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Wednesday, May 13, 2009

16 US corporations eye Vietnam

Representatives of 16 big American corporations will visit Hanoi to search for business opportunities from May 13-15, according to the US-ASEAN Business Council.
The delegation, led by the council’s chairman, Matthew P.Dalev, CEO of General Electric in Southeast Asia, Stuart Dean, and chairman of the US-ASEAN Business Committee, will have a meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Government officials.
As revealed, the group includes more than 30 senior officials of 16 groups such as Abbott Laboratories, AES, AIG, Caterpillar, Chevron, Citi, Conoco Phillips, Exxon Mobil, Ford, General Electric, Guardian Industries, JHPIEGO, Monsanto, Pratt & Whitney, Time Warner and UPS.
Bilateral talks will focus on various sectors from agriculture to traffic and infrastructure, energy, aviation, finance and banking, health, express delivery and human resources.
Source: TN

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.