Just a quick note to let you know I'm still here. Our days have been incredibly full, and Internet access was limited in Cambodia. Today is my last full day in Southeast Asia. Much of our trip to Thailand has been altered due to the protests occurring in Bangkok.
I will post entries for all the days I've missed once I'm back in the States.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Day 4 Vung Tau
Today we took the hydrofoil from Saigon to Vung Tau, a seaside town about 70 miles from Saigon. Before relaxing on the beach, we hiked to the top of Mount Nho to see Christ of Vung Tau, a statue inspired by Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
After hiking to the top of the mountain, we learned that you could also hike to the top of the statue. Unfortunately, I and most of the other girls on the trip were not allowed to because we were not dressed properly since our shoulders were exposed. The area around the statue is filled with benches donated by people from around the world. I found one donated by someone from North Carolina. Despite not being able to go up in the statue, the view from the top of the mountain was still quite impressive.
The beach was beautiful, but I was surprised at the amount of trash on the beach. It was a nice change of pace to spend a few hours soaking up the sun. It's also neat to say I've swam in the South China Sea.
After hiking to the top of the mountain, we learned that you could also hike to the top of the statue. Unfortunately, I and most of the other girls on the trip were not allowed to because we were not dressed properly since our shoulders were exposed. The area around the statue is filled with benches donated by people from around the world. I found one donated by someone from North Carolina. Despite not being able to go up in the statue, the view from the top of the mountain was still quite impressive.
The beach was beautiful, but I was surprised at the amount of trash on the beach. It was a nice change of pace to spend a few hours soaking up the sun. It's also neat to say I've swam in the South China Sea.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Day 3 Ho Chi Minh City
Just another day at the "office" in Vietnam. We visited the Loyola University Chicago Center and met with the founder and CEO of Vinamit, a dried fruit company. He spoke to us about how he created a private business in a Communist country. What struck me most about his story was how he is "living the American dream." His parents were in the lowest group, so he saved money to be educated in Taiwan. After finishing school, he returned to Vietnam and built his business from the ground up.
What is amazing to me is that he practically demands the freedom to run his business in any manner he chooses, but he seems content to not have the same freedoms when it comes to government. Having grown up in the United States, it is hard for me to separate the two.
I enjoyed learning more about the Fulbright Economics Teaching Program (FETP) at the Harvard Fulbright Center. It was established in 1994 by a group of U.S. senators who are also veterans to teach market economics to the Vietnamese. The Center began offering a master's degree in public policy in 2008. I was surprised to learn FETP has open courseware. All faculty post their materials on the web, giving other schools in Vietnam access to the materials and the curriculum. This is possible because FETP negotiated complete autonomy from the government, but in return FETP must be completely transparent.
Each class for the master's program has 65 students, and about 55 students graduate. Admission is quite competitive, but preference is given to those working in the public sector. Tuition is $20,000 per year, and all students are on scholarship and receive a monthly stipend.
Our last visit of the day was to Saigon South, which is a mixed-use planned community. It some ways it felt like Las Vegas, and it definitely reminded me why I'm not a fan. The presentation reminded me of something you might hear if you agree to consider a "time share."
Tomorrow we head to the beach for the day. It's a tough job I know, but someone's got to do it.
What is amazing to me is that he practically demands the freedom to run his business in any manner he chooses, but he seems content to not have the same freedoms when it comes to government. Having grown up in the United States, it is hard for me to separate the two.
I enjoyed learning more about the Fulbright Economics Teaching Program (FETP) at the Harvard Fulbright Center. It was established in 1994 by a group of U.S. senators who are also veterans to teach market economics to the Vietnamese. The Center began offering a master's degree in public policy in 2008. I was surprised to learn FETP has open courseware. All faculty post their materials on the web, giving other schools in Vietnam access to the materials and the curriculum. This is possible because FETP negotiated complete autonomy from the government, but in return FETP must be completely transparent.
Each class for the master's program has 65 students, and about 55 students graduate. Admission is quite competitive, but preference is given to those working in the public sector. Tuition is $20,000 per year, and all students are on scholarship and receive a monthly stipend.
Our last visit of the day was to Saigon South, which is a mixed-use planned community. It some ways it felt like Las Vegas, and it definitely reminded me why I'm not a fan. The presentation reminded me of something you might hear if you agree to consider a "time share."
Tomorrow we head to the beach for the day. It's a tough job I know, but someone's got to do it.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Day 2 Ho Chi Minh City
It was time to get down to business today. We had meetings all day long with some of our professor's contacts in the business community. The day started with a trip to Saigon Cosmetics. After receiving an overview about the company, we took a tour of the factory where they manufacture perfume, hand sanitizer, shampoo, and a few other products. Everyone got free samples.
Next, we met with Sesto Vecchi, a founding partner with the firm Russin & Vecchi International Legal Counsellors. In addition to his many other projects, Mr. Vecchi is the attorney of record for Loyola University Chicago for our center in Ho Chi Minh City. Vecchi provided some interesting statistics about the demographics in Vietnam including:
These meetings provided an opportunity to see more of Ho Chi Minh City. The traffic was unbelievable, and the number of people on motorbikes was staggering. I'm still amazed that there are not more traffic accidents. I don't think you could pay me to ride on a motorbike on some of these highways.
Tomorrow is another business day with visits to Dragon Capital, the LUC Center, the Harvard Fulbright Center, Saigon South and the Tan Tuan Export Processing Center.
Next, we met with Sesto Vecchi, a founding partner with the firm Russin & Vecchi International Legal Counsellors. In addition to his many other projects, Mr. Vecchi is the attorney of record for Loyola University Chicago for our center in Ho Chi Minh City. Vecchi provided some interesting statistics about the demographics in Vietnam including:
- 60 percent of the population in 30 years old or younger,
- Vietnam has a growing middle class, and
- literacy in the country is quite high.
These meetings provided an opportunity to see more of Ho Chi Minh City. The traffic was unbelievable, and the number of people on motorbikes was staggering. I'm still amazed that there are not more traffic accidents. I don't think you could pay me to ride on a motorbike on some of these highways.
Tomorrow is another business day with visits to Dragon Capital, the LUC Center, the Harvard Fulbright Center, Saigon South and the Tan Tuan Export Processing Center.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Day 1 Saigon/ Ho Chi Minh City
Last night we arrived at our hotel, the Hotel Majestic, around 11 p.m local time. It was an exhausting day of traveling, so I went to bed shortly after our arrival. But not before I took a quick walking tour of the city with our professor.
One of my first questions was about the name of the city. Some people call it Saigon, and some call it Ho Chi Minh City. Our tour guide informed me that many people from Southern Vietnam still call it Saigon, since it was Saigon for more than 300 years before it became Ho Chi Minh City in 1975.
The Western influence is quite striking. Today we visited the Post Office, which was designed by Gustav Eiffel, and Notre Dame Cathedral. Next, we moved to more political sites, visiting the War Remnants Museum (originally called the American War Crimes Museum) and the Reunification Palace. The Reunification Palace is a beautiful building, but the Vietnamese government does not use it because it has "bad feng shui."
I'm not sure if it just the places we visited, but it seemed to me that the Europeans were responsible for many of the historical sites in Vietnam. One of my favorite aspects of my trip to China was visiting all of the historical sites that demonstrated the richness of the Chinese history. I didn't get the same feeling from the historical sites we visited in Saigon.
In addition to the obvious Western influence, one of the biggest differences I've noticed between Saigon and Beijing is the preferred mode of transportation. The Chinese use bicycles, while the Vietnamese prefer motorbikes. But they both drive the same way. Our professor told us you need to keep going once you commit to crossing the street. If you are moving, then you are more predictable. I think I prefer bicycles. Then don't seem as dangerous.
We had the afternoon free, so I did a little shopping. I'm off to the pool to relax for a bit before our reception on our hotel's rooftop this evening.
One of my first questions was about the name of the city. Some people call it Saigon, and some call it Ho Chi Minh City. Our tour guide informed me that many people from Southern Vietnam still call it Saigon, since it was Saigon for more than 300 years before it became Ho Chi Minh City in 1975.
The Western influence is quite striking. Today we visited the Post Office, which was designed by Gustav Eiffel, and Notre Dame Cathedral. Next, we moved to more political sites, visiting the War Remnants Museum (originally called the American War Crimes Museum) and the Reunification Palace. The Reunification Palace is a beautiful building, but the Vietnamese government does not use it because it has "bad feng shui."
I'm not sure if it just the places we visited, but it seemed to me that the Europeans were responsible for many of the historical sites in Vietnam. One of my favorite aspects of my trip to China was visiting all of the historical sites that demonstrated the richness of the Chinese history. I didn't get the same feeling from the historical sites we visited in Saigon.
In addition to the obvious Western influence, one of the biggest differences I've noticed between Saigon and Beijing is the preferred mode of transportation. The Chinese use bicycles, while the Vietnamese prefer motorbikes. But they both drive the same way. Our professor told us you need to keep going once you commit to crossing the street. If you are moving, then you are more predictable. I think I prefer bicycles. Then don't seem as dangerous.
We had the afternoon free, so I did a little shopping. I'm off to the pool to relax for a bit before our reception on our hotel's rooftop this evening.
Friday, March 5, 2010
On the plane
In approximately 15 hours, I'll be in Hong Kong. I have a 2-hour layover there, then another 2-hour flight to Ho Chi Minh city.
My next post will be from Southeast Asia. Catch you on the other side of the of the world.
My next post will be from Southeast Asia. Catch you on the other side of the of the world.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
13.5 Hours Until Departure
As many of you know, I spent three weeks in China during the summer of 2009. I thought it was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I wanted to make sure I took full advantage of it. Little did I know that less than a year later I would return to Asia.
I'm leaving in 13.5 hours for a 10-day adventure to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Siem Reap, Cambodia and Bangkok, Thailand. The trip is the main component of my final class for my MBA (I like to go out with a bang). The topic is consumer behavior in Southeast Asia. One of our assignments is to keep a journal about our experiences. I will do my best to update the blog daily. Hope you enjoy reading about my trip.
Steph
I'm leaving in 13.5 hours for a 10-day adventure to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Siem Reap, Cambodia and Bangkok, Thailand. The trip is the main component of my final class for my MBA (I like to go out with a bang). The topic is consumer behavior in Southeast Asia. One of our assignments is to keep a journal about our experiences. I will do my best to update the blog daily. Hope you enjoy reading about my trip.
Steph
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