Toby and I are sitting in the Incheon Airport (Seoul, Korea) with quite possibly the longest layover in recorded history – well, at least in our history – 12 hours and 33 minutes between flights. So, I thought I would post a few thoughts about my experiences during our trip.

I may come back and edit these – I’m working on about 2 hours of sleep over the past 30, and my thoughts may not coherent after I read them tomorrow…

Has my trip changed my perception of Vietnam? Absolutely…it is an interesting study of a modern interpretation of a national governance model that has largely disappeared. It wasn’t that long ago that the cold war was the largest threat to the U.S. I still remember reading the Civil Defense booklet in my family’s bookcase that talked about “duck and cover” and provided detailed plans for a do-it-yourself bomb shelter. Seems now the biggest threat is from terrorism and not world domination.

Update – Toby just found the World Series on the TV in the lounge we are spending some time in. We can’t read the names but I think we can follow the game just fine. Somehow the fact that we can watch the World Series live 12 timezones away from Arlington, TX seems normal – and that’s a good thing.

Several EMBA3 students took a short cruise on Halong Bay after our residency week was over. Here are a few photos and thoughts on what I experienced:

Halong Bay

This is a typical formation in the bay – huge limestone islands (officially limestone karsts – Geology 101 comes in handy) are spread over 1500 square kilometers off the northern coast of Vietnam. Halong means “descending dragon”, where the karsts resemble the pinnacles on the back of a dragon descending into the water.

Halong Bay - from the entrance to Hang Đầu Gỗ (Wooden stakes cave)

We visited Hang Đầu Gỗ (Wooden stakes cave) – the largest of several caves in the area. We walked up steps carved into the side of the karst to the entrance and then toured the cave. Very large and still active, with fresh water still making formations. Unfortunately, modern society has also left its scars in the form of graffiti and commercialization.

Halong Bay Sunset

The weather has been fantastic since Wednesday, and it continued into Saturday with a clear night for stargazing and an opportunity to enjoy the sunset. The night on the junk was very nice – cool enough to open the windows and enjoy fresh air.

The road between Halong Bay and Hanoi is an adventure in itself – there are several stops to “rest and refresh” and also to buy souvenirs and art. Did I mention the road, and the tendency for tour bus drivers to take the path of least resistance – regardless of the road condition, traffic lanes and oncoming traffic? Riding and driving in Vietnam is one of those areas where you “roll with it” and hope that the Vietnamese keen sense of situational awareness is working well that day.

Halong Bay is a global treasure and should be experienced if you are in Vietnam. As in all things that are special in the world, there is a sense of exploitation, but we as a species are guilty of this (ever driven to Mount Rushmore and encountered the blizzard of signs for Wonderland Cave?). So, look for the stunning and unique, and downplay the commercialism – enjoy the beauty of Halong Bay.

This from Eddie vH:

Do you start your meetings with a private concert? Maybe you should consider it, Mr Nguyen Vu did it for the Boise State EMBA students.

Pianist at Trung Nguyen Coffee Creativity Center

Pianist and Violinist at Trung Nguyen Coffee

Dr. Nancy Napier and Mr. Nguyen Vu

Dr. Nancy Napier and Mr Nguyen Vu at the Trung Nguyen Coffee Creativity Center

Boise State EMBA at Trung Nguyen Coffee

Trung Nguyen Coffee Creativity Center

The Creativity Center in the hustle and bustle of Hanoi – what a place to come to find some peace and have a energetic and creative session.

Portraits from Coffee Beans

–Eddie

Eddie vH. contributed this post:

Warm Welcome

Such a warm welcome!

MK Sign

Nancy and Kirk

Citroen

The 40 year old French limo was not for Hilary C coming to the ASEAN meeting that is going on right now, but for Dr. Nancy and Dr. Kirk.

Mr. Khang - CEO and BSU Grad

Mr. Khang hosting us, what a phenomenal businessman and of course a BSU graduate.

–Eddie

These photos and comments are from Eddie van Hout:

Nice Words

Mike finally gets to say a few nice words and he delivers very well.

Art

A Vietnamese piece of art offered to BSU by one of our local Vietnamese grads and made by his family.

EMBA3 Alumni Dinner

Professor and Student

Gift Presentation

Toast

More Photos

Go Broncos!

VIetnam Boise State MBA Alum

Nancy

“lk heb geen idee wat er aan de hand is, weten jullie het? ” – In English “I have no idea what’s going on, you know it?”

Boise State MBA Alumni Dinner

Alum

Showing BSU Colors - she was at the Virginia Tech game in September!

Cheryl

More Alumni and EMBA3 Students

Fitting Symbol of the BSU-Vietnam Connection

What a great party, thank you Alumni, nice to meet new friends.

-Eddie

Some more great photos from Kayce:

Cheryl

Cheryl, you must really love the schedule . . .

Mike and Brian

Did we really elect him as our spokesperson??

U.S. Embassy Car

U.S. Motorcade – no, Hillary is not here (yet).

Helicopter

Look closely . . . U.S. Army on door, but it says U.S. Air Force at back – confusing??

Carl

Carl, the perpetual Wing-Man . . .

No Thanks

How do you say, “NO, THANK YOU!” in Vietnamese??

Tomato Juice

Tomato Juice – ala Vietnam . . .

Gary

Do I have something on my face?

Window Shopping

Not even sure what to say . . .

Beer Delivery

Ahhhh . . . cold beer delivered from up above!

-Kayce

Here’s another post from Kayce:

We’ve had wonderful opportunities for people watching here. The Vietnamese are a very beautiful people!

Bakery

The bakery – with the most incredible sweet bread!!

Local Women

Two beautiful local women outside the Catholic cathedral that we stumbled upon.

Little girl

A little girl with a “smile” for us!

Young Friend

A young friend encountered in the Ho Chi Minh Museum

Local Watering Hole

Thuy, a very young-looking 36 year old from Ha Noi, and Rick and Julie – two travelers who just arrived from Switzerland. We had to try out the local seating!

More to come . . .

-Kayce

The following is from John Kumm:

Vibrant, intoxicating, exotic. All these words could be used to describe Hanoi, yet none of them seems completely adequate. The place is rich and alive in ways that are difficult to capture. We’ve had several intense days of meetings, walking about the city, great experiences with our fellow students, the sites (and sights) of the city, and the people that we’ve travelled to meet. And as of mid-day Wednesday, we’re just half through. Among the cultural sites we’ve seen are the Ho Chi Minh Museum, the Temple of Literature (a monument of Confucian teaching), and the exterior of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Stellae of the Doctors

The photo is of the Stellae of the Doctors at the Temple of Literature. More to come as we have time…

–John K

Here are a couple more photos of Hanoi sights:

The Hanoi Opera House and a dragon from flowers, along the lake. More to come – heading off to the U.S. Embassy today…

Hanoi Opera House

Dragon

John Kumm posted this:

The last five of us arrived more or less together late last night.  We spent today getting oriented to the market district within a few kilometers of the hotel.  Hanoi is amazing.  The traffic is bustling and we’re already seeing the most interesting things.  And we’re doing our part for the local economy by making purchases:  pearls seem to be very popular among the team.

Vietnam version of Reddy Kilowatt

Had to take a snapshot of the Vietnamese version of Reddi Kilowatt. This fellow is posted near a distribution transformer.  He’s not nearly as friendly as Reddi, but he clearly conveys the point in any language…

More later, the whole team is assembling for dinner.

—John K

Our international residency in Vietnam is less than three weeks away. It’s headed by professor Nancy Napier, and associate dean Kirk Smith. And we’ll be supported by the program’s ever-resourceful director of executive education, Cheryl Maille.

Preparation includes airline tickets; travel visas; before- and/or after-trip plans; cultural readings; quick tips on Vietnamese customs, traditions, cuisine and phrases; and a slew of shots and meds before traveling.

Excitement for the trip is high. Everyone has been reading and sharing travel guides, tips and sites to get up to speed. Some of us are particularly interested in the local cuisine, while others are eager to shop. Interesting stories that have been circulated around include the following:

• The Minsk and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
• Vietnam Brewers Fight Global Giants By Popularizing Kegs of ‘Fresh Beer’
• An Old Quarter’s Timeless Lure
• 36 Hours in Hanoi

And the weather’s set to be in the high ’90s with high humidity. Coming from dry Boise, the extra moisture in the air may be an adjustment for some of us.

If you’re planning to travel abroad, you should check with your doctor on where you can get the necessary immunizations. After calling around, neither my allergist nor family doctor carried the full assortment of vaccines I needed. They referred me to the Central District Health Department for a list of traveler-specific immunization services.

I chose the St. Luke’s Travel Medicine Group (full disclosure, since I’ll get grief from my physician colleague, Stew – the group is conveniently located just down the street from my office). For a nominal fee, I spent an hour with an RN getting the information I needed on region-specific immunization recommendations, followed by a session of stick the arm with a boatload of needles.

In addition to a Travax traveler health report detailing recommended vaccines and more, I got a packet full of interesting travel tips, from insect repellant and water safety to medical care items and travel reminder list.

Now I’ve got five super-reflective band-aids on my slightly sore arms (my girls loved them), a box of Typhoid tablets, a prescription for Cipro, and an appointment for two more shots. While I was there, I added the flu and Tetanus shots just to get up to date.

Please note that they do not process insurance, but you’ll leave with the proper documentation to file a claim with your carrier. And you get a nifty WHO international certificate of vaccination that I can carry with my passport (and can copy for my family doc).

Hanoi School Business Friends

Originally uploaded by Dnc 5oh

With a little over a week before departure, I have to admit that Vietnam never entered my mind as the first country that I’d visit in Southeast Asia. Perhaps, based on friends’ experiences there, I thought that I’d visit Singapore or the Philippines first. But after six months of tour books, blogs, Wikipedia and various papers, I cannot wait to experience Vietnam.

My colleagues and friends are very excited for me. I already have commitments to rendezvous after the trip for cocktails, dinner and other engagements to show off photos I have yet to take. The pressure’s on to experience everything vicariously for them.

My mom recalls the days of the Vietnam War and thinks I’m crazy (she supports my visit, but her generation carries the burden of lost friends and family). As American tourists in Vietnam, we might feel apologetic for the past. We don’t have to. In Hanoi, it was called the American War, one that they they won. But more importantly, the Vietnamese people don’t look over their shoulders into the past, but look toward the future.

I’m also looking forward to our informational meetings in Hanoi, but I’m still nervous about handling the exchange of business cards. In the U.S., when we exchange business cards, we may glance at them, and then stuff them in our wallets or pockets. In Vietnam, as with other countries in the region, you must present your business card with two hands, receive their card with two hands, read it and keep it out during your meeting. Stuffing it away is a sign of disrespect. It’ll take a little practice and patience, but I’ll get it down.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

IMG_5195

Originally uploaded by duncid

A few days before the Boise State eMBA international residency officially begins, my team (Brook, Matt, Stew and his wife Grace, and I) will spend a night on the Annam Junk in Ha Long Bay. We’ll rendezvous Saturday morning for a bus/van/shuttle (I have no idea what it’ll be) ride 3.5 hours east of Hanoi. Our travel brochure says that we’ll stop at some artisan villages along the way. From there, we hop on the boat, set “sail” and spend the day and night cruising the bay and visiting its sites. We’ll return Sunday to rendezvous with the rest of the class, share stories, tips and more before organizing our week.

One of the interesting beverages that we’ll explore in Vietnam is kopi luwak. According to Wikipedia, it’s a coffee made from coffee berries which have been eaten by and passed through the digestive tract of the Asian Palm Civet. The beans are then washed and roasted. The combination of enzymes in the civet’s stomach adds to the coffee’s flavor, contributing to its bitter taste. At $33 per cup, we’re curious enough to to try it out and report back on how it tastes.

Petronas Towers

Originally uploaded by Douglas Metzgar

We made a stop-over in KL, Malaysia and visited with the Battelle Malaysia folks at the Petronas Renewable Energy Laboratory. We had great discussions with the Director for Human Resources, the Director for Strategic Planning, the Director for Programs and the Deputy Laboratory Director.  They shared with us their perspectives regarding the challenges and rewards associated with establishing a research and development function in Malaysia. It was fascinating!  We also had the opportunity to enjoy some great Malaysian food and enjoy the company of good friends at dinner with the Newcombs.

We visited the Petronas Towers (once the tallest buildings in the world) and Jeff took some great night time shots, including this one.

We are off to Penang to enjoy the beach and to see more of Malaysia.  Maggie and I are looking forward to some local shopping!  It should continue to be a great week. We look forward to Hanoi next week.

Regards and safe travel,

Lisa, Maggie and Jeff

Boise State University eMBA team members Lisa, Maggie and Jeff sent an update from their stop in Malaysia. They’re making their way to Hanoi, Vietnam by the end of the week.

We made a stop-over in KL, Malaysia and visited with the Battelle Malaysia folks at the Petronas Renewable Energy Laboratory. We had great discussions with the Director for Human Resources, the Director for Strategic Planning, the Director for Programs and the Deputy Laboratory Director.  They shared with us their perspectives regarding the challenges and rewards associated with establishing a research and development function in Malaysia. It was fascinating!  We also had the opportunity to enjoy some great Malaysian food and enjoy the company of good friends at dinner with the Newcombs.

We visited the Petronas Towers (once the tallest buildings in the world) and Jeff took some great night time shots, including this one.

We are off to Penang to enjoy the beach and to see more of Malaysia. Maggie and I are looking forward to some local shopping!  It should continue to be a great week. We look forward to Hanoi next week.

Regards and safe travel,
Lisa, Maggie and Jeff

My Nosh Cafe

Originally uploaded by Douglas Metzgar

Matt and I are enroute to Vietnam. We took a minute to post an entry from Hong Kong. Our flight from San Francisco took 13.5 hours. The good thing is that our flight was an all-nighter with arrival at 6:30 a.m. local time. We’re optimistic this will help with some of the jet lag. Better yet, ask us how we feel at 3 p.m. today. We leave Hong Kong at 8:45 a.m. and get into Hanoi 1.5 hours later.

Some first impressions from our flight and the local airport terminal. Clean and friendly. We’re grabbing a bite at the My Nosh Cafe and enjoying a banana pancake (it’s a banana and ricotta/cream cheese blended inside of an egg crepe). Can’t figure out why there’s a vinegar flavor it it, but after the first bite, we’re hooked.

Looking forward to getting into Hanoi and grabbing some Pho and fresh beer. More to come on that tonight. For now, enjoy some interesting shots from our flight into Hong Kong.

Matt and I watched the traffic madness around us as we rode into Hanoi from the airport. This being our first day, it was amazing to see people driving on the opposite side of the road; stopping in the middle of a lane to take a cell phone call with a line of traffic behind them; indiscriminate honking; driving into oncoming traffic and more.

In this video, watch for two things. The motorbike merging from the opposite side of the street, and the number of power lines on the poles. Density and growth place larger demands on the grid, which is aboveground. As for the traffic, I’m sure that when we get back home, all traffic will seem too tame.

We’re having lunch with our generous host Mr. Khang at the Hoa Sua (milky white flowers) School in Hanoi. The restaurant’s a training school that provides culinary skills for disadvantaged children. It’s similar to Boise’s Life’s Kitchen, but in a full-service restaurant setting. The food was wonderful, which featured a strong European/Asian fusion of flavors.

The first day of our international residency focused on Vietnam’s economy. Most Americans would be surprised to see what this country is doing to attract foreign investment to fuel its growth.

Over the last 20 years Vietnam has been working hard to transition from command economics to doi moi, a market-driven policy of fiscal reform. Despite the global economic crisis over the last year, Vietnam continues to expand its economy at 5-8% annually — one of the fastest rates worldwide.

The country is the second largest exporter of coffee and rice, behind Brazil and Thailand, respectively. And it’s the largest exporter of pepper.

Today, Dr. Dinh gave us overview of a socialism-oriented market in Vietnam to help us what it means to the rest of the world; the business environment; and working through its social and economic challenges.

Following lunch at the Hoa Sua Restaurant, we met with Mr. Vinh, CEO of Techcom Bank. He talked with us about his company’s growth strategy and how they plan to continue expanding over the next five years.

Our final meeting of the day was with Mr. Ahn, the head of research for BIDV Securities. He focused on how his company helps private and commercial investors in Vietnam.

After dinner in the Old Quarter, we headed over to the Thang Long, Vietnam’s premier venue for the water puppet show. The puppets are controlled by long rods and strings operated by puppeteers in thigh-deep water behind a blind. The show’s theme is based on Vietnamese folklore.

Tomorrow, we visit the U.S. Embassy to get a briefing on the U.S. Commercial Service. From there we head to the MK Smartcard factory for a tour. The day will wrap with a group dinner hosted by the Boise State University alumni chapter here in Vietnam (Vietnamese MBA students who attended a semester abroad in Boise, ID).

Finally, the Boise State University eMBA 2 class extends its gratitude to Ms. Ha, who coordinated this week’s meetings. Our meetings would not have been possible without her hard work.

In America, most of our parents recall the effects of the war in Vietnam. But here, with 60% of the population under the age of 30, the Vietnamese remember the past, but look to the future as the country pushes ahead as a global trading partner.

Our second day in Hanoi kicked off with a U.S. Commercial Services briefing at the U.S. Embassy. We listened to the latest updates on Vietnam’s current economy, politics and commercial development. As I mentioned in my previous post <insert link> the country demonstrated a robust response to the the global economic crisis. In the last 20 years, the U.S. is Vietnam’s No. 2 trading partner, behind China. As for politics, U.S./Vietnamese relationships continue to grow, which is demonstrated by an increase in exchanges between military officials on both sides. Some of us have arranged separate meetings with embassy representatives on Friday to learn more about how our companies can help further trade relations with Vietnam.

After a lunch hosted by Mr. Mr. Khang, we visited his MKsmart <http://www.mksmart.com.vn> manufacturing facility, where we were warmly greeted by company staff. The MK Group of companies is a success story of Vietnam’s entrepreneurial spirit. The MKsmart division manufactures smart cards, business forms, plastic cards and related services for the telecommunication, insurance and banking industries.

We wrapped the day as dinner guests with the Boise State University Vietnam Alumni Chapter. They were gracious hosts eager to learn more about our program. And we were interested in learning more about their progress following their MBA experience in Boise, ID.

Tomorrow, we break out into separate groups for individual company visits, in addition to a presentation with the Economics Institute director, Dr. Thien.

In America, most of our parents recall the effects of the war in Vietnam. But here, with 60% of the population under the age of 30, the Vietnamese remember the past, but look to the future as the country pushes ahead as a global trading partner.

Our second day in Hanoi kicked off with a U.S. Commercial Services briefing at the U.S. Embassy. We listened to the latest updates on Vietnam’s current economy, politics and commercial development. As I mentioned in my previous post the country demonstrated a robust response to the the global economic crisis. Since the war, and particularly over the last 20 years, the U.S. is Vietnam’s No. 2 trading partner, behind China.

As for politics, U.S./Vietnamese relationships continue to grow, which was recently demonstrated by an increase in exchanges between military officials on both sides. Some of us have arranged separate meetings with embassy representatives on Friday to learn more about how our companies can help further trade relations with Vietnam.

Boise State Group Shot With MKsmart Representatives

After a lunch hosted by Mr. Mr. Khang, we visited the MKsmart manufacturing facility, where we were warmly greeted by Mr. Khang’s staff. The MKsmart is a great testimonial to Vietnam’s entrepreneurial spirit. Started just under 10 years ago, the MKsmart division is now a leading international manufacturer of smart cards, business forms, plastic cards and related services for the telecommunication, insurance and banking industries.

Group Shot Of The Boise State University Vietnam Alumni Chapter

We wrapped the day as dinner guests with the Boise State University Vietnam. They were gracious hosts eager to learn more about our program. And we were interested in learning more about their progress following their MBA experience in Boise, ID.

Tomorrow, we break out into separate groups for individual company visits, in addition to a presentation with the Economics Institute director, Dr. Thien.

Our international residency here in Hanoi, Vietnam has been an experience unlike any other. As I reflect on our business and cultural activities over the past three days, I find myself grateful to those who pulled this trip together — from the professors and school support staff who coordinated the week’s events, to their contacts and the generous people of Vietnam who warmly welcomed us in their country. Combined, this trip epitomizes the high quality and uniqueness of the Boise State University Executive MBA program.

Sentimentality aside, today was remarkable. We started with group visits to several companies and institutions in Hanoi. Stew, Karen and Matt visited the Hanoi Heart Hospital; Ruth, Marie and Matt met with the Hitech Group at FPT; Rick, David and Mike visited the Vietnam Cement Corporation; and Karl, Maggie, Jeff, Lisa and I met with the Vietnam Nuclear Energy Research Institute (VAEC). George set out on his own to a meat processing facility. Lots of us came away with insights and ideas on how we can further relations with Vietnam.

Later, some of us headed out to lunch at Hoa Vien Brauhaus. We met with the manager, who guided us through several appetizers and drink recommendations. Having spent some time in Lancaster, Calif., Mr. Thong was more than happy to give us a tour of his brewing facilities. It was a wonderful contrast enjoying German sausage with chopsticks in Vietnam.

In the afternoon, the class attended an informative presentation by Dr. Thien, the director of the Economics Institute. Imagine the challenges Vietnam’s leaders face when transitioning a country, with a rich 4,000-year history, from a command to market-demand economy within a 20-year period. By opening their country’s doors to the rest of the world, they’ve had to work hard at changing their country’s way of thinking. Vietnam has certainly come a long way to reduce poverty, increase it’s annual GDP and change policies. But there’s more to be done. Dr. Thien shared his country’s goals to increase exports, improve the average annual income of $1,100, and increase imports.

Tonight we set off in groups to grab dinner. Marie, Cheryl and I quickly made our way to the Old Quarter to visit Huong’s Jewellry Store. If you’re ever in town, this is a must-visit business that features affordable silver, pearl and gold jewelry. They have two stores — one at 62 Hang Ngang, and the other at 338 Pho Hue on the second floor of the Vinh Long Gallery. The staff is friendly and willing to accommodate almost any order.

Tomorrow we meet for a debrief on our company visits, and take in some of the sights in town, including the Ho Chi Minh Museum, Mausoleum and War Museum. A couple of side notes —  we’re getting lots of rain, so internet access has been scarce. And be sure to check the photo album to the right for the latest photo uploads.

Sentimentality aside, today was remarkable. We started with group visits to several companies and institutions in Hanoi. Stew, Karen and Matt visited the Hanoi Heart Hospital; Ruth, Marie and Matt met with the Hitech Group at FPT <http://www.fpt.com.vn>; Rick, David and Mike visited the Vietnam Cement Corporation <http://www.vicem.vn>; and Karl, Maggie, Jeff, Lisa and I met with the Vietnam Nuclear Energy Research Institute (VAEC) <http://www.vaec.gov.vn>. George set out on his own to a meat processing facility. Lots of us came away with insights and ideas on how we can further relations with Vietnam.

Later, some of us headed out to lunch at Hoa Vien Brauhaus <http://www.hoavien.vn>. We met with the manager, who guided us through several appetizers and drink recommendations. Having spent some time in Lancaster, Calif., Mr. Thong was more than happy to give us a tour of his brewing facilities. It was a wonderful contrast enjoying German sausage with chopsticks in Vietnam.

In the afternoon, the class attended an informative presentation by Dr. Thien, the director of the Economics Institute. Imagine the challenges Vietnam’s leaders face when transitioning a country, with a rich 4,000-year history, from a command to market-demand economy within a 20-year period. By opening their country’s doors to the rest of the world, they’ve had to work hard at changing their country’s way of thinking. Vietnam has certainly come a long way to reduce poverty, increase it’s annual GDP and change policies. But there’s more to be done. Dr. Thien shared his country’s goals to increase exports, improve the average annual income of $1,100, and increase imports.

Tonight we set off in groups to grab dinner. Marie, Cheryl and I quickly made our way to the Old Quarter to visit Huong’s Jewellry Store. If you’re ever in town, this is a must-visit business that features affordable silver, pearl and gold jewelry. They have two stores — one at 62 Hang Ngang, and the other at 338 Pho Hue on the second floor of the Vinh Long Gallery. The staff is friendly and willing to accommodate almost any order.

Tomorrow we meet for a debrief on our company visits, and take in some of the sights in town, including the Ho Chi Minh Museum, Mausoleum and War Museum.

Since Typhoon Parma missed Hanoi, except for some rain showers, we were able to get out and visit the sites. We started at Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, but it was closed. Word has it that his carefully preserved body was sent to Russia for touching up. For those of you unfamiliar with Ho Chi Minh, he’s considered the father (or in Vietnamese terms “uncle”) of today’s Vietnam after having led the country out of French rule. Instead, we toured the Ho Chi Minh museum, which is a tribute to his ideals and efforts. Surrounding the area is the French Quarter, which features many of the French architectural influences in the area.

Following that, we headed over to the Vietnam War Museum, which pays tribute to the Vietnamese people and their efforts to overthrow outside rule. For Americans, it’s a sobering view of the American War (our Vietnam War) from a Vietnamese viewpoint. It was interesting to see tourists standing for a photograph in front of an American tank, while we reflect on those who served during that war.

We then grabbed lunch at the Khai Brothers restaurant. If you’re touring Hanoi, this is a must-visit. The range of food and quality of service makes this establishment stand out among others. I picked up a bag of coffee, which is best enjoyed with sugar (cream, or milk, is not a staple here like it is in the U.S.).

Finally, we were on our own for the night. After a quick nap, I joined Matt, Brook and Stew for some shopping in the Old Quarter at the Huong’s Jewellry Store, and a nearby laquered-wood shop, for gifts. I talked with Ms. Huong’s brother for a while while waiting for the guys and he invited us to stop by their new jewelry shop and art store. They have a few 1,000-year-old bronze war drums in their inventory, so Mr. Huong invited me to view them. I’m excited at the opportunity to view them (good for my wallet, it’s illegal to transport these antiquities out of the country).

It’s easy to get lost in this part of town with its labyrinthine streets. In search of Le Pub, which is favored by British expats, Google Maps proved to be useless. Instead, we found ourselves directed one way by locals, while a street vendor accompanied us another way with the understanding that if we successfully got to our destination, we’d buy one of his books for sale (for a couple of dollars). We got there and enjoyed fish and chips, beer and other dishes for dinner, while talking with some German graduate students.

Tomorrow, we conclude our week-long international residency at with various independent visits to businesses around town. Jeff, Maggie, Brook, Lisa, Ruth and I will pay a visit to the U.S. Consulate. I’m looking forward to finding out more about furthering business in Vietnam. And we’ll host dinner for the people who made this trip happen. It’ll be good to thank them in person again, as well as cement future relationships.

I’ll post another entry on Friday following our visits and dinner reception. The Boise State University Executive MBA class will send me additional photos to add to our album, which documents our amazing experience in Vietnam.

Following that, we headed over to the Vietnam War Museum, which pays tribute to the Vietnamese people and their efforts to overthrow outside rule. For Americans, it’s a sobering view of the American War (our Vietnam War) from a Vietnamese viewpoint. It was interesting to see tourists posing for a photograph in front of an American tank, while we reflect on those who served during that war.

We then grabbed lunch at the Khai’s Brothers restaurant. If you’re touring Hanoi, this is a must-visit. The range of food and quality of service makes this establishment stand out among others. I picked up a bag of coffee, which is best enjoyed with sugar (cream, or milk, is not a staple here like it is in the U.S.).

Finally, we were on our own for the night. After a quick nap, I joined Matt, Brook and Stew for some shopping in the Old Quarter at the Huong’s Jewellry Store, and a nearby laquered-wood shop, for gifts. I talked with Ms. Huong’s brother for a while while waiting for the guys and he invited us to stop by their new jewelry shop and art store. They have a few 1,000-year-old bronze war drums in their inventory, so Mr. Huong invited me to view them. I’m excited at the opportunity and thankfully for my wallet, it’s illegal to transport these antiquities out of the country.

It’s easy to get lost in this part of town with its labyrinthine streets. In search of Le Pub, which is favored by British expats, Google Maps proved to be useless. Instead, we found ourselves directed one way by locals, while a street vendor accompanied us another way with the understanding that if we successfully got to our destination, we’d buy one of his books for sale (for a couple of dollars). We got there and enjoyed fish and chips, beer and other dishes for dinner, while talking with some German graduate students.

Tomorrow, we conclude our week-long international residency at with various independent visits to businesses around town. Jeff, Maggie, Brook, Lisa, Ruth and I will pay a visit to the U.S. Consulate. I’m looking forward to finding out more about furthering business in Vietnam. And we’ll host dinner for the people who made this trip happen. It’ll be good to thank them in person again, as well as cement future relationships.

I’ll post another entry on Friday following our visits and dinner reception.

Friday marks the final day of our international residency in Hanoi, Vietnam. We were free to spend the day following up with contacts made during the week to shop, explore, visit another cultural sites and more.

A lot of us started the day meeting with members of the U.S. Consulate to discuss our opportunities and explore ways they could help us further business in Vietnam. Ruth, Matt and I talked marketing, estate planning and real estate, while Jeff, Brook and George explored nuclear energy, technology and agricultural issues respectively.

After lunch, Brook, Matt, Stew and I spent the day shopping for last-minute gifts and getting lost in Hanoi. We could swear we were going in circles despite our best intentions. Note to self — get a local GPS map unit since Google Maps was once again useless. The 3G network doesn’t work with that app on our phones. Among the four of us, we concluded the the following things learned from this trip:

We can say no.

If you’re in a city like Hanoi, if you see something you want to buy, buy it. Otherwise, you’ll never find the same place again.

Don’t wear dirty shoes as you walk through town (too many shoe-shine vendors).

We can order bia hoi (fresh beer) from any hole in the wall.

We can order lunch and dinner from any vendor, despite language barriers.

Doug has a big head (the hats are, apparently, too small for my fat skull).

One note — bia hoi is best enjoyed at a local hole in the wall where the proprietors are wonderful hosts despite the language barrier. We enjoyed six glasses of the fresh beer for less than a total of $1.50.

The class met for a final farewell dinner enjoying a local fish delicacy called cha ca. It was a delicious combination of rice noodles, various Vietnamese herbs, fish sauce and peanuts. Throw in a few chili peppers and you have a wonderful meal.

We used this opportunity to thank those who made this trip possible and say farewell to everyone who was heading home tonight or tomorrow morning. Some of us will stay until Sunday, like Matt and I, and some will move on to China, Cambodia, Thailand and South Korea.

Finally, from me, thank you for following our adventures in this blog. It was great to receive comments and view up to 170 unique visitors each day. If you’d like to learn more about our trip, comment here or send me an e-mail.

A lot of us started the day meeting with members of the U.S. Consulate to discuss our opportunities and explore ways they could help us further business in Vietnam. Ruth, Matt and I talked marketing, estate planning and real estate, while Jeff, Brook and George explored nuclear energy, technology and agricultural issues respectively.

After lunch, Brook, Matt, Stew and I visited the Hoa Lo prison (aka Hanoi Hilton) and then went shopping for last-minute gifts and getting lost in Hanoi. We could swear we were going in circles despite our best intentions. Note to self — get a local GPS map unit since Google Maps was once again useless. The 3G network doesn’t work with that app on our phones. Among the four of us, we made the following conclusions from this trip:

1. You can say no.
2. If you’re in a city like Hanoi, if you see something you want to buy, buy it. Otherwise, you’ll never find the same place again.
3. Don’t wear dirty shoes as you walk through town (too many shoe-shine vendors).
4. We can order bia hoi (fresh beer) from any hole in the wall.
5. We can order lunch and dinner from any vendor, despite language barriers.
6. Doug has a big head (the hats are, apparently, too small for my fat skull).

One note — bia hoi is best enjoyed at a local hole in the wall where the proprietors are wonderful hosts despite the language barrier. We enjoyed six glasses of the fresh beer for less than $1.50 total.

The class met for a final farewell dinner enjoying a local fish delicacy called cha ca. It was a delicious combination of rice noodles, various Vietnamese herbs, fish sauce and peanuts. Throw in a few chili peppers and you have a wonderful meal.

We used this opportunity to thank those who made this trip possible and say farewell to everyone who was heading home tonight and tomorrow morning. Some of us will stay until Sunday, like Matt and I, and some will move on to China, Cambodia, Thailand and South Korea.

Finally, from me, thank you for following our adventures in this blog. It was great receiving comments and viewing up to 170 unique visitors each day. If you’d like to learn more about our trip, comment here or send me an e-mail.

The team’s all back in Boise and we’re looking forward to our next class session in Nov. We’ll catch up and swap photo CDs so classmate Marie Tadlock can create a giant compilation disc. And thanks again to everyone who followed our blog. In talks with Nancy Napier, we agreed that we’ll keep this blog going with followup reports on our trip to Vietnam. Check back for updates.

Some of you have asked about our previous post regarding our quest for weasel coffee. I mentioned that one of our lessons learned in Hanoi was to buy something when you see it, since looking for it later may be fruitless. This law applied to our latest quest for weasel coffee (also affectionately called crappuccino). Listen to Nancy Napier’s comments on our adventure.

Earlier in the week of our trip, my colleagues spied a sign advertising weasel coffee in a particular part of town. Later, on two separate  trips there, we set out to find it. After some killer pho, some bia hoi, and several shopping detours, we couldn’t find the shop, nor any other reference in town to weasel coffee. We even trolled the coffee section of town with no luck. I wondered if that night’s deep-fried chicken head and feet feast, combined with bia hoi, had somehow altered my colleagues’ GPS-like navigation skills. Now I won’t know, unless one of us returns to continue the quest.

If you’re in the BSU eMBA III class, here are a couple of notes for your trip to Hanoi next year (I’m banking on the fact that you’ll unanimously vote for Hanoi in Dec.). This is your mission:

• Find the cat coffee. We failed to locate it on two attempts. And Nancy recently made a trip without any luck. If you see the cat coffee sign, stop and get a taste. Of course, you have to report back so we can publish your findings here.
• Drink lots of bia hoi. Nancy reports that  bia hoi business is inexplicably down 50% from a spike during a week in October ’09.
• Stop by Havien Brauhaus and say hi to Mr. Thang. He’ll greet you with open arms. Ask for the tour.
• Spend a few days before or after the trip to get in the sites around Hanoi — Sa Pa Mountains or Ha Long Bay (to name just a few). You’ve traveled that far around the world, so make it worth the journey.

All the best and drop us a note on your journey.

Good news. The Boise State University eMBA III class is heading to Hanoi, Vietnam later in Oct. 2010.

Our gracious contact in Hanoi, Mrs. Ha, just sent photos from the Hanoi Flower Festival. It was a five-day festival held around Hoan Kiem Lake to welcome the New Year and celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of Hanoi.

The Boise State EMBA3 Class continues the tradition of an international residency trip to Vietnam.  Most of us depart the week of October 18th.  We are excited to see, feel, taste, and smell all of these new (well, to most of us) things that we have been reading about.

Personally, I have been visiting with EMBA2 class members to understand more about the journey and experience.  The closer my departure time comes, the more the excitement (and some anxiety) is building up.

We will do our best to document our experiences on this blog, and remembering our recent class session on ethics and law, we will strive to keep it above board.  We surely wouldn’t want our class leader, Mike, to have to go to jail for us…hmmm.

P.S. – A shout out to Doug Metzgar for allowing EMBA3 to use this blog – thank you.

This is an update from EMBA3 Kayce McEwen – enroute to Hanoi today:

Hey everyone! We just landed in Taipei bewildered on what time it is. Add to your packing list – Tylenol PM, earplugs, dramamine, and eyeshades – it makes all of the difference in the world! China Airlines – very friendly, and of course can recognize Westerners from a mile away. Hard to believe we’re in another hemisphere already! See you all soon!

This posting comes courtesy of Troy Schreck – Troy left for Vietnam on October 10 and has been exploring the country since.

Xin Chao from Nah Trang Vietnam!

We arrived in Vietnam just over a week ago and hit the ground running (literally)…with stops in Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ho Chi Minh City, and Singapore, and haven’t stopped until we recently arrived in Nah Trang as of yesterday.

Troy testing his Captain skills

The week has been filled with so many new experiences, new sights, new foods, new languages, new smells, and new people.  We have officially immersed ourselves in the Vietnamese culture and have made many new friends as a result.  It is hard to adequately describe in words how we have come to feel about the people, the culture, and the country of Vietnam in just a short time.  With so many stories to share, I’ll limit one story per blog post and share the rest if you are interested once you arrive in country.

In lieu of sharing a story today, I thought it would be important to share some advice as you prepare to depart Boise.

Troy’s Top 5 Travel Tips:

1.  Be patient. Don’t expect too much too soon.  From your flights to your rooms, to eating new foods, give yourself sometime to adjust and adapt.  It took me 4-5 days before I felt adjusted to time, sleep, food, and climate.  This also goes for the language.  If you try and learn a few words in Vietnamese…it will go a long way.  I have also found that if you take the time to teach a few English words to the people you visit with they will appreciate your interest and effort!

2.  Expect the unexpected. Flight cancellations, motion sickness, transportation issues, weather…The only thing you can really expect is that the unexpected WILL happen! Just “move with it”, don’t fight it.  After a few days, you actually look forward to the “what’s next?”.  It is a bit of an adventure, so embrace it sooner rather than later.

3.  Get to know the People. From the moment you land in Hanoi, you will become closely intimate with the people…the Hanoi Airport taxi experience offers you a great opportunity right out of the chute to talk to the people.  Everywhere we go, we make it a point to try and visit with the people. From flights, to restaurants, to cabs, to cyclos, engage with them every opportunity to you have. We have made friends with many fascinating people and hope to stay in touch with them for years to come.

4.  Smile. This may sound simple, but it works.  When the unexpected happens, take a deep breath and smile. I call this “moving with it”. The Vietnamese people are an example to each of us in so many ways.  In so many ways, they have been given very little or have very little to “work with”, but somehow they figure out a way to “move with it”.  The traffic and transport system is a perfect example.  Don’t be alarmed in the taxi or when you arrive at the hotel and observe the busy streets.  Take it in, watch how the traffic just seems to “move with it” and somehow the chaos sorts itself out.  When you are visiting with people, relax, smile, and be at ease.  The Vietnamese people are a genuine and a wonderfully caring people.

5.  Try something new. Many of you know that as a full time runner, I am not a dessert eater.  The two activities usually don’t go well together…that is, until now.  That’s right, I broke down and decided its time to try something new.  How new?  Tonight we had a beach-side seafood BBQ with the most incredible fresh seafood display I have ever seen (better then Pike’s Place in Seattle, WA).  After gorging myself for a good hour, I decided it was time to try Vietnamese dessert!  Which one?  ALL of them.  That’s right, I sampled each of the desserts on the menu.  Many were absolutely delicious! Others…not so much.  The point is, TRY SOMETHING NEW.  It just means tomorrow I’ll have to run 20k instead of 13k!

I am looking forward to seeing each of you in a few days.  Please travel safe and be sure to get plenty of rest prior to your departure.  I’ll have a daily blog post from here on out!

Tam Biet for now!

Troy

Hi all,

Tried to post this from Sea-Tac, but had some technical issues.  Jeff, Brandon, Toby and Scott flew from Boise to Seattle Thursday morning.  When we stepped off of the plane, it was cool, probably 45-50 degrees.  I took this photo thinking that we would likely not be this cool again for a while.

Seattle Landing

We waited for our flight to Seoul and had some lunch – Seattle staples from Ivar’s Seafood.  We also exchanged dollars for Vietnamese dong so we would be able to pay the cab from the Hanoi airport.

Everyone is excited – ready to get in country and start this new experience!

–Jeff

Brian deciphering Korean

We had a good flight to Seoul and found our gate for the Hanoi flight. Brian, our designated point man (i.e., forced by peer pressure), is checking the status on the flights. We met a group from Missouri flying to Cambodia on a health mission. They want to play Boise State (have Gene call the Missouri AD).

Next stop – Hanoi

Army Hotel Courtyard

Good morning from Hanoi!  We arrived at the airport about 11 PM local time and found our ride waiting for us.  Good driver and minimal traffic had me hitting the pillow at midnight.

This morning is looking good.  Start off the morning with pho (noodle soup) and a quick tour of the Old Quarter.

Here’s the view from the lobby of the Army Hotel.

Hoan Kiem Lake

We posed in front of Hoan Kiem Lake yesterday during our orientation tour of old town Hanoi.  We saw well over 30-40 couples getting their wedding photos at the lake and government buildings that surround the lake.

We toured some of the Old Quarter – twisty streets brimming with merchandise and food.  Scooters are everywhere and drive where there is room – sidewalks, streets, parks.  I didn’t see any collisions, though, so  everyone seems to accept the chaos.

After a few hours of shopping, the jet lag started to hit me and I needed to drink some water and rest.  The rest of our class should all be here tomorrow and ready to hit the ground running (well, at least upright…).