Vietnam

As an intro to the EMBA trip Professor Clark actually left for a trip to Vietnam to gather info and review the market. Even as the world’s financial system undergoes stress and challenges it is great to be a millionaire if but for a currency issue – I am currently in Vietnam exploring opportunities for the University of Evansville – and the currency exchange rate for the U.S. dollar is 16,530 Vietnamese Dong per U.S. dollar so it takes just $100 to be a millionaire and just $150 to be a multimillionaire. But even in the land where the U.S. dollar has strong purchasing power some things are expensive like linking to the internet at $18 for 24-hour or $10 for only an hour…..

But with this said I arrived in Vietnam on Tuesday after a long flight from Evansville to Chicago to Tokyo to Ho Chi Minh City, about a day and a half with actual ground time added in along with crossing the international dateline. I.e. departing at 8:30 am Monday morning arriving Tuesday 10:15 PM…a long day! I am aware that coming to Vietnam is much different than in the 60s and 70s for Americans. Today it is seen as the next emerging market of opportunity.

Quick first impressions are that Ho Chi Minh City has hundreds, no thousands of mopeds. It is a primary form or transportation in this bustling city. I am learning that honking seems to be the primary means to communication. I have been amazed at the skill of the taxi drivers in navigating the weaving between lanes and the fact sometimes even on one way streets the traffic comes head on. I guess the traffic signals a bustling economy. Building and construction here and there confirm the growth. The taxi driver indicated that in 1975 there were 3 million people now there are 8 million and the roads have not changed much.

Onward to Hanoi with an arrival just before Typhoon Hagupit landed at 3:30 am this morning. Torrential rain and winds accompanied the storm, but it did not seem as serious here as in China where it first landed. Hanoi seems a little less busy as it is a smaller city and the rain is keeping everyone inside. More to follow

Summary

The Executive MBA class will embark on their international business mission to China on September 30, 2008. First, students will spend a couple of days in Hong Kong, visiting Victoria’s Peak, Stanley Harbor and Star Ferry. On October 4, the class will travel to Beijing where they will have the opportunity to participate in a presentation lead by the University of International Business and Economics and hear an overview of the Chinese economy. In addition, the class will learn about the Asian investment environment and consumer behavior. They will also hear from Mr. Gilbert Van Kerckhove, Managing Director of the Beijing Olympics. Mr. Gilbert will provide a summary on Beijing before and after the Olympics. Between October 8 and 12, the class will visit Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou. Here, the class will visit several companies and participate in discussions with management. The class is scheduled to visit the following companies: Boehring Ingelheim, Shanghai Hengyuan Garment, Crown Corporation and the Suzhou Industrial Park.


Daily Schedule
September 30 – Class departs to Hong Kong

October 1 – Class arrives in Hong Kong

October 1 – 4: Hong Kong: Visiting Victoria’s Peak, Stanley Harbor, Star Ferry, etc

October 4 – Class arrives in Beijing

October 5 – 7: Beijing

October 8 – 12: Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou

October 12 – Class departs China