Wednesday, May 15

We visited the Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park today, a large development built as a home for many corporations in Vietnam. The project seems to be beneficial to the city as it provides an attractive space for large corporations which will provide a large number of labor opportunities for the citizens. We learned a large portion about the reformation of Vietnamese labor laws as well. Vietnamese employees received 5 days of absence per month, a high number compared to in the United States. We also received a presentation by one of the parks occupant corporations, the II VI Corporation. The II VI Corporation is based out of Saxonburg, Pennsylvania and produces many high technological products and sells those products to other II VI locations to be distributed. The section of II VI based in Vietnam, Marlow Industries, has a very effective business model because they do not have to deal directly with any consumers. Therefore, they have a constant and known demand for their products which makes their production easier and more efficient. I was very impressed with the company, however was disappointed in the dining service facilities. For dinner, we went to an incredible Vietnamese BBQ resteraunt. The food was served raw and spiced, and was cooked on the tables on a fire grill built into the table. I jumped out of my chair when I picked on a shrimp on a stick, to find the shrimp legs flailing in front of my eyes.