Day 3

MORNING

Considering we partied pretty hard on Tuesday waking up in the morning at 6:00 to talk to my girlfriend was VERY painful. However I managed to take a shower, skype for 30 mins and put some clothes on myself before heading downstairs for a 5 minute breakfast. I had fried rice and noodles with this delicious chocolate cake without icing. The feeling of energy and rejuvenation didn’t last long however as we went outside and stepped in even warmer weather than the day before. Throughout the bus ride, my shirt was clinging on to me and I drank 2 bottles of water in 15 minutes. Did not have any Vietnamese language class today as we would be visiting 2 companies. VSIP (an industrial park) and II-VI (a manufacturing company). The visits would prove to be the most fruitful experiences of my trip thus far.

 

VSIP

VSIP was the company I researched and presented on prior to coming to Vietnam, so I was heavily immersed in the discussion and had many inquiries. I was captivated by all that they had to offer and how modern and cutting edge it all was. Essentially VSIP serves as a One-Stop-Service for manufacturing companies who want to have power, sewage treatment facilities, amenities, customs, a healthy working environment and a proficient labor force all in one location. Many companies have benefited from the set up and the country of Vietnam has attracted a large number of foreign investors through its creation. 

II-VI

One of these investors is II-VI. A company that has it’s paws on a very large sector of manufacturing from low end to high end optics and laser technology. We got a chance to explore their manufacturing plant and talk to their chief engineer who is the head of the program in Vietnam. He was especially helpful to me when I spoke with him one on one and I exchanged contact information with him hoping to get back to him in the future. He spoke of many worthwhile scholarships and I look forward to exploring that option as soon as possible. In general the manufacturing plant exposed me to the chemical and labor processes of the creation and utilization of certain materials. The set up and execution was fascinating to see.

Later we all went to dinner with the head of II-VI and continued our conversations. He also gave us fantastic advice for local bars and clubs. We followed the visit with another night of debauchery and fun.

Day 2

Tuesday - Day 2

Today we had a guest lecture on Urban Development. The information provided was extremely thorough and beneficial. It put many concepts into perspective. I have always wondered how exactly political standing affects economic growth in developing countries and the presentation really answered many of my questions. Currently, Vietnam's growth is directly influenced by its infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities. If we were to conduct a S.W.O.T analysis of the countries economic capabilities as a whole we would have something like the following:

Strengths: Land + Raw Materials + Self Sustainability + Cheap Labor + Skilled Workforce

Weaknesses: Poor Living Conditions + Poor Wages + Poor Transportation Capabilities + Poor Standard of Living

Opportunities: Foreign Investment + Manufacturing Capabilities

Threats: Corruption + Competition with Super Powers

In general the presentation was very beneficial and rewarding.

After the presentation we went to Phu My Hung Corporation were we got a chance to witness what a planned urban society may look like. I was very fascinated with all the information that was presented. In America, a society like this would never be possible because getting such land and investment without competition is unlikely in a democratic country. However in a country like Vietnam, such is not the case. I'm still skeptical about whether or not Phu My Hung is the solution to Vietnam's problem with lack of moderation because I believe Phu My Hung will become a community of affluent citizens only. This does not help the country as a whole and I am skeptical as to how the investment will play out in the long run. Regardless it's a fascinating concept.

In general the day was incredibly informative and I'm glad I got to witness everything I witnessed.

Without Wax,
Atharva

DAY 1

Day 1:

We arrived exhausted after a full day of travel. As if cumbersome travel wasn't enough, stepping out of the airport, we were greeted with humid warm air that clung to our bodies. We arrived at the hotel, showered, turned on the air conditioning and quickly went to bed.