BOY SCOUTS OF VIET NAM

Scouting in Viet Nam first started in the French schools for French children and very rich Vietnamese children.

In 1930, 2 Vietnamese athletes, Tran Van Khac and Ta Van Ruc started a youth movement named, "Dong Tu Quan" (Scouts). Tran Van Khac is generally accepted as the founder of Vietnamese Scouting. This first Troop’s activities was, like any normal Scouting troop except the program was heavily athletic.

From 1933 to 1935, Scouting spread quickly among the population, with the help of the French Pioneers and the French Scouts. Three branches of Vietnamese Scouting were established: Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Senior Scouts.

Andre Lefevre, a French Scoutmaster and chief of the French Freedom Scout Association, set up a training camp for 60 Vietnamese scoutmasters from al over the country. At the end of 1937, Scoutmaster Raymond Schlemmer was sent by the Federation of French Scouts to Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia. He was to oversee the setting up of the Indo-Chineese Federation of Scouts in all three countries.

From 1939 through 1945, the political situation in Viet Nam became very complicated. This affected Scouting activities all across the country. There began a movement for an independent Viet Nam. The French began to lose control and were finally over thrown by Japanese intervention. This ceased the French Scouts’ activity in Viet Nam as well as all Scouting.

After the Geneva Conference in 1954, Scouting returned to Viet Nam. The Scout Association of North Viet Nam was abolished be3cause North Viet Nam was under communist rule.

From 1954 to 1975, Scouting in South Viet Nam played an important role in society. Scouting taught the young people the spirit of independence and the simplicity of life. They were taught to be independent in their studies and in decision making. Scouting had major successes in these efforts.

In April 1975, South Viet Nam was over run by the communists. The Vietnamese Scout Association was then banned. Outside of the country, The Vietnamese Scouts formed an exile organization and continued their Scouting spirit and programs, never forgetting their past history, culture and traditions. Vietnamese Scouting is active in the United States, Canada, Australia and France.

Every 2 or 3 years, the Vietnamese Scouts hold an International Jamboree.

Today, Vietnamese Scouts are scattered all over the world. They keep in their hearts the words of the founder of Scouting, Baden-Powell, and the Scouting spirit until the day when Scouting again returns to Viet Nam.

Scout Motto :

Information was obtained from the Viet Nam Scout Association in Exile web page written by BSA Explorer Post 27.