viet nam

How the Vietnamese Use the Internet, Including Social Media

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , , , ,

Since most young Vietnamese, including those planning to study overseas, are online, one question to ask yourself is: how big is your digital footprint in Viet Nam? Here is my latest PIE News blog post.  It's about an important topic that I discussed during my E20 webinar last week and in my recent StudyUSA Higher … Continue reading How the Vietnamese Use the Internet, Including Social Media

Live from Viet Nam – An E20 Webinar!

Mark A. Ashwill Updates , , , ,

Last week, I had the opportunity to present on one of my favorite topics, Viet Nam, to a virtual audience of over 40 US colleagues, including those from higher and secondary education.   I'm grateful to Syed Jamal from Branta and Renait Stephens from Study in the USA, event co-sponsor, for inviting me and for … Continue reading Live from Viet Nam – An E20 Webinar!

Rhetorical Question: “Why don’t Viet Nam’s universities rank higher in Asia?”

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Updates , , ,

There is a tendency in Vietnam, with the media as an on- and offline amplifier, to engage in self-flagellation about education and other societal issues rather than looking carefully at the broader context and the, sometimes, hopeful reality. This results in journalists and many Vietnamese playing the ‘blame game’. The obvious targets here are the … Continue reading Rhetorical Question: “Why don’t Viet Nam’s universities rank higher in Asia?”

An Open Letter to the People of Viet Nam

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Letter , , , ,

The open letter below, an initiative of Veterans For Peace (VFP),  is further proof that the US has yet to overcome its participation in the American War in Viet Nam ("Vietnam War") in the spirit of Vergangenheitsbewältigung, a German term that means the "struggle to overcome the [negatives of the] past". VFP is "an international … Continue reading An Open Letter to the People of Viet Nam

Of Intercultural Incompetence & Chutzpah

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , ,

My wife and I recently had lunch at a restaurant in downtown Hanoi.  It was after the 12 noon rush and there was only one other guest where we chose to eat, a middle-aged white expat man who was eating, drinking, and reading a book.  So far, so good, right?  After a couple of very … Continue reading Of Intercultural Incompetence & Chutzpah

R.I.P. Michael Cull: A Life Well-Lived

Mark A. Ashwill Announcement , , , , ,

I received a very sad but not totally unexpected message last night from my friend, Chuck Searcy, informing me and many others that Mike had died at 8:50 EST (8:50 p.m. Viet Nam time) of pancreatic cancer, after slipping into a coma almost four hours earlier.  Here's what Chuck wrote, which best sums up the … Continue reading R.I.P. Michael Cull: A Life Well-Lived

Donald Trump & I Agree on Two Things

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Survey , , ,

As we ease into the Solar New Year and look ahead with great anticipation to the 2018 Lunar New Year, here are some upbeat thoughts about Donald Trump's November 2017 visit to Viet Nam.  Let's start the year off on a happy note! In the weeks leading up to President Trump's visit to Viet Nam … Continue reading Donald Trump & I Agree on Two Things

Viet Nam Ranks Among Top 10 Foreign Residential Property Buyers in the US

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Updates , , , ,

Yes, I know this is old news from the summer of 2017 but it's related to some other recent posts and perhaps not so old for some of you with an interest in these issues and trends.  It's also related to one of my favorite topics, young Vietnamese studying in the USA.  According to the 2017 … Continue reading Viet Nam Ranks Among Top 10 Foreign Residential Property Buyers in the US