Luxury, of course, is a revolutionary new way of life in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, whose citizens have had to contend with war, poverty, a devastating US-led economic embargo that ended in 1994 (i.e., only 18 years ago!), dislocation, corruption and mismanagement in recent generations. This explains the typically nouveau riche behavior on display, mostly in the nation's big … Continue reading If You’ve Got It, Flaunt It!
vietnam development
Winter 2012 Update: Vietnam’s Mixed Messages Sideline Foreign Investors
This winter 2012 update is from Vietnomics, a global sourcing consultancy that links US and Vietnamese investors and companies. Thanks, Jeff! Summary Vietnam begins 2012 at a crossroads and needs meaningful reforms to complete the transition to a market economy that it started a generation ago. At times, the country seems to be moving decisively toward … Continue reading Winter 2012 Update: Vietnam’s Mixed Messages Sideline Foreign Investors
“Rising numbers of Vietnamese study abroad”
This Ministry of Education and Training report, hot off the press, confirms my estimate of the number of young Vietnamese studying overseas. Since 90% are self-financing, this means that over a billion dollars are being invested each year in overseas education. That's nearly 1% of the country's 2011 GDP. (Stay tuned for a later post that attempts … Continue reading “Rising numbers of Vietnamese study abroad”
What’s in a Name?
I recently came across a company whose name sounds a lot like the name of a former employer, a certain US NGO whose slogan is Opening Minds to the World. It has a nice ring to it and is sure to remind people of a well-known entity in Vietnam with exactly the same name. I'm sure it's … Continue reading What’s in a Name?
“Younger Generations Drive Latin American and Asian Online Markets”
Check out this "data gem" from comScore's Data Mine (22.11.11). Many of the world’s fastest growing online markets are in Latin America and Asia where younger generations are driving digital adoption. A look at which global markets are driven by young Internet populations showed Venezuela having the highest percentage of its total online population age 15 … Continue reading “Younger Generations Drive Latin American and Asian Online Markets”
Fall 2011 Update: U.S. Businesses Are Discovering the “V” in CIVETS
This fall 2011 update is from Vietnomics, a global sourcing consultancy that links US and Vietnamese investors and companies. Thanks, Jeff! Summary The Vietnam opportunity in the 3rd quarter attracted more attention from global investors, who now have a catchy acronym to go with their enthusiasm: CIVETS (Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey, and South Africa) is replacing … Continue reading Fall 2011 Update: U.S. Businesses Are Discovering the “V” in CIVETS
Hey AIESEC! What’s Up? (A lot!)
AIESEC, originally an acronym for Association Internationale des Étudiants en Sciences Économiques et Commerciales, is the world's largest student-run organization with a presence in over 107 countries and territories and a membership of over 50,000. "Focused on providing a platform for youth leadership development, AIESEC offers young people the opportunity to be global citizens, to … Continue reading Hey AIESEC! What’s Up? (A lot!)
TEDxMekong
TED has arrived in Vietnam with a vengeance. The first TEDx event was held last August in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and the second one will take place on 18 August in the same city. So what is TED? Answer: A nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. According to its website, “It started out … Continue reading TEDxMekong
Meeting with University of Houston MBA Students
A few Saturday mornings ago, I spent a couple of hours in a conference room at the Metropole Hotel in Hanoi speaking to a group of MBA students from the University of Houston (UH). Most had just arrived for a nine-day study tour (7-15 July) that would take them to Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Ho … Continue reading Meeting with University of Houston MBA Students
Location, Location, Location…
... combined with the laws of supply and demand=a small (53 m2/602 ft2) building in downtown Hanoi that recently sold for $2.3 million. Where this charming Hanoi house once stood is now a pile of rubble. On this site, at the intersection of Hang Bai and Hai Ba Trung streets in the Hoan Kiem District, which I pass … Continue reading Location, Location, Location…
An International Educator in Vietnam 
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