Early Beginnings (1941-1954) 

–    1941: Bishop Chaize of Hanoi granted permission for the Salesians to establish their presence in the city. 

–    1942: Fathers Dupont and Petit arrived as military chaplains, focusing on helping street children and war victims. 

–    1945: Father Dupont was killed in Hanoi, highlighting the dangers faced by early missionaries. 

–    1952: Bishop Trịnh Như Khuê requested the Salesians to take over the Thérèse Orphanage. 

–    1953: The Salesians officially managed the orphanage, caring for 450 students. 

Expansion and Challenges (1954-1975) 

–    1954: The Geneva Agreement led to the Salesians moving from North to South Vietnam. 

–    1955: They established a temporary residence in Ban Mê Thuột before relocating to Saigon. 

–    1956: Don Bosco Gò Vấp and the Don Bosco Aspirantate in Thủ Đức were established. 

–    1958: Don Bosco Vietnam became a Vice-Province of the China Province, with Father André Majcen as the first Vice-Provincial. 

–    1960: The first novitiate was opened. 

–    1968: The Don Bosco Technical School in Gò Vấp was established. 

–    1971: Gò Vấp expanded to include multiple operations. 

–    1975: The Technical School was handed over to the Ministry of Mechanical Engineering, and the Apostolic School was closed. 

Period of Struggle for Survival (1975-1989) 

–    Post-1975: Foreign missionaries were expelled, and young Salesians faced imprisonment and adaptation to a new socio-political environment. 

–    1985 onwards: The period of market economy opening, industrialization, and modernization brought new opportunities for the Salesian mission. 

–    Recent Developments: The Salesians focused on pastoral work for vocations, increasing the number of members, and supporting young confreres in other provinces and countries. 

Growth and Challenges (1989-1993) 

–    Despite the challenges, the Salesians experienced a revival and growth. From 88 confreres in 1988, the number grew to 119 in 1993, and ten years later, 80 more young people joined, reaching 200 members. By 2025, there were 305 Vietnamese confreres, including 116 priests, 49 lay brothers, 140 clerics, and 19 novices. 

Constant Growth (1993-2023) 

–    The province included Vietnam and Mongolia, with significant increases in the number of novices, post-novices, Salesian brothers, priests, and other members. By 2023, the total number of members was 371, including 354 confreres and 17 novices. 

Recent Developments (2023-2025) 

–    The province continued to grow, with 354 members living in 38 communities, working in 28 parishes, operating 8 vocational training centers, and running various activities to serve young people. 

Operations 

–    Members: 354 Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), living in 38 communities (27 in the South, 11 in the North). 

–    Parishes: Working in 28 parishes across 18 dioceses. 

–    Vocational Training Centers: Operating 8 centers. 

–    Houses of Formation: 4 houses (pre-novitiate, novitiate, post-novitiate, specialized for brothers and priests). 

–    Mission Presences: Active in various regions, including the Highlands of the Southwest and the North of Vietnam. 

–    Activities: Numerous activities to serve the needs of young poor people in the region, including: 

–    170 senior aspirants and 60 junior aspirants. 

–    2,321 boys in technical schools. 

–    1,200 poor children in school. 

–    350 students with SDB guidance. 

–    1,100 boarding boys in communities. 

Challenges and Impact 

–    The Salesians faced challenges such as the need for experienced formation guides, addressing low intellectual and academic levels of the youth, and dealing with practical atheism, consumerism, and corruption. 

–    Despite these obstacles, they made significant contributions to education, training, youth engagement, pastoral services, and international missionary work. 

–    Their impact on the community is profound, prioritizing investment in people, promoting the spirit of Don Bosco, and providing a nurturing environment for young people. 

Conclusion 

The journey of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Vietnam is a testament to their resilience, dedication, and unwavering commitment to serving the youth. From their early beginnings in Hanoi to their recent developments, they have navigated numerous challenges and milestones, leaving a lasting impact on the community and continuing to shape the future of their mission. 

A video illustrating the Salesian Province of VIE is available on ANSChannel.

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