An Excerpt from “Then The Americans Came”

Then The Americans Came: Voices from Vietnam is a 1994 book written by Martha Hess that consists of over 100 interviews conducted by the author in Viet Nam during 1990-91 involving atrocities committed by US forces above and below the 17th parallel. The eyewitness report below is about Khâm Thiên Street in the Đống Đa … Continue reading An Excerpt from “Then The Americans Came”

Capstone Vietnam (Hanoi) & Lê Quý Đôn: Honor by Association

Photo courtesy of the Le Quy Don High School in HCMC It’s fitting that the Hanoi office of Capstone, one of Viet Nam’s premier educational consulting companies, is located at 2 Lê Quý Đôn Street in the Hai Bà Trưng District of Hanoi. There are many streets, schools, and even a university named after him … Continue reading Capstone Vietnam (Hanoi) & Lê Quý Đôn: Honor by Association

Miracles in Our Midst: It’s Giant Crape Myrtle Time!

Looking down on the trees in question. Photo taken on 6 May 2021 by MAA. I have felt a connection to trees and plants, a reverence for all living beings, truth be told, since my first memories. I am also prone to making a note of everything in my surroundings, ranging from the good and … Continue reading Miracles in Our Midst: It’s Giant Crape Myrtle Time!

VinUniversity as the Crown Jewel of Vinhomes Ocean Park

This is an ad for Vinhomes Ocean Park, a new development on the outskirts of Hanoi. (0% interest until 30 March 2022; 35-year mortgage!) Note that VinUniversity is featured as the centerpiece of this new community, an example of doing well (profit) and doing good (community service). This has played out pretty much as I … Continue reading VinUniversity as the Crown Jewel of Vinhomes Ocean Park

"Hanoi’s Formula One track nears finish line"

Photo courtesy of VNExpress International According to Chung (Nguyen Duc Chung, chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee), the event is a further demonstration of Vietnam’s ability, as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, to host events on a global scale and attract tourism to the country.  I'm not a big fan of … Continue reading "Hanoi’s Formula One track nears finish line"

Air quality app under ‘coordinated attack’ in Vietnam amid heavy Hanoi smog

Sometimes, the truth hurts but it's also useful in solving problems, both individual and societal.  You know the expression, "The first step in solving a problem is recognizing there is one."  Here are two key paragraphs from this 7 October Reuters piece about Hanoi's recent and cyclical air pollution problem and some misguided attempts to … Continue reading Air quality app under ‘coordinated attack’ in Vietnam amid heavy Hanoi smog