For all of its problems, some unique to Hanoi and others common to big cities, there is one bright spot, green, to be precise. Someone in the city's Department of City Planning and Architecture made the decision to begin planting the median strips with all manner of plants and trees. The slogan xanh, sạch, đẹp … Continue reading Hanoi Becomes Greener
Commentary
US Thanksgiving as a Celebration & a National Day of Mourning
Wamsutta Frank James by statue of Massasoit, in Plymouth, MA on the National Day of Mourning in the 1970s. (Courtesy of guest) Yes, it can be both. I like what Kisha James said in this WBUR interview. She's a Wellesley College senior, enrolled Aquinnah Wampanoag/Oglala Lakota, and granddaughter of Wamsutta (Frank B.) James (1923-2001), who … Continue reading US Thanksgiving as a Celebration & a National Day of Mourning
“International recruitment – The US eagle could soar again”
Photo: iStock I was intrigued by the title of this article, hoping it broke new ground. It didn't. The author trotted out the same tired old arguments in support of international students, including economic and political. These are some of the same arguments that activist international students have criticized because they are viewed primarily as … Continue reading “International recruitment – The US eagle could soar again”
“Turning an eagle eye on Vietnam’s attraction for the ‘eagles'”
Garment workers at a factory in the southern Long An Province, February 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. It's rare and refreshing to see something so honest in print. It's a sensitive issue but also an important one. When talking about foreign direct investment (FDI) in Viet Nam or wherever, the human element, which should always … Continue reading “Turning an eagle eye on Vietnam’s attraction for the ‘eagles'”
More Economic Signs of the COVID-19 Time
As seen on a recent evening in downtown HCMC (Saigon): buildings for rent and sale. The Vietnamese government recently reported that the country could lose $23 billion in tourism revenue this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, or about 75% of last year’s industry revenue. Viet Nam suspended the entry of all foreigners from 22 … Continue reading More Economic Signs of the COVID-19 Time
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
Since I've had the pleasure and privilege of living in Viet Nam for 15 years, I've seen a lot of changes throughout the country - for better and for worse. Above is a photo of a Brodard restaurant, tea house, and bakery located on Đồng Khởi St. in downtown HCMC (Saigon). Brodard is a company … Continue reading A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
A Sweet Sight for Tired Eyes
After the usual two-hour flight from Hanoi to HCMC, arriving at 12:30 a.m. Sunday morning, I had a good feeling when I turned on my phone and did a quick search for "US election". What I saw in English and Vietnamese was the icing on the cake of what had been a good day with … Continue reading A Sweet Sight for Tired Eyes
The US presidential election as a reflection of two Americas
People watch fireworks after media announced that Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Joe Biden has won the 2020 U.S. presidential election, in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., November 7, 2020. Photo by Reuters/Mark Makela. I wrote this article - with pleasure - at the request of VNExpress, a top 10 media outlet in Viet Nam. (Looking forward to … Continue reading The US presidential election as a reflection of two Americas
Cold as ICE
As seen on LinkedIn. IMO, people should also beware of real ICE officers, especially under the current (and outgoing?) administration. Follow this link to read about some ICE and border patrol abuses. Click on the image to download the PDF entitled BEWARE OF ICE IMPOSTERS - People Representing Themselves as US Immigration and Customs Enforcement … Continue reading Cold as ICE
The Epic Battle Between Biden & Trump!
This drawing is by Phạm Ngọc Thái Linh, a Vietnamese artist currently studying in the US. Here's his Instagram account. Enjoy! Shalom (שלום), MAA
