viet nam

Mùa Đốt Rác Đã Đến

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , , , ,

Bài viết của Paul Olivier. TS Paul sống ở Đà Lạt. Bài viết tiếng Anh tại đây với hình ảnh. (This is a Vietnamese version of 'Tis the Season to Burn Trash.) Mùa khô đang đến mau chóng, và như chúng ta đã biết, đã đến lúc người Việt Nam bắt đầu thiêu huỷ rác. … Continue reading Mùa Đốt Rác Đã Đến

‘Tis the Season to Burn Trash

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

This is a guest essay written by Dr. Paul Olivier, a US expat who lives in Dalat, a major tourist destination that is known as the honeymoon capital of Viet Nam. The sad and infuriating stories he tells are common throughout Viet Nam. Too many people have a total disregard for the environment. Pollution is … Continue reading ‘Tis the Season to Burn Trash

The Final Frontier for the Tobacco Industry: The Other Half

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , , , ,

One of the dreams of the tobacco and alcoholic beverages industries is to persuade more young women to smoke and drink, following in the footsteps of their fathers and brothers. According to a 2015 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), 45.3% of men and 1.1% of women smoked. That's a lot of untapped con$umer potential. Six … Continue reading The Final Frontier for the Tobacco Industry: The Other Half

“When the consequences of conflicts last generations: Intergenerational mobility in Iraq and Vietnam”

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Reports, Research , , , ,

Vietnamese refugees living at the Songkhla refugee camp in Thailand. UN Photo/John Isaac. I'm a subscriber to the World Bank Blogs, which is how I came to learn of this research on intergenerational mobility in Iraq and Viet Nam in the wake of invasion, occupation, and war. Here are the first two paragraphs in the … Continue reading “When the consequences of conflicts last generations: Intergenerational mobility in Iraq and Vietnam”

Chinese Missile Base Near Viet Nam’s Border? (Say It Ain’t So!)

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

This story is being covered by the Vietnamese and English language media in Viet Nam. The only difference is that the Vietnamese reports I've seen don't include any satellite photos. This alleged Chinese surface-to-air missile base is just 20 km (12 miles) from the border. Below are two photos. The first is from the linked … Continue reading Chinese Missile Base Near Viet Nam’s Border? (Say It Ain’t So!)

Vietnamese Student Reaction to US Capitol Violence

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

Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they push barricades to storm the US Capitol on January 6. (Photo courtesy of CNN) We kept a close eye on the reaction of young people here to recent events in the US interregnum, including the US Capitol insurrection and violence on 6 January, all of … Continue reading Vietnamese Student Reaction to US Capitol Violence

The Old Amidst the New

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , , , , ,

Photos by MAA I like these businesses that have been around since before the Đổi Mới (renovation) economic reforms kicked in, which ushered in what's officially known as a socialist-oriented market economy and one of the great success stories in the developing world. This one, located down the street from Capstone's Hanoi office, is a … Continue reading The Old Amidst the New

Christmas in Viet Nam

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , , , ,

St. Joseph's Cathedral, Hanoi. Photo by MAA Having lived in Viet Nam for over 15 years, I can say with absolute certainty that I enjoy Christmas here more than in the US. Even though most Vietnamese are not Christian, it is still a special and even magical time. You see children (and adults!) posing for photos … Continue reading Christmas in Viet Nam

“Vietnamese collectivism during challenging time inspires foreigner”

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , , ,

Photo courtesy of Hanoi Times Follow this link to read some reflections about COVID-19 in an essay I wrote last July at the request of Hanoi Times. Here are two excerpts to whet your appetite for more - or not. One of the traits of the Vietnamese people that inspires me is their optimism during … Continue reading “Vietnamese collectivism during challenging time inspires foreigner”