My first visit to Ha Long Bay was in 1996. Vietnam was still poor, which meant the consumer economy had yet to kick into high gear. As a result, the environment was cleaner. The lack of money meant little to no development and a much more beautiful cityscape, such as it was, and a cleaner … Continue reading Another Visit to Ha Long Bay: And the Beat Goes On
vietnam
Charitable Causes in Vietnam: Part I
A Partial List for Foreigners Foreign friends and colleagues with an interest in Vietnam sometimes ask me which non-profit organizations are worth supporting. Since they are usually interested in a tax deduction, that narrows the list. The organizations listed below are registered charities in different countries. Blue Dragon Children's Foundation Blue Dragon Children's Foundation is … Continue reading Charitable Causes in Vietnam: Part I
QUIZ: Test Your Knowledge of Vietnam
This is a quiz Team Capstone and I created for colleagues from around the world who recruit Vietnamese students and do other international education-related work in Vietnam. While it's intended to be fun and educational, there's also a serious side to it. As everyone knows, it's important to know something about the countries in which … Continue reading QUIZ: Test Your Knowledge of Vietnam
Poster Session at NAFSA 2023: “Vietnamese Student Recruitment in the New Normal Era”
The calm before the storm. 😀 The NAFSA: Association of International Educators annual conference is one of the premier venues to conduct international education-related business. There are general sessions, poster sessions, an expo hall, receptions, and other social events, and days filled with meetings. This poster session was held at the annual conference in Washington, … Continue reading Poster Session at NAFSA 2023: “Vietnamese Student Recruitment in the New Normal Era”
CAPSTONE WEBINAR: Digital Marketing in Vietnam: How to Connect with Parents & Students
Capstone's team will provide a comprehensive update about the digital behavior of Vietnamese and how to reach out to students and parents using a variety of media outlets and social media channels, including popular apps. All registered participants will receive the Zoom link in the days leading up to the webinar. Note: US higher education colleagues … Continue reading CAPSTONE WEBINAR: Digital Marketing in Vietnam: How to Connect with Parents & Students
A Tale of Two Visas Types: B1-2 & F-1
A colleague recently asked me about the difference between issuance rates for two types of non-immigrant visas: tourist (B-2) and student (F-1). The question was in reference to a summer program for students at her university. (Note: A B-1 visas is for business.) The FY2022 stats from the US State Department confirm my answer, which … Continue reading A Tale of Two Visas Types: B1-2 & F-1
Telling Our Stories: A Tale from Vietnam
What's Past is Prologue (W. Shakespeare, The Tempest, 1610-11) We all have stories to tell, knowledge and experiences to share, and advice to offer. The longer we live, the greater the supply, generally speaking. For as long as I can remember, I have been passionate about history as a means of making sense of what … Continue reading Telling Our Stories: A Tale from Vietnam
2022 SEVIS by the Numbers Report: Vietnam
While the periodic SEVIS updates, sometimes monthly, other times quarterly, contain real-time statistics, the annual reports present cumulative totals. According to the 2022 report (PDF download), the total number of SEVIS records for active F-1 and M-1 students was 1,362,157 in 2022, an increase of 10.1% from 2021 and the largest number since 2019. There … Continue reading 2022 SEVIS by the Numbers Report: Vietnam
The Toad That Lived to See Another Day
One of her/his distant cousins. Recently, a rather well-fed toad found its way into my car, a first since I began driving a lifetime ago. I was transporting a couple of plants and trees to my Hanoi office and the critter must have been hiding in one of the pots. When my wife came to … Continue reading The Toad That Lived to See Another Day
Reflections on a Dirty Industry
No, not that industry, which is literally dirty and a major contributor to global climate change. I'm referring to international student recruitment, which is often a figuratively dirty industry. A US higher education colleague who has been around the block a few times recently asked me this question: "At the risk of sounding like a … Continue reading Reflections on a Dirty Industry
An International Educator in Vietnam 
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