To the tourists, Son La is a beautiful, alluring mountainous site situated deep in the primeval forest of Northeast corner of North Vietnam. To the Catholic Church, Son La is a place where faith has been constantly put to test by the government whose determination to abolish Christian faith in the heart and mind of the locals always seems to be at highest level compared to the rest of the country. Yet they are unable to achieve their goal despite all effort to separate Catholic faithful from their God, thanks to the un-yielding belief of the mountaineers whose lives is a true story of good conquering evil.

Song Mon, a H’mong village of Nà Ớt commune in Mai Sơn rural district 40km from Son La, is a typical example.

Our guide told us back then his village used to be all Catholic. In recent years, there was a deliberate attempt made by the communist government to bring back the pagan rituals which had been deeply rooted in their culture, their daily activities until being converted to Catholicism. The conversion had changed their lives around so drastically in terms of how to live a life free of depraved customs and devil worshiping, how to integrate into a more civil and modern live of main stream Vietnamese culture. Just when good things started to emerge from their life changing conversion, the altar for the devil, remnant of the old, savage life the Christian missionaries worked so hard to help them get rid of was brought back to replace the altar for God by the very government who is now in total control of their lives including their spiritual activities. However out of 24 households which were re-introduced to the old way of devil worshiping, there are at least two families who bravely refused to give up on their faith in God against all odd. These two families ironically are the poorest ones in the village. Their poverty came as a result of the government's discriminating against their loyalty to the Catholic faith. They have been cut off from economical aids, and harassed against by Mai Son's government officials and the police. They are not permitted to move around, nor allowed to receive visitors without local police supervision or permission. Their homes stood out from the rest of the villagers’ for their emptiness and poverty. However, complaints were never heard coming from these faithful. Until today, they remain poor but proud Catholics.

When asked by VietCatholic's reporters what motive has kept their faith alive and well, he responded:""Why should we give up practicing faith, which is a good thing?"

His logical thinking, his sincere words have spoken their volume. People like him are truly God's witness in this day and age, when they chose to keep God the center of their lives and put materials, even their safety second. And temptation though powerful cannot extinguish the desire, the thirst for God, even under extreme economic hardship and scrutinized personal freedom.