This is a slightly updated Vietnamese version of View From Vietnam: COVID-19 Reminds the World That Trump Has No Clothes (17.4.20). Emperor Trump has no clothes (David Horsey/LA Times) Nhân vật chính trong câu chuyện cổ tích nổi tiếng của nhà văn người Đan Mạch thế kỷ 19, Hans Christian Andersen, có rất nhiều điểm … Continue reading Góc Nhìn Từ Việt Nam: COVID – 19 Nhắc nhở Thế giới rằng Trump chỉ là “Hoàng đế Cởi truồng”
Author: Mark A. Ashwill
COVID-19 Pandemic As Advertising Opportunity
As part of my ongoing ethnographic research, I was intrigued by this commercial on VTV3. There are basically four places where you can buy meat and other products in Viet Nam: 1) an open market; 2) a private supplier; 3) a supermarket; and 4) a convenience store. This was the first time I had seen … Continue reading COVID-19 Pandemic As Advertising Opportunity
Criticism of the US as Anti-American?
I rarely respond to Facebook or LinkedIn comments. My view is that whatever I have to say of substance I'll say in a blog post, essay, or interview. There are times, however, when I'm willing to make an exception. This comment by "TS" was one of them. It was in response to an Atlantic article … Continue reading Criticism of the US as Anti-American?
The Dangers of Armchair Journalism, US-Style
There hasn't been enough news in countries like the US about how well Viet Nam is coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, so I was pleased to see this short NPR report on 16 April entitled In Vietnam, There Have Been Fewer Than 300 COVID-19 Cases And No Deaths. Here's Why by veteran journalist Michael Sullivan. … Continue reading The Dangers of Armchair Journalism, US-Style
View From Vietnam: COVID-19 Reminds the World That Trump Has No Clothes
Emperor Trump has no clothes (David Horsey/LA Times) Here's my latest essay for CounterPunch about Trump and COVID-19. As I mention in passing, The coronavirus lays bare on an almost daily basis the litany of faults and weaknesses of Donald Trump and the country he was elected to lead. I focus on the former; it's … Continue reading View From Vietnam: COVID-19 Reminds the World That Trump Has No Clothes
Anatomy of a perfect storm for international recruitment
Here's my latest essay for University World News. I discuss Viet Nam's extraordinary progress to date, the impact of COVID-19 on the economy and education industry, healthcare access abroad concerns, anti-Asian racism, online instruction, the importance of showing students and parents "the love," and "recruitment strategy reset" in which I list six (6) points to … Continue reading Anatomy of a perfect storm for international recruitment
Secret (Education) Agents' Cover Blown!
Courtesy of Robert Canfield, Dribble Spying in the Education Industry: Room for Improvement? Maybe some company staff have more time on their hands because of the COVID-19 pandemic and its decidedly adverse impact on the economy, including the education industry. Or maybe they simply don't have enough to do. Whatever the reason, I've seen an … Continue reading Secret (Education) Agents' Cover Blown!
Viet Nam & the USA in the Time of COVID-19: A Study in Contrasts
These sketches are by Hanoi-based artist, George Burchett. iPad art, 5.4.20, © 2020 As of this writing, Viet Nam has 245 confirmed cases, 95 recovered, and 0 deaths, while the US had 336,906 confirmed cases, 17,977 recovered, and 9,624 deaths, as of yesterday. Stay Strong, Viet Nam! MAGA!
Return to the US? From the Food Warmer Into the Fire
The US Embassy in Hanoi recently started sending me and other US expats in Viet Nam whose email addresses happen to be on file daily updates with the subject line: Health and Travel Alert. I was struck by this "reminder" in the 3 April edition: On March 31, U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo … Continue reading Return to the US? From the Food Warmer Into the Fire
Girl POWer in the Viet Nam of 2020
A TV commercial for Dutch Lady milk. Truth be told, this put a smile on my face. Art often reflects life and so does advertising, in some cases. How companies choose to sell their services and products says a lot about what they believe will resonate with the public in general and their target clientele … Continue reading Girl POWer in the Viet Nam of 2020
An International Educator in Vietnam 
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