tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-198919522011-12-15T10:41:53.778+08:00Comments and notes about my volunteer experience in Vietnam in January 2006Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.comBlogger631100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1138272350575761042006-01-26T18:42:00.000+08:002006-01-26T18:51:23.056+08:00

This is my last post as I am on my way home from Vietnam.I have had a great experience here and I am looking forward to seeing everyone who may have been reading along with my adventures. Vietnam has a very different and intriguing culture, and some beautiful scenery.I hope to return to investigate the centre and South of Vietnam at some later date.Best wishes to my friends at the Masters for

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1138272158074524912006-01-26T18:35:00.000+08:002006-01-26T18:42:38.076+08:00

I am currently reading the Vietnamese Constitutions. It has been amended three times since its original form in 1946.As Vietnam changes, the constitution can change. If two thirds of the National Assembly agree, they can amend the constitution. It describes a one party system with socialist ideals, operating in a free market economy, where everyone is equal and can do whatever they like

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1138271377094478782006-01-26T18:25:00.000+08:002006-01-26T18:29:37.103+08:00

Today I went to see Ho Chi Minh. He is embalmed and lies in state in a mausoleum in Hanoi. No cameras are allowed. There is about eight soldiers guarding him, with machine guns.After passing through the mausoleum you can wander through the Ho Chi Minh complex and museum, which includes the Presidential Palace and Uncle Ho's used car collection.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1138011281997949602006-01-23T18:11:00.000+08:002006-01-23T18:14:41.996+08:00

After leaving Bac Ha, I have to wait at Lao Cai for about four hours before the sleeper train leaves for Hanoi.Lao Cai is 9km from the Chinese border. Quite a few people are hanging out waiting for the train. The sleeper arrives in Hanoi at about 6am.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1138011094732206372006-01-23T17:55:00.000+08:002006-01-23T18:18:55.166+08:00

Bac Ha markets is a bustling event. Every Saturday locals and ethnics from surrounding villages come to town to trade livestock, textiles and handicrafts.The dominant ethnic group are the flower H'mong. They sell embroidery as they wander through the crowds. You can see an example of their work in the bottom right hand corner of this picture.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137846123581554482006-01-21T20:11:00.000+08:002006-01-21T20:22:03.583+08:00

The mountains of the area are terraced to allow rice crops. A typical day long guided trek takes you through paddy fields and through small villages. Pigs, chickens, and buffalo wander through the fields. Our guide was a 17 year old local H'mong girl, called Lily. Children from the villages wait along the paths to sell you their handicrafts.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137845495862087452006-01-21T19:44:00.000+08:002006-01-23T18:18:01.233+08:00

The children of the Black H'mong tribe are as persistant with their sales patter as they are delightful.Only girls come to Sapa to sell their handmade goods. Small groups of little girls come with even smaller children strapped to their backs.They generally speak excellent English, and can engage in conversations in English, Vietnamese, and French.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137843847769188872006-01-21T19:30:00.000+08:002006-01-21T19:44:07.790+08:00

I have been having a great time in Sapa. It is very comfortable here as the town is dedicated to tourism.The ethnic minority groups that live in the villages around here add local colour, as is evidenced by this typical market scene.The main groups that come to the market at Sapa are the Black H'mong who are the largest ethnic group,and the red Dao people. This tribe shaves their forehead and

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137670161343520422006-01-19T19:27:00.000+08:002006-01-19T19:29:21.343+08:00

Apologies for the date errors in the postings. There are new posts which have published out of order.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137669900483036452006-01-19T19:18:00.000+08:002006-01-19T19:25:00.483+08:00

Today I had a scary experience at the student canteen.I asked the dinner lady to give me the cabbage dish. Some of the cabbage wasn't crunchy, it was the same colour as the cabbage but it had a rubbery texture and a honeycomb appearance. I feared it was not cabbage.When I got back to the office I asked Thuc Anh what it was. It was the lining of the stomach of the pig.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137558117131895352006-01-18T12:07:00.000+08:002006-01-18T12:22:25.303+08:00

Last night we went to the World Bank to hear the lead economist Dr Martin Rama give a talk about the Vietnam Development Report for 2006.The three pillars of the report have been conducted over the past three years, first addressing a social concern - poverty, then an institutional area - governance, and finally the presentation last night addressed the structural area - business.Massive

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137556460771033052006-01-18T11:48:00.000+08:002006-01-18T11:54:20.783+08:00

In a previous post I mentioned that one of the passengers on the boat in Halong Bay was a Iraqi pediatrician, (cousin of Shabu).She was originally from Baghdad but has lived in Boston for many years, and regularly volunteers abroad.I asked her about the staggering statistics quoted by the World Bank about child malnutrition (20%) and infant mortality under the age of five. (34%)Her opinion was

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137640422350400772006-01-17T14:52:00.011+08:002006-01-19T19:17:53.653+08:00

Tonight I travel to Sapa, on the overnight train.It is a small mountain town near the Chinese border. Thuc Anh says, it is a very sensitive province. The people who live there are ethnic minorities such as the Dzao, H'mong, Tay and Thai people. There are quite a few different groups that are clustered together under the definition of Hill tribes. They are sometimes referred to as Montagnards

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137573987177780442006-01-17T14:52:00.010+08:002006-01-19T19:17:05.716+08:00

Today is my last day attending the MDE. I spent the last two days developing an action plan for them to use to continue work on the loans scheme. I've made a lot of good contacts and there is a lot of willingness in the AID community which supports the idea of development of financial services.I hope they are successful and I hope to stay in touch with everyone I've met since being here.I've

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137644339665091982006-01-17T14:52:00.009+08:002006-01-19T19:14:17.033+08:00

Apparently pre dawn aerobics is becoming popular in Hanoi.I haven't made it to the park before 5am to join in the Tai chi, but now the women of Hanoi have discovered aerobics.Not all the men approve, apparently. This article says it all.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137644139134181612006-01-17T14:52:00.008+08:002006-01-19T12:16:22.046+08:00

Good news for TV lovers in Vietnam. The price of a flat screen has dropped by 25%-40% following the ASEAN free trade agreement. Now even low income earners don't have to put up with those curved screens anymore.The article is here.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137481263182595582006-01-17T14:52:00.000+08:002006-01-17T15:01:03.203+08:00

The Vietnam Elders Association met in Hanoi earlier this week to set their goals for 2006. One of their goals is to recruit more members. Another is for elderly people to enhance their household income.The Elders Association works to serve the interests of elderly people.The association has 6.5 million members, 8000 of them are over 100 years old.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137467851724750202006-01-17T11:16:00.000+08:002006-01-17T11:17:31.726+08:00

Tonight the MDE will host a seminar at the World Bank. The guest speaker is Martin Rama, an economist who will explain the World Bank Vietnam Development Report for 2006.The focus of the report is going to be business. It follows from previous years where the governance and poverty were the central issues.Vietnam still faces many constraints regarding business development. The lack of access to

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137407463688724382006-01-16T18:26:00.000+08:002006-01-17T11:44:26.933+08:00

This a picture of one of the reading rooms. Students pay to sit and read the books which you can see on the bookshelves. A lot of them are reading Manga comics, not their text books!This is an example of an internet cafe on campus. I often do my blogging from one of these places. The kids seem to enjoy violent interactive video games. Groups of them hang out and play these games together as

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137407134046506672006-01-16T18:23:00.000+08:002006-01-17T11:24:54.060+08:00

I was walking to the bus yesterday past this building site adjoining the university campus. This type of bamboo scaffolding is pretty popular in Vietnam. You can see one of the workers doing a spiderman impression climbing up and down the outside wall of this building. I am guessing Worksafe don't have much of a presence here in Vietnam.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137404822115104092006-01-16T17:08:00.000+08:002006-01-17T11:21:52.316+08:00

Chatting with the students in the computer lab about taxes, I learnt that no income tax is levied on earnings below 5,000,000 VND per month. This is approximately 300USD.After this, 10% income tax is applied until earnings exceed 15,000,000 VND per month. The next bracket is 20% tax if your earnings are between 15,000,000 VND and 25,000,000 VND and continue up to 50% in 10,000,000 VND

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137391945349633192006-01-16T12:25:00.003+08:002006-01-16T18:23:15.426+08:00

There is a small pearl farm at Halong Bay which provides seed pearls for the tourist industry. Strings of pearls, earrings and bracelets are for sale at every tourist stop, and most of the boats have a keen saleswoman on board.It's pretty hard to avoid the girls with the pearls.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137385826193475332006-01-16T12:25:00.002+08:002006-01-16T18:21:31.003+08:00

The boat stopped at a cave, called Hang Sung Sot. The display inside was done really well, complete with mood lighting in violet and red. The ceiling of the cave had a scalloped texture, it looked like something out of the seventies.Halong Bay has several caves, entry to them is included in the entry fee to the Bay. Most tours stop at only one or two, and spend the rest of the time cruising

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137392460667943742006-01-16T12:25:00.001+08:002006-01-16T18:18:05.200+08:00

My trip to Halong Bay was fantastic. The boat trip was very peaceful. Many private boats operate in the Bay. Our boat slept 16, and we had a mixture of people on board. Including an Iraqi pediatrician, a jazz pianist and three Filipina dentists.After arriving in Halong City, we transferred to the boat and cruised around before stopping at the houseboats to buy seafood. After lunch we cruised

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137385761105386692006-01-16T12:25:00.000+08:002006-01-16T18:09:54.730+08:00

Fishermen live on houseboats in Halong Bay. The tourist boats stop at the houseboats so the passengers can buy fresh seafood. People on our boat bought crabs, squid and prawns which the cook prepared for their lunch.This child is deployed by her mother to beg from the passengers. She rubs her fingers together and says, 'One dollar'.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137130526978248712006-01-13T13:27:00.003+08:002006-01-13T15:32:01.770+08:00

Following an email request, here are some pictures of the local markets.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137130362741951212006-01-13T13:27:00.002+08:002006-01-13T15:26:02.743+08:00

Last night I went out to dinner with Anthea and her parents who were visiting in Hanoi this week. Strolling through the French Quarter to the south of Hoan Kiem Lake is a very pleasant way to spend an evening.The French colonisation of Vietnam lasted only about 70 years, but within this time they added a lot of value to the city of Hanoi. The boulevard style streetscape is reminiscent of a

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137131248701473042006-01-13T13:27:00.001+08:002006-01-13T14:44:36.386+08:00

Tomorrow I take a tour to Halong Bay, the natural wonder of the North of Vietnam. Approximately three thousand islands are dotted around the Gulf of Tonkin. The islands feature caves and cliffs, and general ruggedness.Unfortunately the visibility is forecast to be poor, but all reports suggest its still well worth having a look at it.Halong means, 'where the dragon descends into the sea.' The

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137132768177969952006-01-13T13:27:00.000+08:002006-01-13T14:16:57.393+08:00

This article in the Vietnam News describes how the Fatherland Front has encouraged the some villagers in the Central Province of Quang Tri to use birth control to adhere to the National Vietnamese two child policy. The name of the model is, 'Village with no one having third child.'The successful application of the model has held child malnutrition rates constant at 20% in the villages where the

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137055035974418172006-01-12T16:35:00.000+08:002006-01-13T15:20:10.206+08:00

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.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137054224633338452006-01-12T16:16:00.000+08:002006-01-13T14:46:02.220+08:00

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

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137053202519171742006-01-12T15:58:00.000+08:002006-01-13T15:37:32.406+08:00

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

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1137047879574447052006-01-12T14:24:00.000+08:002006-01-12T14:37:59.576+08:00

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

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136970678557510142006-01-11T17:07:00.000+08:002006-01-12T14:42:35.116+08:00

Today I met Mr Nha at the Center for Economic Development studies at the Vietnam National University.The interesting thing about this center is that they work in development economics by providing microfinance to the agricultural sector. The loans are made in order to upgrade machinary and to move the technology of the agricultural sector forward to be congruent with modern methods.The loans are

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136970399771406152006-01-11T17:03:00.000+08:002006-01-12T14:25:17.090+08:00

We've been invited to attend an information evening at the Asian Commercial Bank, which is the bank which is underwriting the proposed student loan scheme.Students and staff of the university are going along to hear a talk from a member of staff. The ACB is a private bank, selected by the US Government for their compliance with international standards of due diligence.The focus of USAID is only

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136970066781167352006-01-11T16:52:00.000+08:002006-01-12T14:23:52.646+08:00

The USAID meeting went quite well. The representative from Washington was a Chinese-American who talked non stop extolling the virtues of the risk sharing model. The original model was quite restrictive but many of the guidelines have been relaxed. The result is a very flexible instrument- students in the West would be all over it.The risk sharing element of the model requires the establishment

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136960163186662102006-01-11T13:54:00.000+08:002006-01-11T14:16:49.366+08:00

Vietnamese hotel rooms don't have fire alarms. I noticed this after the kettle spontaneously combusted. I also discovered after examining the scene that the on/off switch on the power socket is actually just for cosmetic purposes. The important thing is to DISCONNECT the device.A dismal end to the best idea I'd EVER had.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136947547185310152006-01-11T10:45:00.000+08:002006-01-11T10:45:47.393+08:00

Tomorrow I am going to meet the director from the Center for Economic Development Studies, at the Vietnam National University. They have a faculty of economics over there which specialises in granting aid to microfinance projects. I hope this will be informative as I am concerned that the USAID model will crash and burn and I want to have another avenue to pursue while I am still here in Hanoi.It

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136888201421890992006-01-10T18:12:00.000+08:002006-01-11T13:56:11.816+08:00

This potent brew has all sorts of goodies in it to make you strong. The animals are added to rice wine which is a near relative of methylated spirits. You might notice snakes, mice and other rodents, as well as other assorted fetuses. I saw this at a cafe next to a plate of chips.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136860609808402752006-01-10T10:27:00.000+08:002006-01-10T18:00:47.020+08:00

Tomorrow a representative from USAID will come to the university for a meeting about the student loans scheme. As we have had an overwhelmingly positive response from the students about access to loans, I hope that the meeting will get the ball rolling towards a successful outcome.The model that is being proposed is a risk sharing model, which means the university has to underwrite part of the

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136860009420493712006-01-10T10:20:00.000+08:002006-01-11T14:18:56.126+08:00

The Water Puppet Theatre is a tourist attraction in Hanoi. The Lonely Planet calls it 'Punch and Judy in the pool.'The puppets are brightly varnished wooden caricatures of peasants, animals and deities.Each item lasts about 3 minutes and tells a particular legend or folk story. A traditional folk music band accompanies the puppets. It is quite delightful.Puppeteers stand in a pool of water behind

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136859610869756252006-01-10T10:15:00.000+08:002006-01-10T10:20:13.220+08:00

Yesterday as I wandered home, I found myself in the supermarket where I bought a small kettle and some tea bags, milk etc so I could have a cup of tea in my room.I quickly realised that this is the best idea I have EVER had. Vietnamese tea is very strong, and served in teeny tiny cups. It is also served cold, with ice. This is better as it waters down the strong flavour. However, if drunk hot

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136783595370155352006-01-09T13:01:00.004+08:002006-01-13T14:40:33.243+08:00

Piracy and IP infringement is a hot topic here in Vietnam. The local English language paper reports that in Haiphong yesterday 3000 'unhealthy' publications were seized from 105 businesses. Vietnam has a civil law system, under which Decree 54 sets out the rules for 'unfair competition through the use of trade indicators.'The Law on Competition prohibits the use of 'false indication' which may

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136788494755960722006-01-09T13:01:00.003+08:002006-01-10T18:07:42.896+08:00

In a previous post I mentioned that the Vietnamese eat dog. There is in fact a dog meat restaurant adjoining the campus. I stopped by there to have a look at what was on the menu, and sent the locals into hysterics with my explanation that we don't eat dog in Australia.These trays of meat are common outside roadside cafes to show you what is on. As the lady who ran the cafe explained in an

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136780628687589692006-01-09T12:11:00.000+08:002006-01-09T12:23:54.860+08:00

Today I contacted some representatives of the Vietcom Bank, to see if they have a loan product that would suit the students at the university. Their website says they grant loans for improvement of family prosperity, and for serving daily private life. I read this to mean loans for investment and personal loans. I am trying to find someone that I can communicate with in English, which is not

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136779898395249722006-01-09T12:07:00.000+08:002006-01-09T12:11:38.480+08:00

A new minimum wage has been set by the Government for Vietnamese labourers working at foreign-invested companies, and international organisations in Viet Nam. the decision comes into effect on 1 February 2006.Now, the minimum salary will be VND870,000 (US$55) per month for those who work for foreign-invested companies located in inner-city districts in Ha Noi and HCM City.Workers in the

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136779660748202742006-01-09T12:05:00.000+08:002006-01-10T09:50:48.266+08:00

Around Hanoi you will see blackboards in the street, put up by the community leaders to inform the people of public announcements. They remain untarnished by graffiti.This one gives a reminder to bring the rubbish out on time, the garbo will not wait.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136779476053818162006-01-09T11:59:00.000+08:002006-01-09T20:54:10.096+08:00

On Saturday I went to the Perfume Pagoda, which is a complex of Pagodas and Buddhist shrines built into Huong Tich mountain. It is a 60km of out Hanoi. First you take the bus to My Duc. The journey takes about two hours as the roads are poor.Then you take a boat down the river, which takes about an hour. All of the boats are rowed by women.Then many steep stairs.....To see many Pagodas.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136531255510223262006-01-06T14:58:00.000+08:002006-01-06T17:11:36.086+08:00

Thang explained this model to me today, he has to give a presentation to his Macro class and he wanted to see if he could make it comprehensible in English.This model purports to explain the pattern of migration from rural areas to urban areas. In developing economies, rural workers who consider themselves to have high human capital flock to the city. (The streets are paved with gold, you know.)

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136517767090147452006-01-06T11:16:00.000+08:002006-01-06T11:22:47.146+08:00

The student surveys are trickling back in, and the results are quite interesting. Despite having been told by the administration that the students won't take loans out, the surveys indicate some interest. (no pun intended.)Next week I am meeting with a representative from USAID who have a risk sharing model that they have implemented with some success in Panama. I hope to have a good sample of

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136516918315385472006-01-06T11:07:00.000+08:002006-01-06T17:19:54.466+08:00

For good concrete laying, call Mr Hung.....

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136516736055067642006-01-06T10:37:00.000+08:002006-01-06T11:15:04.580+08:00

The population is 83,ooo,ooo.GDP is currently around USD 45,000,000 and growing.90% of the population is literate.Between 2000 and 2003 the number of mobile phones in Vietnam grew from 41.7 to 87.8 (per thousand people.)29% of the population are below the National Poverty Line.As per the poverty line, an urban resident who earns VND230,000 (USD15.3) or less a month and a rural resident earning

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136445904181263762006-01-05T15:14:00.000+08:002006-01-05T15:25:04.253+08:00

Trung points out to me that since the doi moi, (economic reforms which commenced in 1986) agricultural production in Vietnam has soared. Now Vietnam is one of the three biggest exporters of rice in the world.The reforms bestowed property rights for land and buffalo on farmers. Previous to this, collectivism was practiced. This was achieved without any increase in technology or infrastructure.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136444880165658782006-01-05T14:59:00.000+08:002006-01-05T20:18:07.930+08:00

In a previous post I remarked on my tendency to get lost in the Old Quarter. After consulting, cross referencing and perusing the three maps I have, I couldn't understand why I kept losing my way.It turns out that the streets are named after the trades that operate there. For instance, Pho Hang Gai = Silk Street, Pho Lo Ren = Blacksmiths Street, Pho Hang Bong = Cotton Street. Sounds simple enough

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136443090158411842006-01-05T14:31:00.000+08:002006-01-05T14:38:14.163+08:00

The system of title of Real Property seems to be very similar in Vietnam to Australia - the description of the process of sale of land sounds as if the Torrens System is in place.Apartments are sold by the square metre, with an average type of accomodation being about 120 square metres, selling for about 10,000,000 VND per squeter.This works out to be approximately USD80,000 for a dwelling that

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136435586604262532006-01-05T12:31:00.000+08:002006-01-05T20:16:04.746+08:00

This morning I have had a fascinating discussion with the Head of the Microfinance Resource Centre in the University. Dao Van Hung, the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Banking and Finance has given me some contacts at the World Bank to start researching some alternate models for the student loan scheme.I found my way into one of the computer labs to get onto the internet, and I made some

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136378471889470452006-01-04T20:37:00.000+08:002006-01-04T20:46:24.210+08:00

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136354532049645052006-01-04T13:44:00.000+08:002006-01-04T15:26:26.436+08:00

I've just returned from the market with Anthea, we had lunch at a small market stall. You select whatever you want to eat and then sit around on very low benches, about 30cm from the ground while you eat it. The highlight was the vietnamese tea, green tea served cold with ice.I think the entire meal cost about 40 cents, I'm sure I got my money's worth.We walked back past trays of offal, (raw),

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136348781318457082006-01-04T11:37:00.000+08:002006-01-04T12:26:22.356+08:00

I've spent the morning constructing a student survey to find out whether there is actually any demand for a student loan product.The survey is going out to the postgrad students in the Masters Programme, and then to a group of undergraduates to gauge interest in their desire for further education.The results should be interesting, although the postgrad students are able to be here without needing

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136272979288052912006-01-03T15:17:00.000+08:002006-01-03T15:22:59.353+08:00

I've been chatting with Phuong, one of the administrators here. He tells me that the cleaners here probably earn about USD1 per day.They might own a bicycle, and probably share a room and a bed with two or three other people. They work in shifts, they sleep in shifts.Therefore, if you have a 'good job' which pays around USD4-5 per day, there exists a lot of social pressure that you help your

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136271206587066712006-01-03T14:52:00.000+08:002006-01-03T14:53:26.670+08:00

OK here's the deal. The University would like a student loans scheme set up, for students enrolled in the Masters in Development Economics. They have to find USD 4200 over three years.The local bank doesn't want to deal with the smelly students, can you believe it!Most of the students have low incomes, no realisable assets and no credit history.A good income here is about USD120 per month.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1136094574122469272006-01-01T13:41:00.000+08:002006-01-04T20:52:52.360+08:00

Greetings from Vietnam! This is the best approximation I can manage of the Vietnamese version of Happy New Year!I have been in Hanoi for three days. It is great. It is quite a friendly place, and it feels like a small city, although the population is about 4 million. I've discovered a new skill - a fantastic propensity for getting lost, not difficult in the Old Quarter where the streets and

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19891952.post-1134715916745378852005-12-18T22:35:00.000+08:002005-12-18T22:36:08.323+08:00

Welcome to my blog. In late December I will travel to the National Economics University in Hanoi, Vietnam. I'll be volunteering on a microfinance project and learning more about Development Economics. Please feel free to register your comments as I'd love to hear from you.

Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369567436670051549noreply@blogger.com4