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”
Commentary
Patriotism: The tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime
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”
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”
US Expat Whines About the 4th Wave of COVID-19 in Danang
I expected to be enlightened by a thoughtful article about the impact of the latest wave of COVID-19 on Danang in the August 2021 issue of Mekong Review (Asian Literature). Instead, it was another entitled expat complaining about the inconveniences of a lockdown designed to prevent the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. Here … Continue reading US Expat Whines About the 4th Wave of COVID-19 in Danang
Ecopark & Higher Education Investment
An idyllic scene near the Ecopark campus of British University Vietnam (BUV) Photos by MAA Ecopark is an urban township development on the outskirts of Hanoi on the other side of the Red River in Hung Yen Province. By the time it's finished, it will cover 500 hectares (1236 acres) with investment capital of over … Continue reading Ecopark & Higher Education Investment
The Origins of Viet Nam’s Stock Market
Michael Coghlan from Adelaide, Australia - Hanoi Stock Exchange The HSE is located across the street from the ironic Opera House and right around the corner from my old office. Sometimes, I feel a little like Forrest Gump. Maybe it's because I've been around so long. In another incarnation, I helped organize two study tour programs for Vietnamese … Continue reading The Origins of Viet Nam’s Stock Market
Dishonor by Association: A Red, White, and Blue Object Lesson
Those who choose to side with the victims and tormented over the victimizers and the tormentors are often the target of scorching criticism from those who accept and support the system as is, be they people of power, or the uncaring legion of the like-minded. This essay is about a former US ambassador to Viet … Continue reading Dishonor by Association: A Red, White, and Blue Object Lesson
Student Visa Update from Viet Nam: June 2021
This post, written for US colleagues who recruit in Viet Nam, is short and sweet. June is the second month of student visa "high season" in Viet Nam and other countries. I checked the Monthly Nonimmigrant Visa Issuances Data, courtesy of the US State Department, and here's what I found. The US Embassy (Hanoi) and … Continue reading Student Visa Update from Viet Nam: June 2021
The price of conscience: Drone warfare whistleblower gets 45 months in prison
Pakistani tribesmen hold up a placard of alleged drone strike victims during a protest in Islamabad on February 25, 2012, against the US drone attacks in the Pakistani tribal region. The protesters demanded an immediate end to drone attacks and compensation for those who lost relatives or property, as well as condemning this week's burning … Continue reading The price of conscience: Drone warfare whistleblower gets 45 months in prison
Vietnam needs to get wise about being healthy and wealthy
West Lake, Hanoi (Photo by MAA) A brilliant and alarming article! Based on my experiences in Việt Nam, I couldn't agree more. It is the most urgent and pressing task for all citizen and politicians to act immediately beside fighting the pandemic. -Heinrich Graumann (Facebook post) This is my latest article for VNExpress International about … Continue reading Vietnam needs to get wise about being healthy and wealthy
An International Educator in Vietnam 
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