Amongst the Vietnamese population, medical professionals and paraprofessionals are traditionally regarded as caring individuals, a belief captured in the age-old expression, “thay thuoc nhu me hien” (“medical doctors are like gentle mothers”). These medical providers, whether in an office, clinical, or hospital setting, are expected to wholeheartedly diagnose, treat, and … [Read more...] about “Say No to Envelopes” Campaign: Putting an End to Medical Bribery
Jenni Trang Le, Vietnam’s Most Sought After Film Producer
Every month, the good folks at Saigon Creative host monthly talks with creatives doing work in Vietnam. I play basketball with George Nguyen, so in between games where I pass him the rock to drain the game-winners (or is that the other way around), we’ll manage to talk shop about people we know in the city. Saigon Creative’s muse for this month is Jenni Trang Le, who I’ve … [Read more...] about Jenni Trang Le, Vietnam’s Most Sought After Film Producer
Saigon Electric, Vietnam’s First Hip-Hop Movie
What happens when you put together underground dance battles and teenage romance and set them in the bustling atmosphere of one of Vietnam’s busiest metropolis? You get, Saigon Electric (alternatively known as "Saigon Yo!") a dynamic film featuring the lifestyle of break-dancers within the Vietnamese youth culture. Though the film may be labeled as the Vietnamese version of … [Read more...] about Saigon Electric, Vietnam’s First Hip-Hop Movie
12-Year-Old’s Murder Linked to Immigration Scam
As if the brutal stabbing of a young girl wasn’t appalling enough, the senseless murder of 12-year-old Jessica Nguyen of Gaithersburg, MD, also involved polygamy and an alleged immigration scam. On May 31, 2011, Nguyen’s body was found in the basement of her home by her teenage sister. She had been stabbed more than 40 times. Nguyen’s estranged stepfather, David Rich Hang, … [Read more...] about 12-Year-Old’s Murder Linked to Immigration Scam
Inside Human Trafficking: The Stories of a Girl
This post first appeared on the Pacific Link Foundation's ADAPT: Stop Human Trafficking blog on July 11. The original post and a Vietnamese translation can be found here. For the past three weeks, I’ve been living and working at Pacific Links’ reintegration shelter for trafficking survivors in northern Vietnam. There are twelve girls, ages thirteen to twenty-two, from five … [Read more...] about Inside Human Trafficking: The Stories of a Girl