From: gledbet@heartland.bradley.edu (Gene Ledbetter)
Newsgroups: soc.veterans
Subject: Unfinished Business
Date: 6 Nov 1992 16:49:26 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
Reply-To: gledbet@heartland.bradley.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu



I had mixed feelings when we pulled out of Viet-Nam in '75.  
I was glad it was over, but I didn't like the way we 
(correction:  our "leaders") abandoned our allies to the 
communists.  In my own way, I haven't given up.  Some of you 
may be interested in the following press release.  I belong 
to the Vietnamese American Education Foundation mentioned in 
the release.  We're smarter this time, and we've sent LAWYERS 
out to engage the enemy.  When our guys got there they 
couldn't find anyone who was willing to be the enemy; they 
were treated like heros (even as you and I?).  Anyway, here 
t'is:

++++++++++++++++

One hundred Vietnamese legal professionals have successfully 
completed a seminar on American business law organized by 
the Vietnamese American Education Foundation ("VAEF") and 
Vietnam's Ministry of Justice from September 28 through 
October 2 in Hanoi and October 4 through October 9 in Ho Chi 
Minh city.

The instructors, three practicing attorneys from the U.S., 
spent two weeks discussing contract drafting, corporate 
law and dispute resolution.  The participants came from many 
different governmental agencies, such as the National 
Assembly, the Supreme People's Court, Ministry of Justice, 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The State Bank, the law 
colleges, the arbitration associations.  Some participants 
are law professors and judges; others are senior lawyers or 
middle managers.  Mr. Nguyen Dinh Loc, minister of justice, 
was present to open and close the seminar.

Each participant was given a chance to evaluate the 
instructors and organizers.  An overwhelming number of 
participants rated the seminar and instructors at the 
highest possible score.  Many participants submitted 
comments, suggesting the Foundation open additional seminars 
in other subjects.  In addition, the seminar received wide 
media coverage inside the country.

The three U.S. instructors are Hoanh D. Tran, commercial 
litigator at MCI Telecommunications and president of the 
VAEF; Stuart Lemle, partner of the Washington-based law firm 
of Land, Lemle and Arnold and general counsel of the VAEF; 
Sesto Vecchi, partner of the New York law firm of Russin, 
Vecchi & Kirwood.

VAEF is a Washington-based, non-profit, tax-exempt 
organization, devoted exclusively to educational and 
training works to assist Vietnam in integrating its economy 
into the international market.  The Foundation is comprised 
of many professionals and academics worldwide.  In addition 
to this seminar, the Foundation is also involved in other 
law-related activities and exchange programs between the 
United States and Vietnam.

++++++++++++++++

P.S. -- VAEF isn't a bunch of busy-body do-gooders.  Most of 
the members are former boat people who have worked hard ever 
since they got to the States.

If you want to talk to them, you can give them a ring at:

     vaef-info@saigon.com

Gene Ledbetter, Tan Soh Nhut AB, RVN (1965)
Newsgroups: soc.veterans,soc.women