I follow a number of Subreddits in which young Vietnamese, i.e., Gen Z members, post about a variety of important issues, including education, relationships, family, mental health, corruption, the environment, justice, etc. This one appeared the other day in r/vozforums. The issue of AI use, misuse, and abuse in higher education is a canary in … Continue reading Higher Education and the Misuse of AI
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Brooke Barney’s June 2026 Confrontation with Israelis in Danang, Vietnam
This "Free Gaza - Free Palestine" sticker is what triggered, pun intended, the IOF backpackers. Source: Al Jazeera This is a video that went viral in July 2026. It's an ugly scene that's being repeated in many countries that Israelis visit, many of them former IOF soldiers who look forward to some R&R after exhausting … Continue reading Brooke Barney’s June 2026 Confrontation with Israelis in Danang, Vietnam
Gridlock in Hanoi
Hanoi drivers are arguably the worst in Vietnam. I say this with some authority because I've been driving here for over 20 years. It's the transportation equivalent of social Darwinism. Cutthroat competition reigns supreme. As I'm fond of saying, sharks and pit bulls driving cars, trucks, tuk-tuks, buses, and motorbikes. No mercy or courtesy just … Continue reading Gridlock in Hanoi
It’s Jackfruit Season!
The specimen above is 11 kg (24.25 pounds). You can tell it's ripe because of the browning. Jackfruit ("mít" in Vietnamese) is one of my favorite tropical fruits. The Malayalam word for jackfruit is chakka (ചക്ക) from Kerala, India. Portuguese traders called it jaca and it was later anglicized to "jackfruit" by European writers first … Continue reading It’s Jackfruit Season!
Curious If Others Have Experienced This in Phu Quoc
https://youtube.com/shorts/zQP3GxyZFZY?si=5SeHoMXdGqpd0fpp I saw this Reddit post in which a tourist summarized her/his unpleasant experiences with Indian tourists in Phu Quoc. It's not an anti-Indian rant but a thoughtful accounting of his/her encounters. It's becoming an issue to the point that growing numbers of Vietnamese are becoming anti-Indian. Just do a search for Indian tourists behaving … Continue reading Curious If Others Have Experienced This in Phu Quoc
What Would Ho Chi Minh Think of Vietnam in 2026?
Created by Gemini based on the essay topic. Having lived in Vietnam for over 20 years and knowing more than most foreigners about Vietnamese history, this is something I think about from time to time. Maybe grist for a long-form essay. What do you think Ho Chi Minh would think of the Vietnam of 2026 … Continue reading What Would Ho Chi Minh Think of Vietnam in 2026?
Modern Human Trafficking: What Vietnamese Trainees in Germany are Suffering – BR24 on Location
Links to the program and a related article in German. They hope for a better life in Germany.For their education, they pay a lot of money and leave Vietnam, their home, far behind.But for some, the dream becomes a nightmare. The reality? Forged documents, harsh working conditions, and fear of ruin.Here, people are treated like … Continue reading Modern Human Trafficking: What Vietnamese Trainees in Germany are Suffering – BR24 on Location
Can VinGroup Create a Vietnamese Industrial Champion?
Vietnam’s quest for technological sovereignty in the age of global capitalism This is an excellent analysis by Pietro Masina about one of Vietnam's most powerful and influential corporations. I include a link here so that more people will read it. Below is a Vietnamese translation for wider distribution. MAA Liệu VinGroup Có Thể Tạo Ra … Continue reading Can VinGroup Create a Vietnamese Industrial Champion?
Viet Jet is Bringing Obnoxious Tourists That Viet People Don’t Like
This is a post from the r/VietNam Reddit thread. I'm reposting it to share and get people's feedback. The focus is the alleged behavior of Indian tourists not Viet Jet. In journalistic terms, it's called burying the lede. 😀 In the medium term, this is bad news for future Indian tourists. They already have an … Continue reading Viet Jet is Bringing Obnoxious Tourists That Viet People Don’t Like
It’s Not Trump. It’s America.
Image created by ChatGPT based on the second paragraph of this post. I often hear this comment from well-meaning US colleagues: "This is not who we are." Perhaps it's a manifestation of wishful thinking rooted in the mistaken belief that MAGA 2.0 is an aberration. My interior monologue always quickly responds, "This is exactly who … Continue reading It’s Not Trump. It’s America.
An International Educator in Vietnam 
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