that called for the priest to be defrocked, two canon lawyers and a church official told AP. Instead, the priests were sentenced to penalties including a lifetime of penance and prayer and removal from public ministry.
Hi there “Emmet”.
@Emmet O’Keeffe: How can he demonstrate leadership when his leadership isn’t followed by his own people? It demonstrates failure and impotence. As usual the PR pope is all talk and no action.
@Emmet O’Keeffe: I was going to post a question here asking how Breda O Brien will spin this into a pro church position. Your post answers the question for me.
Much like O’Briens recent IT article where she offered an opinion on Desmond Connell as “general consensus is now that he was a good man” you offer the equally farcical “I think we can all agree that Francis is demonstrating true leadership”. Think again Sir.
Marie Collins:
‘”However, despite the Holy Father approving all the recommendations made to him by the Commission, there have been constant setbacks,- They have been directly due to the resistance by some members of the Vatican Curia to the panel’s work” she said in her letter of resignation.
https://www.rte.ie/documents/news/resignation-from-the-pontifical-commission-for-the-protection-of-minors.pdf
And remember, this is the same Vatican Curia which has been opposing many of the progressive reforms set forth by Pope Francis since his ordination.
@Jason Maguire:
Hi Jayo.
@Emmet O’Keeffe: so no comment on what Pope Francis has recently done? . If he was genuine.. then why do this?
Pope quietly trims sanctions for sex abusers seeking mercy..
Pope Francis has quietly reduced sanctions against a handful of pedophile priests, applying his vision of a merciful church even to its worst offenders in ways that survivors of abuse and the pope’s own advisers question…..
@LITTLEONE:
Loo, I’m just clarifying Marie Collins position regards the role of Pope Francis in this commission.
Take it or leave it.
“progressive reforms set forth by Pope Francis since his ordination”
Do you mean the way he’s backsliding on punishing child abusers in the Church? Those progressive reforms?
Sorry, you’ll have to be more specific. I personally don’t think giving “mercy” to pedophiles is progressive, but what can I say.
@Emmet O’Keeffe: Because he approved the reccomendations doesn’t mean he genuinely was behind them. He is the face of the Catholic church after all , so looking like your genuinely behind something doesn’t mean you are . I am pointing out if he was genuine to which you claim he was then how could he grant clemency to priests quietly.. doesn’t add up. Happens all the time. Here great example be fully behind a commission and it’s reccomendations but deep down your not genuinely interested in it so behind the scenes, it’s different story…
As for your take it or leave comment Emmet. I will take it that Pope Francis pretends to the public , Catholic faithful he is genuine in regards to child abuse priests but privately and quietly he offers them clemency.. Because it’s exactly what’s happened…….
Emmet – he gave a child rapist priest a lifetime of prayer as punishment:
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/pope-francis-reduces-penalties-paedophile-priests-lifetime-prayer-1608591
Emmet O’Keefe. Is this a joke to you? Shame on you.
@Emmet O’Keeffe: No if Collins had hope the pope was going to do anything at some point she would not walk away. Don’t imply she was walking away from the problem just to defend that Francis.
@Paul Fahey: Ironic of him when he claims prayer is just a joyful relationship with God! Its a reward virtually if the priests are believers who do get addicted to prayer and love it.
@Malachi: If I do something terrible and somebody tells me that a God has forgiven me and I feel great then and feel holy again that is condoning if there is no God. Forgiveness from a non-existent God or one who has not forgiven at all amounts to risking condoning the evil – condoning is virtually rewarding evil.
I think she should be ordained a deacon and maybe they’d listen to her then
Pope Francis is insincere and only pays lip service. The Pope’s sole agenda is the protection of the power, wealth and influence of the institution of the Roman Catholic Church. That’s his real job.
“Chist’s Vicar on Earth” should be doing something real but that description is only a cover for the real job.
@Tony Daly: He’s into your leftie green craic
Global CEO of Roman Catholic Church Inc protects his profitable and powerful corporation
The strategy of institutions is to hope it away, attrition, etc, one person passes away so cases fall down as they fail to reach the burden of proof, time is the best ‘cure’ - Church, Gardai, Tusla, Banks, Politicians, Regulators, etc - all doing what they are supposed to prevent and directed from the top.
Solicitors are the root of it all as they advise them to deny, and they themselves are self regulated so they hear their own confessions.
Ireland is rare in that we are the only developed country where this rules – Brazil locked up a fella over tickets yet we have suspects ruling over us – Current Garda Commissioner would be a good example. These comments are not allowed in The Indo -ah sure those who control it were condemned in The Tribunals too, a new club forming, for those who act with impunity we now pay hundreds of millions so they remain immune to prosecution, while us they continue to persecute! Where would you get it?
Anyone read, Windswept House by Fr. Malachi Martin… Evil spoilt mad gits.
I can’t believe the church can have such a Pope. He’s a leftie green monster
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