Be Beautiful, Be Yourself

A Three-Day Mindfulness Retreat
with Anh-Huong & Thu Nguyen, and the MPCF Community

December 12-15, 2025
The Great Barn at Claymont Court Retreat Center
Charles Town, WV

  Retreat is FULL
 New registrations will be added to the waiting list

The Retreat is a Fundraising Event to Support Flood Relief Efforts in Vietnam

• Retreat Description • Teachers • Retreat Cost • Retreat Registration

• Flu & Covid-19 Consideration • Retreat Schedule • Claymont Court Location

Retreat Description

To meditate is to create an opportunity to know oneself. Only when we truly know ourselves can we free ourselves from our suffering. Today, many people spend much of their time on electronic devices. They barely have time to look into each other’s eyes—how, then, can they find time to look within?

During this retreat, we ask everyone to take a break from using their electronic devices and social media so we can fully enjoy our time together and connect with the refreshing, healing elements within and around us.

As a community, we will practice mindful breathing, sitting, eating, movement, and walking. The collective energy of mindfulness—together with the trees, the birds, and the sunshine—will help us embrace our thoughts and feelings as they arise, allowing us to remain solid and calm. With continued practice, we will learn to touch the deep pain within us—the fear, anger, and despair—with mindfulness and tenderness. Through this process, we can be healed, transformed, and become whole and beautiful.

The retreat's atmosphere is one of peace and quiet joy.

Teachers

Anh-Huong Nguyen and Thu Nguyen have practiced the art of mindful living with the late Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh for more than 30 years. They have led mindfulness retreats in the United States since 1988 and in 1992 were among the first students to be ordained as Dharma teachers by Thich Nhat Hanh. Anh-Huong is the author of Opening the  Heart of Compassion, a guided meditation CD and co-author of Walking Meditation, a multimedia manual on mindful walking. They are principal teachers at the Mindfulness Practice Center of Fairfax (www.mpcf.org).

Cost

The cost of the retreat, which includes meals and overnight accommodations is $500 per person. Participants must be 13 years of age or older. A fifty percent deposit ($250) is required to reserve a place. If a cancellation is made before December 5, 2025, all but $50 of the deposit will be refunded. The balance is due upon arrival at the retreat.

Registration

To register:
- Complete the registration form via this link: Registration Form
- For your partial deposit or full payment, make a check payable to: CRPCV (or Committee for the Relief of Poor Children in Vietnam),
- Mail the check to:
    Thu Nguyen
    10413 Adel Road
    Oakton, VA 22124

As soon as we receive your payment, we will email you a confirmation along with all the retreat details.

For questions, please send an email to: info@mpcf.org

Flu & Covid Consideration

In consideration of everyone’s health—especially those who are immunocompromised—we kindly ask all retreat participants to observe the following guidelines:

  • Please take a Covid test on the day you plan to travel to Claymont. Bring an extra test with you so you can self-test at any point during the retreat if needed.
  • Masks are not required, but you are welcome to wear one at any time.
  • If you test positive or feel unwell at the last minute, please stay home. We will give you a partial refund.

Retreat Schedule

  • Friday:
    • 4:30 pm: Registration
    • 6:00 pm: Dinner
    • 7:15 pm: Orientation
  • Saturday:
    • Morning: Guided sitting meditation, Breakfast, Outdoor walking meditation, Dharma talk.
    • Afternoon: Lunch, Total body relaxation, QiGong, Tea meditation, Group sharing.
    • Evening: Dinner, Group sharing, Sitting meditation.
  • Sunday:
    • Morning: Guided sitting meditation, Breakfast, Outdoor walking meditation, Q&A session.
    • Afternoon: Lunch, Total body relaxation, QiGong, Outdoor walking meditation, Group sharing.
    • Evening: Dinner, Group sharing, Sitting meditation.
  • Monday:
    • Morning: Guided sitting meditation, Breakfast, Outdoor walking meditation, Dharma talk.
    • Afternoon: Lunch - Closing circle - 3pm: End of retreat.

Claymont Court

Claymont Court Retreat Center is located on 369 acres of forest and farmland in the Shenandoah Valley of West Virginia, less than 90 minutes by car from Washington, D.C., or Baltimore. The retreat will take place in The Great Barn.

Directions to Claymont Court.