Just back from 5 days in HCMC

Just back from 5 days in HCMC. Work was gruelling, but all seemed to go well and end well. I think the sincerity behind what we were doing managed to get through. Sure, there has to be hard nosed business thinking to all this, but the origin and trajectory should be guided by a sense of wanting to make things better, to deliver more value, to present a gift.



Stayed right across from the Opera House. It generally rained every afternoon, and following the shower (sometimes quite heavy, and a delight to watch from the large hotel windows) the roads were wet in the darkness, the air smelt clean and a cool breeze made walking a pleasure.



The city seemed much smaller this time, compared to previous visits. Perhaps it was the familiarity, which brought about an ease of getting around. Got to meet Khoa and Thui for lunch on Wednesday, at a restaurant close to their office. They spoke of a research trip they had made in the north and central regions to find out about how a biogas project, funded by a Dutch NGO, had been working out for the farmers it was intended to benefit. The setup involved digging holes for the manure and organic waste, laying pipes and using a modified stove for cooking with the biogas. The manure resulting from the setup is of good quality, and saves the farmers from spending on chemical fertilizers.

It is exciting to think about how simple and affordable technologies could make a huge difference to the self sufficiency of remote communities. Imagine a rural community supported by cost effective, reliable and easily maintained water purifiers, solar panels, biogas installations and a communications network powered by hand-cranked dynamos and solar energy. The pieces are closer to reality than we realise.