English teaching is big business in Vietnam, where it seems everyone wants to learn the world’s most widely spoken language. But it can be a challenge for a novice instructor.
Tag Archives: Vietnam
14. The Sacred and the Profane
A celebration of the Tet holiday, in a Mekong Delta village, is a magical mystery tour of Buddhist spirituality, drinking games, unthinkable foods and cockfights.
13. Journey to the Mekong
Nearly 80 percent of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta is covered with rice. The region is always wet and green. But a visit to a tiny riverside village is a cultural adventure as well as a geographic one.
12. No Thanksgiving? No problem
Where does an expatriate eat Thanksgiving dinner when it’s being served half a world away? … It’s Thanksgiving week back in the United States, my home country. I have indelible memories of family feasting — of roast turkey, its juices locked in by its crispy skin; of moist stuffing and mashed potatoes with savory gravy;Continue reading “12. No Thanksgiving? No problem”
11. Going with the phở
No Vietnamese food is better known than the beef-noodle soup called phở. Served everywhere in Vietnam and in restaurants around the world, phở is the ultimate comfort food. It may be found from street stalls to fine-dining restaurants, and it’s as ubiquitous in households as the tomato soup or chicken broth your mother made whenContinue reading “11. Going with the phở”
10. Hem Sweet Hem
The author finds a place to live in central Ho Chi Minh City. It may not be charming, but it’s definitely quaint. …
9. My brilliant (acting) career
Having once appeared in a school play, I decided to explore a career in acting. The audition went smoothly, and then … The ad was simple enough. A production company was auditioning English-speaking actors (no experience necessary) to appear in a promotional video for an international financial firm. Announced on a website directed at expatriatesContinue reading “9. My brilliant (acting) career”
Travels in Vietnam 