Author: Mark A. Ashwill

Hà Nội in the Fourth Wave: A Heartfelt Wish & a Hopeful Prediction

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Hoàn Kiếm Lake in the heart of Hà Nội during the lockdown. My hopeful prediction came true! Earlier this week, the lockdown ended, barricades were removed, and people were out and about. Like flipping a switch, Hanoi was back in business! We've returned to the crazy traffic that is the old normal. This capital city … Continue reading Hà Nội in the Fourth Wave: A Heartfelt Wish & a Hopeful Prediction

The Lasting Legacy of Good Teachers

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John Glenn says his dad's favorite president to work with was John F. Kennedy. Here, Edmund Glenn (left) and President Kennedy share a laugh. Photo courtesy of John Glenn The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. -Mark Van Doren I thought I would take this opportunity to launch a series of posts … Continue reading The Lasting Legacy of Good Teachers

Happy Birthday, Capstone Vietnam! Chúc mừng sinh nhật, Capstone Việt Nam!

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Below is the English version of my message. The Vietnamese version is here: Capstone Sau 12 Năm Phát Triển: Vẫn Hướng Tới Những Tầm Cao Mới. Warm greetings from Capstone Vietnam! On Thursday, 16 September, we celebrate the latest milestone in Capstone’s distinguished and eventful history. It was the day in 2009 when a kernel … Continue reading Happy Birthday, Capstone Vietnam! Chúc mừng sinh nhật, Capstone Việt Nam!

Of Things That Go Bump in the Night & High-Priced Real Estate in Hanoi

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Note the mango tree to the right. Photos by MAA Once upon a time, there was an ugly old building in a prime location that had been left unoccupied for as long as anyone could remember. It’s a property that I’ve driven and walked by countless times. The architecture, heavy on concrete and light on … Continue reading Of Things That Go Bump in the Night & High-Priced Real Estate in Hanoi

Vinhomes Ocean Park (Re)Visited

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A glance through the VinUniversity main gate. (All photos by MAA.) This is the second in a trilogy of posts about various Vingroup projects. This one is a more detailed look at VinUniversity and the Vinhomes community in which it is embedded. (Here's a related post from 17.8.20.) Before the fourth wave of COVID-19 reared … Continue reading Vinhomes Ocean Park (Re)Visited

Vingroup Launches “the Region’s Leading ‘Sleepless City’ Model”

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This is the first in a trilogy of posts about a well-known company that many people have strong feelings at both ends of the spectrum. On a personal note, I do not have an ax to grind vis-à-vis Vingroup. I like some of their initiatives and products, including VinUniversity and electric motorbikes, cars, and buses. … Continue reading Vingroup Launches “the Region’s Leading ‘Sleepless City’ Model”

Patriotism: The tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime

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Reposting from two years ago on the occasion of Viet Nam's National Day (Ngày Quốc Khánh). Lòng yêu nước (1.9.19, VNExpress) "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." - Robert Frost (1874-1963). During my first trip to Vietnam in January 1996 … Continue reading Patriotism: The tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime

“Kamala Harris pays tribute to late John McCain in Hanoi”

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U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pays tribute to late Senator John McCain at the McCain Memorial at Hanoi's Truc Bach Lake, August 25, 2021. Photo by AFP Imagine if the deputy PM in Japan visited Pearl Harbor, then laid down flowers for all the Japanese pilots died in 1941. (Juliet Huang) I can't help feeling … Continue reading “Kamala Harris pays tribute to late John McCain in Hanoi”