I am an attorney in the Washington DC area, with a Doctor of Law in the US, attended the master program at the National School of Administration of Việt Nam, and graduated from Sài Gòn University Law School. I aso studied philosophy at the School of Letters in Sài Gòn.
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I have worked as an anti-trust attorney for Federal Trade Commission and a litigator for a fortune-100 telecom company in Washington DC.
I have taught law courses for legal professionals in Việt Nam and still counsel VN government agencies on legal matters.
I have founded and managed businesses for me and my family, both law and non-law.
I have published many articles on national newspapers and radio stations in Việt Nam.
In 1989 I was one of the founding members of US-VN Trade Council, working to re-establish US-VN relationship.
Since the early 90's, I have established and managed VNFORUM and VNBIZ forum on VN-related matters; these forums are the subject of a PhD thesis by Dr. Caroline Valverde at UC-Berkeley and her book Transnationalizing Viet Nam.
I translate poetry and my translation of "A Request at Đồng Lộc Cemetery" is now engraved on a stone memorial at Đồng Lộc National Shrine in VN.
I study and teach the Bible and Buddhism. In 2009 I founded and still manage dotchuoinon.com on positive thinking and two other blogs on Buddhism.
In 2015 a group of friends and I founded website CVD - Conversations on Vietnam Development (cvdvn.net).
I study the art of leadership with many friends who are religious, business and government leaders from many countries.
I have written these books, published by Phu Nu Publishing House in Hanoi:
"Positive Thinking to Change Your Life", in Vietnamese (TƯ DUY TÍCH CỰC Thay Đổi Cuộc Sống) (Oct. 2011)
"10 Core Values for Success" (10 Giá trị cốt lõi của thành công) (Dec. 2013)
"Live a Life Worth Living" (Sống Một Cuộc Đời Đáng Sống) (Oct. 2023)
I practice Jiu Jitsu and Tai Chi for health, and play guitar as a hobby, usually accompanying my wife Trần Lê Túy Phượng, aka singer Linh Phượng.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the UK Embassy in Vietnam held a bilateral meeting and announced the one-year review of implementing the Hanoi Statement on Illegal Wildlife Trade in Hanoi on May 31.
The report was built by the ministry based on the commitments of 25 countries and international organisations at the Hanoi Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade in 2016.
On Monday 14 May 2018 the Chinese Journal of International Law, an Oxford University Press journal, published an extraordinary 500 page “Critical Study” of the Awards on jurisdiction and the merits in the South China Sea Arbitration between the Philippines and China. Readers will recall the case was brought under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) by the Philippines against China and that there was an awards on jurisdiction in 2015 and a final award on the merits in 2016 (discussed in many places including here, here, here, here and here). The Critical Study was produced by the joint efforts of some 70 scholars and is listed as having been authored by the Chinese Society of International Law (CSIL). It examines almost every issue raised in the case – and several that weren’t – and concludes the Tribunal was catastrophically wrong on every single point, right down to how many times the Philippines was allowed to amend its pleadings. Tiếp tục đọc “A new twist in the South China Sea Arbitration: The Chinese Society of International Law’s Critical Study”→
This critical Study analyzes in detail the award on jurisdiction and admissibility of 29 October 2015 and the award of 12 July 2016 in the South China Sea Arbitration. After briefly introducing the project and the Study and describing the background to and course of the South China Sea Arbitration and the position of the Chinese Government, the Study moves to address one by one the following matters: jurisdiction; admissibility; historic rights; the status of China’s Nansha Qundao and Zhongsha Qundao; the legality of China’s activities in the South China Sea; due process and evidence. The Study closes with the conclusion that the Tribunal’s many errors deprive its awards of validity and threaten to undermine the international rule of law. Included as annexes are five useful official documents of the Chinese government on jurisdiction, the two awards, China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, and China’s adherence to the position of settling through negotiation the relevant disputes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. Tiếp tục đọc “The South China Sea Arbitration Awards: A Critical Study”→
Over the past three years, the U.S. and China have been at odds over the status of Chinese artificial islands in the South China Sea and U.S. Freedom of Navigation Operations.
The U.S. government initiated a Freedom of Navigation Program to contest “unilateral acts of other states designed to restrict the rights and freedom of the international community.” The program includes both maneuvers designed exclusively to challenge maritime claims the U.S. considers excessive, and operations with other purposes that incidentally challenge territorial claims. Tiếp tục đọc “A Brief History of U.S. Freedom of Navigation Operations in the South China Sea”→
Guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76), guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG-54). US Navy Photos
Over the weekend, a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG-54) and Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, USS Higgins (DDG-76) sailed in a two-ship freedom of navigation operation past islands claimed by China, according to media reports first reported by Reuters.
The FON operation in the Paracel Island chain was called a “serious infringement on China’s sovereignty,” Wu Qian, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, said in a Sunday statement.
The Pentagon on Wednesday uninvited China from a major United States-hosted naval drill in response to what it sees as Beijing’s militarization of islands in the South China Sea, a decision the Asian country called unconstructive.
“As an initial response to China’s continued militarization of the South China Sea we have disinvited the PLA Navy from the 2018 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise,” said Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Logan, a Pentagon spokesman. Tiếp tục đọc “China Uninvited From Major US Military Exercise By Pentagon”→
The guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan (DDG 72) transits the Mediterranean Sea in this August 31, 2012 handout photo. | Photo: Reuters
China’s Foreign Ministry urged the United States to stop such actions.
Two U.S. Navy warships sailed near South China Sea islands claimed by China Sunday, two U.S. officials told Reuters, in a move that drew condemnation from Beijing as President Donald Trump seeks its continued cooperation on North Korea.
The secretary allayed fears and addressed criticism by stressing that the Philippines has not lost a single inch of territory to China during the Duterte administration.
The government of Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte has fired off a stern warning to China regarding the natural resources in the South China Sea region.
The Philippines foreign ministry vows that the country will not shy away from going to war over the disputed region. The official, on Monday, stated that there are several “red lines” or actions – if crossed or taken – would be deemed unacceptable resulting in an aggressive response from Manila. Tiếp tục đọc “Philippines: We Will go to War Over South China Sea Violations”→
Đây là “Bộ sử biên niên ghi chép các việc thực về các đời vua chúa nhà Nguyễn, biên soạn từ năm 1820 theo chỉ dụ của vua Minh Mệnh khi thành lập Quốc sử quán. Đến năm Thiệu Trị thứ 4 (1844) phần đầu cảu công trình mới biên soạn xong. Các Chánh phó Tổng tài là Trương Đăng Quế, Vũ Xuân Cẩn và các quan chức sử quán dâng biểu xin vua duyệt định cho khắc in. Lúc trước Minh Mệnh mới cho tên đại thể là Liệt thánh thực lục [列聖寔錄], nay sách soạn xong chính thức lấy tên là Đại Nam thực lục [大南寔錄], chia làm 2 phần Tiền biên và Chính biên. Phần Tiền biên này gồm 12 quyển, ghi các việc về 9 đời chúa Nguyễn: Khởi đầu từ Thái tổ Gia Dụ hoàng đế tức chúa Nguyễn Hoàng (Q.1), tiếp sau là các chúa: Hi Tông Hiếu Văn tức chúa Nguyễn Phúc Nguyên (Q.2), Thần Tông Hiếu Chiêu tức Nguyễn Phúc Lan (Q.3), Thái Tông Hiếu Triết tức chúa Nguyễn Phúc Tần (Q.4-5), Anh Tông Hiếu Nghĩa tức Nguyễn Phúc Thái (Q.6), Hiển Tông Hiếu Minh tức Nguyễn Phúc Chu (Q.7-8), Túc Tông Hiếu Ninh tức Nguyễn Phúc Chú (Q.9), Thế Tông Hiếu Vũ tức chúa Nguyễn Phúc Khoát (Q.10), Duệ Tông Hiếu Định tức chúa Nguyễn Phúc Thuần (Q.11-12). Các sự việc ghi chép rất tóm tắt, bao quát hơn hai thế kỉ từ khi Nguyễn Hoàng vào làm trấn thủ Thuận Hoá năm 1558 đến khi Nguyễn Phúc Thuần chết (1777). Công cuộc trung hưng nhà Nguyễn tứ đó về sau do Thế Tổ nhà Nguyễn (tức vua Gia Long) đứng đầu sẽ là đối tượng ghi chép của phần Chính biên.” Tiếp tục đọc “Đại Nam Thực Lục”→
“Đầu sách có tờ tâu của Tổng tài, Toản tu Quốc sử quán triều Duy Tân đồng ký tên: Cao Xuân Dục 高春育, Lưu Đức Xứng 劉德稱, Trần Xán 陳燦, đề ngày 8 tháng 2 năm Duy Tân 3 (1909) tâu việc đã theo bản cũ chỉnh lý Đại Nam nhất thống chí 大南一統志 cho gọn để tiện xem đọc. Cuối bài tâu có in chữ châu phê của vua cho làm theo lời tâu. Tiếp đến Phàm lệ gồm 30 điều, nói các sự việc từ sau Thành Thái 19 (1907) chưa kịp hội nhập vào sách này. Sau Phàm lệ đến bảng kê các chức danh: Ngoài Tổng tài và 2 Toản tu kê trên, hạng Biên tu còn kê tên: Nguyễn Thiện Hạnh 阮善行, Trương Tuấn Nhiếp 張駿[ ], Phạm Khắc Sung 范克充; Khảo hiệu: Lê Hoàn 黎完, Trần Cán 陳幹; Đằng lục 騰錄 18 người, Thu chưởng 1 người. Tiếp đến là bảng Tổng mục, tức là khung đề mục của cả bộ, như: 分野 Phân dã, 沿革 Duyên cách, 形勢 Hình thế, 氣候 Khí hậu, 風俗 Phong tục, 城池 Thành trì, 學校 Học hiệu, 戶口 Hộ khẩu, 田賦 Điền phú, 山川 Sơn xuyên, 溪潭 Khê đàm, 古蹟 Cổ tích, 祠廟 Từ miếu, 寺觀 Tự quán, 關汛 Quan tấn, 驛站 Dịch trạm, 里路 Lí lộ, 津渡 Tân độ, 橋梁 Kiều lương, 堤堰 Đê yển, 市集 Thị tập, 人物 Nhân vật, 土産 Thổ sản. – Toàn bộ gồm 17 quyển, chỉ bao gồm các tỉnh Trung Kỳ, từ Thanh Hóa đến Bình Thuận.” (chính biên).
Đại Nam Liệt Truyện do Quốc sử quán của triều Nguyễn soạn. Bộ truyện này được chia làm hai phần gồm phần Tiền biên và phần Chánh biên. Tiền biên gồm có 6 quyển (chữ Hán), ghi chép lại tiểu sử của các nhân vật Hậu phi, Hoàng tử, Công chúa và các quan văn võ của 9 đời chúa Nguyễn bắt đầu từ Nguyễn Hoàng cho đến Duệ Tông Nguyễn Phước Thuần. Phần Chánh biên biên soạn từ năm Tự Đức thứ 5 (1852), bổ sung chỉnh lý liên tục, mãi đến đầu đời Thành Thái (1889) mới được khắc in. Đại Nam Liệt Truyện – Tập 1
The Mekong has long cast a mystical spell over adventurers, wildlife experts, and
scientists enchanted by its spectacular rapids and waterfalls, along with its endangered dolphins, giant manta rays, and Siamese crocodiles. The river’s biodiversity is second only to the Amazon.
In recent years, however, this great international river – which flows through six countries – has increasingly grabbed the attention of engineers, technocrats, and energy consultants on a very different kind of mission: to exploit its roaring currents in pursuit of hydropower.
Any idea of environmental protection for the wonders of the Mekong has been marginalized by China’s grand Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with its focus firmly fixed on trade, infrastructure development, and, along the Mekong, dam construction. Tiếp tục đọc “The Unfolding Mekong Development Disaster –”→
CVD 