I just returned from Hanoi Vietnam where I attended the conference “Building Partnerships in Southeast Asia: Opportunities and Challenges for the U.S. The conference was wonderful. I met a ton of interesting Americans working on Fulbrights. I also got to do some site-seeing in Hanoi.
Our hotel, the Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel was right next to the famous opera house. (Not to be confused with the infamous prison "The Hanoi Hilton" where American pilots were held from 1964-1973).
Trees lean into the Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi. Legend has it that the 15th century emperor Le Loi received a magic sword from the depth of the lake, which he used to overcome Chinese occupiers. “Hoan Kiem” means “return of the sword”.
The lake is the only serene spot I could find in Hanoi. Locals love to sit, talk, and exercise in the surrounding paths.
“Turtle tower” is very photogenic.
The traffic in Hanoi is nuts!
Ms. Claire a Pierangelo from the USA embassy Hanoi was the first speaker. She said the Fulbright program is one of the centerpieces of US engagement in the region and the program has the ultimate goal of increasing the chance that these nations will live in peace and friendship.
There were so many great presentations! I highlight a few of the most interesting talks here:
– Teaching the war in Vietnam….in Vietnam by Dr. John Milam
- Vietnamese students asked to name the first thing they thought of when they heard the word “America”, one third of the Vietnamese said “rich”, one third said “rock n roll”, and one third said “Hollywood”. Asked the same questions about Vietnam, 95% of Americans said “war”. One of Milam’s many goals is to teach Americans that Vietnam is more than just a war and to teach Vietnamese that America is more than just, rich, rock n roll, and Hollywood.
– Contracting for property rights in Indonesia: community fisheries, marine conservation, and dive tourism by Dr. Michael DeAlessi.
- Sustainable dive tourism has the potential to protect from over-fishing
– The distribution of helminthic neglected tropical diseases of the Philippines by Amelia Breyre
- More than 80% of the populations have worms! Amelia is trying to determine where and why and how this number can be reduced.
Ms. Jen Shyu singing and playing traditional Indonesian inspired music
Julia Ruppell presenting on ecology and conservation of crested gibbons in Laos. There are only two Fulbright representatives in Laos, me and Gerard Dougher.
Dinner with a few new friends working on Fulbrights in Thailand
The closing night of the conference was at the Vietnamese History Museum. There was a great Vietnamese band! They didn't seem to mind the rain.
This photo was taken in the Old Quarter which is the main commercial center of Hanoi. It is a maze of narrow streets and never ending bustling activity.
Be careful crossing the road here or even walking. There are not sidewalks and motorbikes whiz by from every direction!
Each street specializes in a specific product. I found a street that only sold buttons, another that only sold shoes, and another with party goods like streamers.
The main differences between Laos and Vietnam are due to the difference in population size and density. Laos has only 6.5 million people while Vietnam has a population of 90 million people. Due to the high population density in Vietnam, pickpocketing, theft, scams, vehicle accidents, and violence are much more common. One of the Fulbright researchers had $400 stolen from his back-pocket. So as much as I liked Hanoi, I am very glad to be back to the slow-pace of life in Laos.
Doughnut ladies stalk you on every corner
A Vietnamese bride getting her photo taken along the lake.
Hanoi is definitely an eclectic mix of old and new.
One more of Hoan Kiem Lake
Feeling so fortunate to be able to do some armchair travel along with you, Julia. I was especially interested in the cross-cultural talk about Vietnam and the US. Reminds me of when I used to visit classrooms to talk about Saudi Arabia, and the first words students came up with were camels and tents. It enriches our humanity when we can start thinking of “the other” as fully human and as part of a culture with value and something to teach us. You are really blessed to be having this experience as it will be with you all your life! Good job reporting on it!
Thanks for your comments Judy. It is interesting how most people don’t know much about Vietnam aside from what they saw in war movies. Most people don’t even know where Laos is or that it is its own country. A lot of people think it is part of Thailand.
Julia, Your presentation looked so interesting. I am glad it went so well and that you had a chance to makesome new friends and do a littel sightseeing. Vietnam is so different from Laos. We miss you! Dad leaves on Thursday! He is excited to be visiting you soon!
Love, Mom
Wow! Looks like it was cold there! Its surprising that they have doughnuts and French bread in Vietnam. Are there a lot of American products too? Did you do any shopping while there? What were all the other scholars doing in South East Asia? Did a lot of people go? I like the name of the conference, very detailed. Glad it went well!
Thanks for your questions. It was in the 60s (temperature) in Vietnam so it was a lot colder than Laos has been! They don’t have American products they have French products because they were a French colony. The other scholars in SE Asia are doing anything ranging from energy technology, to cell biology, to working with victims of the sex trade. It really was a diverse group. There are 65 of us altogether ranging from Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Cambodia.