Banyan Tree

Today I noticed this tree growing inside a shop. I think it is a Banyan tree, which are quite symbolic and the Vietnamese don't like to cut them down. Still, no obstacle to commerce.

Thesis Defence

Phuong and I just attended a thesis defence. One of the graduating students presented her findings on the determinants of non-farm employment on reducing poverty in rural areas. She was examined by a panel of three academics. The student wore Ao Dai, traditional Vietnamese dress. It is a long tunic worn over matching trousers, she looked lovely.

At the end, everyone got flowers, with glitter on them. It was great. Her husband and her mum and dad were there, everyone cried.

Nerves of steel

Most of the traffic in Hanoi is of the two wheeled variety. There is a weird chaotic order to the way the traffic flows.
No one seems to observe the traffic lights, or stay on their side of the road. The best strategy for the pedestrian is to think like a tortoise and move at a slow and steady pace. The motorbikes are pretty good at changing course to avoid skittling pedestrians.
If you wait on the footpath for a break in the traffic, you'll go nowhere. If you try to dart between oncoming motorbikes, you'll get run over.

Walking out into a sea of motorbikes with the odd bus and car thrown in for extra danger requires nerves of steel - still, I haven't seen any road fatalities yet.

By November last year, about 162,850 cars, 1.5 million motorbikes and 1 million bicycles were running on Hanoi streets. The number of cars and motorbikes has been increasing by 12-15 per cent a year. Over 60 per cent of Hanoi residents use motorbikes as their main means of transport, and 5.8 per cent go by car, while only 19.6 per cent opt for the bus.

Personally, I'm on the bus.

Loans at the Center for Economic Development

As far as student loans go, they are launching an innovative programme whereby they seek to foster relationships with industry. They want to match suitable students to employers in their second or third year of their degree, so that the student can go part time and work for the enterprise in return for their fees.

The Center for Economic Development has a training centre attached to it which prepares the students specifically for the type of job and type of company. The student will be work-ready when they enter the job.

They also want to encourage the enterprise to donate scholarship money to perpetuate the programme. Mr Nha promises to be in touch and is a glimmer of hope for the student loans programme at MDE.