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The Village Project
PHAN RI CUA, VIETNAM
Music by Isaac Go
Phan Ri Cua is a small fishing village in Vietnam and also my birth place. Life is simple but a bit lackadaisical here.
The Village Project is my personal mission to help people lead more hopeful and healthy life-styles.
My Journey
It's the journey...
2nd Annual Coaches Convention
Coaches are students too. They never stop learning. That’s the purpose of the Annual Coaches Convention. How can we be an even better...
Announcing Vietnam's Première Pickleball Training Center
Coming March 2025.
Major.
Looking forward to 2032.
1 in 10 Mission Update
1/10/2024 is the new beginning of 1 in 10 mission; 1 million players in 10 years in Vietnam. Mission positively still possible.
The FIRST international pickleball tournament in Vietnam!
Carmelina Beach Resort, the first dedicated pickleball resort in Vietnam, will be hosting the first and funnest international pickleball...
Coaches Convention | Saigon
The growth of pickleball in Vietnam can be summed up in one word: FAST. The Coaches Convention will bring together the very first...
A pickleball partner is hard to find.
Coollien Academy partners with New World Hotel Saigon District 1, the first 5-star hotel in Vietnam with 4 pickleball courts and a full...
New Life. New World.
Congratulations to New World Hotel in the heart of Saigon District 1 for being the first hotel in Vietnam with pickleball courts! And...
Vietnam's Court 1 Revived!
Vietnam's Court 1 revived in time for Coaches Camp in Phan Ri Cua on six-two-six/2023. It's been a fun journey (so far)...
1 in 10.
One million pickleball players in 10 years in Vietnam. That's the plan, Stan! I mean, Steve.
COURT 1, Vietnam.
Court 1 established in Phan Ri Cua is a small fishing village on the coast of Vietnam and is now a training center with certified coaches...
Game on!
New World Hotel rooftop pop-up pickleball court in Saigon. Where there's a will, there's a way.
My New World
Vietnam has a special place in my heart, even more so now that the GM agreed to sit through my pickleball sermon. As a result, I will be...
Saigon Pickleball
Making new pickleball friends in Saigon. This is only the beginning...
Pickleball in Vietnam or bust!
After building the first pickleball courts in my home town Phan Ri, Vietnam in 2018, I will be returning this Fall 2022 to take...
Go play pickleball, kids!
First self proclaimed pickleball kids camp in the Bay Area.
Zero-Zero-Two!
The start of something great. Auntie Lynn's mini tennis (I mean, pickleball) Summer camp. Let the dinking begin!
Someday
Someday, I will build this for the village. That's the dream.
Built it and they came!
Some badminton players stopped by to try out this odd looking new sport. Can you say pickleball? Women, children, old, and toddlers...
Only in Phan Ri, Vietnam!
THANK YOU to Anh Hung (in hard hat) for initiating and building these two only outdoor pickleball courts in all of Vietnam at the Village...
Suong (Loan) Truong is #1!
Thanh Truong Academy accepts its first student registration. It just takes one.
Open Enrollment
Now accepting student applications for The Academy, starting with three subjects: English, Computers, Music. Open to all...who yearns...
Angel in Us
Nuf said. THANK YOU for your kindness Fairbrae Moms Yvonne and Kelly, my sisters and brothers, Diane, David, Tom, Lionel, and Teresa. ...
Cafe Sua Break
In Saigon, taking a cafe sua (coffee) break away from the village. It has been a challenging couple of weeks taking care of my brother. ...
Day 6: Let the games begin!
Group and private lessons to anyone with a paddle.
Day 5: Teaching the Teacher
The first student graduates from dinking and becomes a teacher.
Day 4: Learning to Dink
The first 4 pickleball pupils learning to dink.
Day 3: The First Pickleball Court in Vietnam!
The first self-proclaimed pickleball court is in Phan Ri Cua, Vietnam (2018). Join the Vietnam Pickleball Club and come train and play...
Day 2: Cleanup
Neighborhood kids heard the sound of the pickleball came and helped cleaned the warehouse. Who needs a dolly?
Day 1: Unlocking an Abandoned Warehouse
Turning my brother's Thanh Trương Company into Trường ("School") Thanh Academy and Sports Club.
Cảm Ơn!
In March of 2018, I packed up some donated pickleball paddles & balls, a box of shoes, and carried on the plane a pickleball net and...
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