Portrait painted by the late painter Thái-Tuấn.

"Fly, fly do not fear

Don't waste a breath, don't shed a tear

Your heart is pure, your soul is free

Be on your way, don't wait for me

Above the universe you'll climb

Go beyond the hands of time

The moon will rise, the sun will set

But I won't forget.

Fly, fly little wing

Fly where only angels sing

Fly away, the time is right

Go now, find the light."

(from the song Fly by J.-J. Goldman, P. Gladston, R. Romanelli)

Portrait of Cô Vĩnh taken by Cậu Hồng.

"Moreover her voice upon their voices crossed

Had now persisted in the woods so long

That probably it never would be lost.

Never again would birds' song be the same.

And to do that to birds was why she came,"

(from Never again would birds' song be the same by Robert Frost)

Portrait of Cô Vĩnh taken by Cậu Hồng.

in her twenties in Hanoi

Celebrating her 99th birthday with her children, sons-in-law, daughter-in-law and nieces.

Celebrating her 99th birthday with nine of her 11 grandchildren, three granddaughters-in-law and grand niece.

With eldest daughter Bích-Hà (gone too soon) and son Quang-Hân, in Hanoi.

With son Quang-Hân in Hanoi.

Cậu Hồng and Cô Vĩnh in their mid-thirties with sons Quang-Hân and Trọng Hiền, in Saigon.

With Quang-Hân,Trọng Hiền and Mai-Châu, in Saigon.

Posing for Sports Illustrated with son Trọng Hiền

On vacation in Nha Trang with (from right to left, top to bottom) nieces Thanh-Phương and Thanh-Hẳng, daughter Mai-Uyển. nannies Thà and Út, sons Quang-Hân and Trọng Hiền and daughter Mai-Châu.

With daughters Mai-Châu, Mai-Uyển, stepdaughter Hồng-Ngọc and stepson Hồng-Phúc in 1976.

The groom's parents with their in-laws Mr. and Mrs Nguyễn đắc Lai at Quang-Hân and Diệu-Trinh's wedding

The bride's parents at Mai-Uyển and Vinh's wedding.

The bride's parents and their in-laws, the late Mr. and Mrs. Nguyễn Thành Niệm at Mai-Châu and Liêm's wedding

With daughter Mai-Uyển and granddaughters Hồng-đan and Hồng-Anh.

The grandparents with their grandson Hoàng-Nam, granddaughters Hồng-Giang and Mai-Hân and daughter-in-law Diệu-Trinh.

With her youngest grandson Hồng-Cơ.

Cúng Mụ for granddaughter Mai-Hân on her first birthday.

Cúng Mụ for the sleepy grandson Chương on his first birthday.

The happy and newly promoted grandparents with first granddaughter Mai-Khôi and first grandson Hoàng-Kim.

With grandchildren Hồng-An, Hồng-Giang, Hồng-Lĩnh.

With Mai-Uyển, Vinh, Hoàng-Kim, Hồng-đan, Hoàng-Nam, Hồng-Anh.

With daughter Mai-Uyển, grandson Hoàng-Kim and granddaughter-in-law Jessica.

Ông Bà Ngoại with Mai-Chau and grandchildren

With daughter Mai-Chau

Cậu Hồng & Cô Vĩnh, in their seventies, in Montreal

Vacationing with her children in Long Hai.

Cậu Hồng & Cô Vĩnh, in their late forties, in Saigon

As a new mother with her first daughter, Bich-Ha, gone too soon.

As a young woman in her family home.

As the youngest and only girl in the family, she was named "Vĩnh", more typically a boy's name, to ensure a long life.

Dr. & Mrs. Nguyen Tan-Hong at their wedding in 1946