Institutional Fees and Research in Vietnam

From: <rowens@uga.edu>

Date: Fri, Nov 14, 2008 at 7:38 AM

To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>

I am planning to begin research in Vietnam and had a question concerning institutional fees. Are there differences between the North and South? Are monthly fees common, even while in the field? I am resistant to such fees but wanted to check in with others before proceeding with any action.

Richard

UGA

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From: Joseph Hannah <jhannah@u.washington.edu>

Date: Fri, Nov 14, 2008 at 11:53 AM

To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>

Dear Richard,

These fees seem to be highly variable by institution and geography.

Some researchers have reported paying nothing, others pay a great

deal.

I worked through the University of Social Sciences and Humanities

(HCMC) in 2003-4 and paid about $150 for 12-months affiliation. I

thought this was money very well spent. they sponsored multiple entry

research visas for me and my family (though the visa fees were

additional), gave me unlimited access to several of their faculty, and

they provided me with invaluable letters of introduction to a couple

dozen academic, government and Party people to whom I doubt I would

have gotten access otherwise.

The University also asked me to provide some minor services, which I

gladly did: a couple talks/lectures to junior faculty, discussions of

my work with various members of the university, etc. These activities

were not really "payment," however, as they were relationship-building

and friendship building opportunities. I did, however, draw the line

at teaching English, as they pressured me to do for a while.

In my case, the fees were published in the university's printed and

web materials and was not negotiable. In other researchers' cases the

fees seemed to be far less formal, more negotiable, and somewhat

institutionally suspect.

Hope this anecdotal information is helpful,

Joe Hannah