Agent Orange, Exposed: How U.S. Chemical Warfare in Vietnam Unleashed a Slow-Moving Disaster

More than 10 years of U.S. chemical warfare in Vietnam exposed an estimated 2.1 to 4.8 million Vietnamese people to Agent Orange. More than 40 years on, the impact on their health has been staggering. Yes, this article is from 2017 but is still making the rounds and the damage wrought by this war legacy … Continue reading Agent Orange, Exposed: How U.S. Chemical Warfare in Vietnam Unleashed a Slow-Moving Disaster

Is Cost Really the Key Factor in the Decline of New Int’l Enrollments in the US?

After the latest Open Doors report was released, Allan E. Goodman, president & CEO of the Institute of International Education (IIE), did his level best to spin the statistics by pointing to cost as the overriding factor in the decline of new international enrollments rather than the impact of the Trump Effect.   While the total … Continue reading Is Cost Really the Key Factor in the Decline of New Int’l Enrollments in the US?

Keep Viet Nam Beautiful! Gìn giữ Việt Nam tươi đẹp!

Vietnam is the fourth-largest contributor to marine plastic pollution globally, a 2015 study by the University of Georgia showed. I took the above photo during a recent trip to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994 and one of the natural wonders of the world.  While the water is often described as … Continue reading Keep Viet Nam Beautiful! Gìn giữ Việt Nam tươi đẹp!

Education investment catching attention

Here's an informative article from the September 2019 issue of Vietnam Economic Times about the growth of private education in Viet Nam.  The introductory paragraph should whet your appetite for more, assuming you have at least a casual interest in this topic. The International School @ ParkCity Hanoi (ISPH) will officially welcome hundreds of students to study … Continue reading Education investment catching attention

Reflections on the passing of General Giap and the end of an era

Hot off the digital press, a retrospective view of the passing of the legendary Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap, who died six years ago this Friday at the age of 102 in Hanoi.  Click on the image to read the article in its entirety.   Here are two photos that will appear in the forthcoming Vietnamese … Continue reading Reflections on the passing of General Giap and the end of an era

Whose Bread I Eat, His Song I Sing: An International Education Nonprofit and a Devil’s Bargain

2019 is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Institute of International Education (IIE), a well-known US-based private nonprofit that focuses on international student exchange and aid, foreign affairs, and international peace and security. IIE refers to itself as “a world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas.” While IIE has numerous … Continue reading Whose Bread I Eat, His Song I Sing: An International Education Nonprofit and a Devil’s Bargain

Motivations for Studying Abroad and Immigration Intentions: The Case of Vietnamese Students

Here's a perfect example of serendipity.  I noticed that someone had visited my blog from this referrer:  Motivations for Studying Abroad and Immigration Intentions The Case of Vietnamese Students, Journal of International Students.  Why?  Because the author cited this 2018 blog post:  Viet Nam Ranks 5th in International Enrollment in 3 Countries.   It was written by … Continue reading Motivations for Studying Abroad and Immigration Intentions: The Case of Vietnamese Students

Patriotism: “The tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime”

Vietnam’s National Day is a fitting time to take stock of what this country and its people have accomplished but also to think about what each and every citizen can do to meet unmet needs and challenges and make Vietnam an even better place to live, including environmental awareness and action, heightened civility on the … Continue reading Patriotism: “The tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime”

How Van Gogh Found His Purpose: Heartfelt Letters to His Brother on How Relationships Refine Us

Below is a reprint from Brain Pickings, a website that describes itself as An inventory of cross-disciplinary interestingness, spanning art, science, design, history, philosophy, and more.  This particular essay is from the BP archives, what Maria Popova, its creator, refers to as "something worth resurfacing and resavoring as timeless nourishment for heart, mind, and spirit."   I … Continue reading How Van Gogh Found His Purpose: Heartfelt Letters to His Brother on How Relationships Refine Us

Public Debt as Temporary Burden & Long-Term Capital Investment

Viet Nam's infrastructure, including its roads, bridges, and airports, plays a major role in the country's continued economic development.  Japan - through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is the top ODA (Overseas Development Assistance) sponsor to Viet Nam.  ODA is a key part of its visionary foreign policy for Viet Nam in particular and … Continue reading Public Debt as Temporary Burden & Long-Term Capital Investment