Author: Mark A. Ashwill

The Battle of the Coffee Chains in Viet Nam

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , , , , , ,

Inside a Phuc Long tea and coffee outlet in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Tuan Tu. In this November 2019 blog post My Starbucks Story: Made in Viet Nam I told the story about how I reached out to Starbucks in 2005-06 to offer some unsolicited (and free!) advice about entering the Viet Nam market. Fast forward … Continue reading The Battle of the Coffee Chains in Viet Nam

“Learning English at school, a mandatory chore that leads nowhere”

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High-school seniors listen as an inspector informs them with regulations before taking a test of the national high school graduation exam at a school in HCMC, August 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. An excellent article about the status of English instruction in Viet Nam in which I'm quoted. Here's my 8.9.20 article about this issue: … Continue reading “Learning English at school, a mandatory chore that leads nowhere”

Balancing Solidarity & Individualism in the COVID-19 Era and Beyond: a View from Vietnam

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Image courtesy of Zing By contrast, Vietnam is well-positioned with a younger generation that is more individualistic than that of its parents because of their country’s integration into the global community, the Internet, and the fact that they are growing up in a time of peace with no (physical) external enemies, yet still possesses a … Continue reading Balancing Solidarity & Individualism in the COVID-19 Era and Beyond: a View from Vietnam

Happy 11th Anniversary, Capstone Vietnam!

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11 years ago today was the start of something special. Here are links to my 11th anniversary messages in English and Vietnamese. Capstone After 11 Years: Still Reaching New Heights! Capstone sau 11 năm thành lập: Chúng tôi vẫn tiếp tục cùng nhau vươn tới những tầm cao mới! Shalom (שלום), MAA (Managing Director & Co-Founder, … Continue reading Happy 11th Anniversary, Capstone Vietnam!

9-11: The Day the Chickens Came Home to Roost

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Photo by MAA (2019) I was sitting at my desk, cup of coffee in hand, when I heard the news and watched it on CNN. Some of my memories include the crisp late summer weather punctuated by a deep blue sky, the messages of concern from colleagues around the world that arrived in my inbox, … Continue reading 9-11: The Day the Chickens Came Home to Roost

ĐOÀN KẾT VÀ TRÁI ĐẮNG CỦA CHỦ NGHĨA CÁ NHÂN

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Image courtesy of Zing News Hành động phản đối đeo khẩu trang vô cùng phi lý cho thấy chủ nghĩa cá nhân siêu đẳng đang ngự trị ở Mỹ, nơi các quyền cá nhân thường được đề cao hơn quyền lợi của cộng đồng. Một đồng nghiệp Việt Nam gần đây hỏi tôi về vấn … Continue reading ĐOÀN KẾT VÀ TRÁI ĐẮNG CỦA CHỦ NGHĨA CÁ NHÂN

New Digital Marketing Packages for Educational Institutions: Something for Everyone

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In a widely read and shared 14 March 2020 article in University World News article entitled Vietnam: An outlier in the coronavirus epidemic and HE?, I noted that this an especially good time to make lemonade out of lemons by building or expanding institutions' online presence in Viet Nam through digital marketing. I wrote a follow-up … Continue reading New Digital Marketing Packages for Educational Institutions: Something for Everyone

Resetting the Debate About English Instruction in Viet Nam

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My latest essay for VNExpress International about the subpar results of the August national high school graduation exam for English. Think of it as a reality check on what is generally a favorable situation in comparative perspective. One of my key suggestions is that foreign language study be made optional at the K-12 level. An … Continue reading Resetting the Debate About English Instruction in Viet Nam