Vietnamese History and Foods with Chris!!

We began the day on January 9th, 2019 in normal fashion by convening in the campus canteen for breakfast, where students enjoyed cafe da sua (Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk) and Bánh bao (a steamed circular bun containing pork and quail egg). Afterwards, we headed over to TDTU Building E and embarked on a two hour lecture given by Professor Richard Fincher detailing the role of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor in Vietnamese labor relations. During our lunch break, students tried Vietnamese Bánh mì and Phở at a different canteen on campus and later cooled off from a particularly hot day with Boba Milk tea.

In the afternoon, Professor Richard Fincher gave an interesting and poignant lecture on the history of the Second Indochina War, an event that in the United States we commonly refer to as the "Vietnam War." In this lecture, students were able to better understand a more comprehensive view of the War from the Vietnamese perspective, as well as reflect in a nuanced manner on how the War forever changed American citizens' view of their own government.

The daily argumentation and debate session with TDTU students followed in the evening, which was perhaps the highlight of the day. Both Cornell and TDTU students were able to channel the debate skills and experience that they had begun to acquire earlier in the week, and argued in teams over the topic, "Should teenagers be eligible to serve in important government roles?" This debate was particularly interesting in that students from both universities were able to compare and contrast the nature of education and government in their home countries, providing an ulterior benefit of cultural exchange. Afterwards, Cornell and TDTU students dined at a Thai restaurant in a nearby mall where some Cornell students were able to try Hot Pot for the first time. The day, filled with the exchange of food and ideas about government and history, represented another example of the array of cultural learning that a single Wednesday could achieve while in Ho Chi Minh City. --Chris

First Day Out and About with Claire!

On our first day with the whole group, we got to tour the Fito Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine and Pharmacy in District 10, where we learned about the influence of Vietnamese doctors in expanding the practice of healing and disease prevention through various natural means. As emphasized by our guide, the Vietnamese have a longstanding tradition of utilizing the herbs and other natural remedies grown/produced locally to treat illnesses, and strongly appraise prevention of these illnesses by living a healthy daily lifestyle. Additionally, we learned about the less conventional methods doctors would use to diagnose their patients, such as through palm reading. At the end of the tour, the museum offered us different types of tea, which were labeled according to their functionality, such as those for brain power or stress-reduction.

After the museum, we travelled to District 1 where we walked through their largest park and did some shopping in the Ben Tanh market.

That night, we visited the heart of District one, where the city was setting up decorations for the Tet Holiday. We stopped there for a while and people-watched from the balcony of a local café. From there, we were able to see all the people shopping for presents for Tet, or taking a break in the center where kids could play in the fountain or order food from street vendors.

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First Day of Classes, Debate and Dinner with Paul!

Today January 7th was our first full day of classes where we began by waking up early for a class with Mr. Fincher about Vietnamese history and labor. We learned about the wide spread influence of Marxism on the country’s culture and government which determined the way the country’s labor system functions currently and how French colonialism and cultures from other Asian countries contribute to Vietnam’s unique socioeconomic structure. Vietnam’s communist government but capitalistic economy entails a labor market that is heavily regulated by the government, meaning that most unions, NGO’s, and businesses have certain legal limitations such as representation, production, and negotiation in which they must operate. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that the dynamics between management and labor in Vietnam are nowhere parallel to the relationship between management and labor in the U.S. as it follows a tripartite structure. The class then entered into a dialogue comparing the two systems, having Mr. Fincher giving some of his own thoughts and insights.

Later that day we were able to have our first debate workshop. Both Cornell and TDTU students learned the basic mechanics of debate and engaged in a short exercise of “last one on the hot air balloon” justifying why you, being anyone or anything, should be left to survive. The room was immediately filled with laughter and excitement as students took on silly roles such as love, gravity, and a GPS device. It was a great opportunity to not only hone our debating skills but to have fun with the Vietnamese students.

 


Finally, after a long day we all went out to grab dinner. The food was amazing; especially being able to try local favorites such as Vietnamese Pizza, Tamarind Tea, and Quail Eggs. It was a great time for us to get to know the Vietnamese students better, hearing their jokes and stories.  Yet, things got a little crazy when the Vietnamese students refused to let us pay for the bill. We were so grateful for their hospitality and kindness and hoped that we could return the favor next dinner. --Paul

First Day in Vietnam with Daniel!

Hello! My name is Daniel Kim, and I am one of the eight ILR students travelling to Ho Chi Minh City to study at Ton Duc Thang University, located in District 7 in Vietnam. We will also be exploring the city, hearing from representatives from international NGOs and governmental institutions, and getting to know the Ton Duc Thang students through a debate tournament led by Cornell Debate Program. We hope that these blog posts give current Cornell students the opportunity to experience a bit of what our team learns and inspires future Cornell students to take part in this wonderful program.

The first day of the program officially began at 8:30am with the welcome ceremony hosted by Ton Duc Thang University. However, as most of the team was still jetlagged we got up around 6-7. I got a Bahn Bao for breakfast in the cafeteria before the ceremony. The ceremony began with speeches by Dean Hoa, Ton Duc Thang’s Dean of Labor Relations and Trade Unions, Ms. Vinh, a faculty member, and Professor Richard Fincher. Students sang traditional songs to us and one of the Vietnamese students explained to me that their culture was filled with singing as a way to express themselves. We reciprocated the performances by singing our own song. The ceremony ended with an ice breaker session where we learned the names of everyone in our groups and their favorite and most awkward experiences.

We proceeded to have a guest lecture from Mrs. Tran Thi Lan Ahn, a member of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). We learned of the HR challenges for employers in Vietnam and discussed the relationship between the workers, government, and management. Our afternoon lecture by Richard Fincher covered topics of Vietnamese labor relations in the global garment production process and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs.

The day culminated in a tour of the campus and dinner at a local restaurant. It was a very packed day, but I was excited for the days to come. - Daniel

Meet the 2019 Team!

Brittany Garcia


Brittany Garcia is an ILR senior with minors in Latin American Studies and Spanish. During
her time at Cornell, she has focused on her work with the debate team and volunteering
with organizations that serve vulnerable populations. After graduation, she hopes to find a
job and will be applying to law schools in September. Brittany hopes to ultimately find a
career in policy.

Michelle Zhao


Michelle Zhao is a senior in the ILR School with minors in Asian American Studies and Law & Society. Her research project will look at the growing role of the ILO in Vietnamese labor relations and the potential ratification of ILO Core Convention No. 98. She enjoys reading essays and publications from all over the internet (most recently, “The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life” by MLK Jr.), drinking green tea, and playing quizzes on Sporcle.


Daniel Kim


Hi! My name is Daniel Kim, and I am currently a junior in the ILR School from Okemos, MI. I am majoring in Industrial and Labor Relations and minoring in Business and Information Science. I am excited to be a part of the Vietnam program as I can understand labor relations in an export-oriented country with much of its economy relying on manufacturing. In addition, my research topic will be focusing on how technological advancements will impact labor relations within Vietnam.

Claire Ramirez


My name is Claire Ramirez and I am a sophomore in Cornell’s ILR school from Smithtown, New York. My major is Industrial and Labor Relations with intended minors in Business and Law & Society. On campus, I spend my time training as a cadet in the Army ROTC program and engaging in my social sorority.

I decided to participate in the Vietnam program to expand my knowledge of Asian labor relations, specifically due to my interest in the effect of industry and enterprise privatization in countries rooted in Socialism or Communism. I am also compelled to learn more about the dissonance between Vietnam’s progressive labor policies and the true practices used in their factories and workplaces. Additionally, I hope to expand my competence in diplomacy and cross-cultural collaboration through working with and learning from the students at Ton Duc Thang University.


Nicole Estess


Hi! My name is Nicole Estess and I am a sophomore in Cornell’s ILR school from San Diego, California.

I am intrigued by the Vietnamese labor structure and looking forward to learning more about worker management relations within it. I am particularly interested in focusing on conflict resolution among women workers and the role of different human resource practices in the global supply chain. I am excited to further engage with the TDTU students and faculty to forge new relationships.

Around campus I am involved in Cornell’s Society for Women in Business as the VP of Administration and Alumnae Affairs, the Society for Human Resource Management as a member of the executive board, and serve as the VP of Facility Operations for my social sorority. I also work as a student caller for the Cornell Annual Fund. In my free time, I enjoy running, spending time with my family and friends, and traveling.


Christopher Miller


My name is Christopher Miller and I'm a senior in the ILR School at Cornell from Chester, Connecticut. I have spent my time as an undergraduate focusing how policy and law can be leveraged in both domestic and international contexts to protect the rights of everyday, working people. I am also pursuing a minor in Italian in order to build on my passion for Italy's language and culture. On campus, I work at the Yang-Tan Institute as a student administrative assistant for the New York State Promise Project, and serve on the board of Student Management Corporation (SMC).

I chose to participate in the Vietnam Engaged Learning program in order to expand on these interests, further develop my cross-cultural competency and gain exposure to the greater Southeast Asian region. I plan on focusing my research while in Vietnam on the minimum wage policy and its impact on the country's economic competitiveness and ability to attract foreign direct investment, particularly in the garment sector.

Xavier Luna Orion Sabourin Eddy


My name is Xavier Luna Orion Sabourin Eddy and I am from a small town in rural Colorado. I'm currently a senior in the ILR school, with minors in English, the History of Capitalism, Inequality Studies, and Minority, Indigenous and Third-World Studies. My interests currently lie in Workers' Rights, Organizing, Activism, and Global Solidarity. At Cornell University, I am a lead researcher at the Office of Labor Education Research, and active in the Cornell Organization for Labor action, as well as Cornell Outdoor Education. I will be going into full-time union organizing in the spring following graduation.

I decided to participate in this Engaged Learning Trip because of my interest in cross-national solidarity and global labor struggles. I'm deeply excited to meet and learn from international students who also study labor relations. I am also very interested in the state of labor rights in Vietnam, especially in the shifting landscape around wildcat strikes and changes toward Freedom of Association. The main reason I aspire to continue my global career and studies is to demonstrate the power of solidarity, and class-consciousness, especially in a global climate that seeks to divide workers.

Paul Kim


Paul Kim is a Junior at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations studying Industrial Labor Relations and Business Administration. He is interested in conducting research in Human Resource Studies at Foreign Investment Enterprises, analyzing current issues and how businesses function within legal grounds. By expanding his knowledge on the subject, he hopes to one day go into human resource strategy and public policy to help strategize and devise solutions that is optimal for both management and labor. Paul has visited many countries in Asia, but he is especially excited to visit Vietnam because it will be the first Southeast Asian country he will visit. In his free time, he loves playing soccer, cooking classic Italian cuisine, and hiking. He looks forward to meeting new people and exploring the various opportunities that are available!