viet nam

The Latest Chapter in Vietnam’s Valiant Battle Against the Delta Variant

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , , , , , ,

Here's my latest essay for CounterPunch. Reading time: ~17 minutes. The hectic, sun-drenched streets of the capital have fallen silentIn the middle of the dayThe empty parks surrounded by yellow ribbons that exclaim,Keep out! Shuttered stores and barricaded neighborhoodsLivelihoods diminished; plans put on hold; dreams deferredMasked people shuffling around like otherworldly figuresWaiting patiently, resolutely, and … Continue reading The Latest Chapter in Vietnam’s Valiant Battle Against the Delta Variant

Of Spirits, Martyrs & Legends: the Magic & Sorrow of Vietnam’s Côn Sơn Island

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , , , , , ,

Here's my latest essay for CounterPunch. The tomb of Võ Thị Sáu A short up-and-down overwater flight from Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport and, voilà, you’ve arrived. While your destination is just off the coast of southern Vietnam, it may as well be another world. In less than an hour, you are transported from the … Continue reading Of Spirits, Martyrs & Legends: the Magic & Sorrow of Vietnam’s Côn Sơn Island

Covid-19 silver lining: overseas study opportunities abound for Vietnamese students

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , , , , ,

Here's my latest essay for VNExpress International. Looking forward to seeing the Vietnamese version for my target audience. Educational institutions in key host countries, most of which bore the brunt of Covid's fury last year, are reopening their doors to international students, including those from Vietnam. One silver lining of Covid-19 and its impact on … Continue reading Covid-19 silver lining: overseas study opportunities abound for Vietnamese students

Got the COVID Blues (Lord, Have Mercy on Me)

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , ,

The fourth wave of COVID-19 in Viet Nam "inspired" me to write the lyrics for a song called...wait for it!... Got the COVID Blues. Think uptempo, piano, saxophone and/or electric guitar, bass, and piano. Can you feel the beat? I'm workin' from home in my gilded cageDreamin' of travel in the post-COVID ageCoronavirus on the … Continue reading Got the COVID Blues (Lord, Have Mercy on Me)

Constructive Criticism Rooted in Respect: A View from Vietnam

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , ,

Here's my latest essay for CounterPunch. If you like this excerpt, follow this link to read the article in its entirety! I recently penned an essay about the scourge of environmental pollution in Viet Nam that was published by a major media outlet. Shortly after posting the article on LinkedIn, Mr. Pierre, a Frenchman living in Viet … Continue reading Constructive Criticism Rooted in Respect: A View from Vietnam

Happy Birthday, Capstone Vietnam! Chúc mừng sinh nhật, Capstone Việt Nam!

Mark A. Ashwill Announcement , , , , , ,

Below is the English version of my message. The Vietnamese version is here: Capstone Sau 12 Năm Phát Triển: Vẫn Hướng Tới Những Tầm Cao Mới. Warm greetings from Capstone Vietnam! On Thursday, 16 September, we celebrate the latest milestone in Capstone’s distinguished and eventful history. It was the day in 2009 when a kernel … Continue reading Happy Birthday, Capstone Vietnam! Chúc mừng sinh nhật, Capstone Việt Nam!

Patriotism: The tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , , ,

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

The Origins of Viet Nam’s Stock Market

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , , , ,

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

Student Visa Update from Viet Nam: June 2021

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Updates , , , ,

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