Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: US-Vietnam education forum opens in HCMC

Thursday, January 29, 2009

US-Vietnam education forum opens in HCMC

two-day forum to discuss partnerships between the US and Vietnam in higher education kicked off on January 15 in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Higher Education in Vietnam: American-Vietnamese Partnerships conference aims to further boost cooperation between universities, NGOs and other institutions engaged in higher education, and map out strategies for more linkages and joint educational programs.
Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Thien Nhan told the ceremony via a videotaped clip that he hoped the forum, with the participation of more than 400 representatives from the educational institutions and businesses of both nations will come up with practical and achievable plans for further cooperation in the field.
Addressing the conference’s opening ceremony, US Ambassador to Vietnam, Michael Michalak, said the forum will improve the understanding between American and Vietnamese educational institutions and agencies, and facilitate the implementation of ongoing programs and initiatives.
The conference includes a presentation of preliminary recommendations by the US-Vietnam Education Task Force established during the trip by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to the US last year.
Currently, around 80 American universities have formed partnerships in Vietnam and about 10,000 Vietnamese students are studying in the US, according to Nhan.
Over the past years, the US government has launched many higher education projects in Vietnam including the Fulbright Program and the Vietnam Education Foundation which have helped hundreds of Vietnamese students gain advanced degrees in the US.
The conference is organized by the US Embassy in Hanoi, the Ministry of Education and Training and the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City.
Reported by Tuong Nhi

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They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.