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

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)

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

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

Hà Nội in the Fourth Wave: A Heartfelt Wish & a Hopeful Prediction

Hoàn Kiếm Lake in the heart of Hà Nội during the lockdown. My hopeful prediction came true! Earlier this week, the lockdown ended, barricades were removed, and people were out and about. Like flipping a switch, Hanoi was back in business! We've returned to the crazy traffic that is the old normal. This capital city … Continue reading Hà Nội in the Fourth Wave: A Heartfelt Wish & a Hopeful Prediction

The Lasting Legacy of Good Teachers

John Glenn says his dad's favorite president to work with was John F. Kennedy. Here, Edmund Glenn (left) and President Kennedy share a laugh. Photo courtesy of John Glenn The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. -Mark Van Doren I thought I would take this opportunity to launch a series of posts … Continue reading The Lasting Legacy of Good Teachers

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

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

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

US Expat Whines About the 4th Wave of COVID-19 in Danang

I expected to be enlightened by a thoughtful article about the impact of the latest wave of COVID-19 on Danang in the August 2021 issue of Mekong Review (Asian Literature). Instead, it was another entitled expat complaining about the inconveniences of a lockdown designed to prevent the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. Here … Continue reading US Expat Whines About the 4th Wave of COVID-19 in Danang

The Origins of Viet Nam’s Stock Market

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