A caring couple from Abingdon took a trip to the other side of the world to see the charity work they help fund.

Alan and Marie-Claire Parker travelled to Vietnam where they met 10-year-old Tran who they sponsor through the international children's charity Plan.

Mr and Mrs Parker, from Pavlova Close, were taken to see improvements at the local school and told of health projects including bird flu awareness, funded by Plan.

They were collected by Plan staff and driven through the countryside to Tran's village close to the capital, Hanoi.

Mr Parker, 44, an engineer, said: "The roads were very rough so we had to drive slowly which meant we got to see people on the way in small villages and out working in their fields.

"It made the trip very interesting to see people doing everyday things and going about their business."

Mrs Parker, 35, who writes computer software package for the artificial limb company Opcare, said as soon as they got out of the car Tran's mother came up and hugged her.

She said: "She wouldn't let go. Tran was quite shy but got less shy as time went on.

"He was very happy to see us. He embraced me also and walked hand-in-hand with me."

Tran's family and their guests sat down for a traditional Vietnamese meal of rice, pork, chicken, tofu, soy cake, soup, peanuts, and bananas.

There was also rice wine, which was "very strong" according to Mr Parker.

Over dinner they talked to Tran about his studies, how he is good at gymnastics and how he has to ride his bike for forty-five minutes to get to school every day.

Tran's family told of their lives as subsistence farmers, growing bananas, peanuts and Vietnamese cabbage.

Mr and Mrs Parker presented their hosts with gifts that included crayons, T-shirts, small footballs and an England football shirt for Tran.

The Abingdon couple visited some of the projects being run by Plan. Pupils were able to practise their English on their visitors.

Mrs Parker said: "The most memorable part of the trip was initially meeting Tran and his family. It was rewarding to sit and have a meal and to see the family together and what they grow.

"We were just amazed at how rural and rustic it was, very different to our lifestyle."