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On November 20, Phu Quoc City, Kien Giang province will welcome the first international tourist group in the new normal period after nearly 2 years of "freezing" due to COVID-19. Korean citizens on flight VJ3749 from Incheon Airport in South Korea will arrive at Phu Quoc International Airport at 12:00 a.m on November 20 for a 4-days-3-nights stay at Vinpearl. After entering the country, visitors will be screened at the airport. They have to install IGOVN and PC-COVID applications before proceeding to the hotel. All members of this tour will stay at Vinpearl Resort & Spa Phu Quoc, which has been granted permission to welcome international guests in a separate area, ensuring no contact with the community and no impact on other visitors' activities. Besides strictly following the instructions in the implementation plan, Vinpearl's facilities maintain the activation of the three-layer shield of maximum control. All staff ensure the strictest hygiene and epidemic prevention procedures in the area. They are zoned for daily activities to bring the highest safety, have body temperature checked at the beginning and end of the working day. Considered as the opening event for the pilot program "vaccine passports" in Phu Quoc, this will be an important launch marking a new step in efforts to recover the national tourism. After welcoming the first group of guests on this day, it is expected that Phu Quoc will welcome 20 international flights per month in the coming period.

Founded by singer and vocal coach Le Nhu Ngoc Mai, the name 'Sing with Mai' is no longer unfamiliar to those who enjoy singing. Sing with Mai not only attracts students with its new and profound vocal teaching method, but it also lays the groundwork for a loving 'Yen Ca' community. When the term "vocal" is mentioned, most amateur singers immediately think of techniques for singing, which Sing with Mai does not provide. Ngoc Mai has created a completely different picture of vocal training in the contemporary music period by assuming that all techniques are rooted in emotions. Studying with our own emotions Ngoc Mai, a vocal lecturer at the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music, decided to follow her heart and find a place to nourish her soul. She believes that art stems from the most genuine human emotions, and that only heartfelt messages can reach out to other hearts. To sing well, people must first understand what they have, where they are, and what they most need. The first Sing with Mai class, titled 'Discovering vocal potential,' was held on March 1, 2021. Since then, Sing with Mai has opened three more classes within a month, primarily for students aged 18 and up. It wasn't until the pandemic that Sing with Mai began to broaden the age range of online students. As a result, teacher Ngoc Mai only accepts tutoring for students under the age of 18 whose organs have not fully developed. Age is the only criteria that Sing with Mai uses for recruiting students, since teacher Ngoc Mai will apply a different approach for each student. Many people do not believe that there will be tears and laughter after every singing lesson, but this is completely normal when studying with Ngoc Mai. More than a lecturer, Mrs. Ngoc Mai describes herself as a person who inspires others through art. Ngoc Mai's method for teaching singing focuses on developing emotional intelligence. "We can only theoretically learn the concept of emotional intelligence because it is something we have to gain through personal experiences", Ngoc Mai was quoted as saying. That is why, in addition to the eight official sessions, teacher Ngoc Mai usually spends 1-2 sessions to confide in and better understand each of her students. Mr. Phan Le Hoang Phu (26 years old, Ho Chi Minh City), a student of An class, stated, "I signed up for Sing with Mai to improve my poor singing skills, but now my soul has been restored". He shared his experiences, saying that he enjoys singing but is constantly rejected for his singing voice. That's why he came to Sing with Mai, hoping to improve his vocals. However, when he began taking singing lessons, he realized that he had received something far more valuable than some "out of reach" techniques. He gained a better understanding of the worth of the soul and found the right path for himself. Singing to heal the entire community Singing with Mai only has two classes with two levels, so in order for students to continue participating in weekly activities, Mrs. Ngoc Mai founded the Yen Ca – sing for the clarity of mind. Yen Ca community has over 260 members after more than 8 months of operation. The first impression of "Yen Ca" is of people who are emotional, happy, and always strive for positive life values. Yen Ca has reaped great spiritual merits by accompanying many programs and charity funds completely free of charge. In addition to classes for students of all ages, Sing with Mai offers a very special class: a singing class for cancer patients. “Not only do we sing well and properly, but we also sing to help people relieve stress and open their hearts to life”. Every Saturday morning, a class of 34 cancer patients will gather to sing and share life stories in order to encourage one another to overcome obstacles. This membership is still gradually growing, as is the gratitude of those who have bravely overcome the disease. "We don't learn to sing for a better or happier voice; we don't sing just for ourselves", Ngoc Mai asserted. Ngoc Mai hopes that Yen Ca can be a common home for good souls to develop together because human personality is always built up from various external factors. For Ngoc Mai, "Yen Ca is completely dedicated to the community". Ms. Tran Hoang Anh Thy (24 years old, HCMC) said that after more than two months of accompanying Yen Ca, she realized that, despite her young age, her cognition was too negative. "I understand that even though I am not perfect and my soul is still panicking in the face of everything, there are still people like Mrs. Ngoc Mai and the community who are willing to listen and share with me". In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Yen Ca also gave away what they had. As a result, the community of Yen Ca and Mrs. Ngoc Mai has deducted a portion of the community fund and the student's tuition money to purchase food for charity kitchens. After the epidemic is over, lecturer Ngoc Mai will open classes in order to share and inspire those who truly want to learn and cultivate their mind and soul. Ngoc Mai believes "There is nothing better than helping people prepare for adversity because each of us only needs to train ourselves, society will change". Singer and vocal coach Le Nhu Ngoc Mai, founder of the Yen Ca community, and Sing with Mai, ambassador of the foundation Cung em det uoc mo. She previously worked as a lecturer at the Vocal Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music, as the Head of the Choir of the Bong Sen Music and Dance Theater, and as a member of the Mat troi moi Singing Group. She won third place in the National Opera and Chamber Singing Competition in 2009, a Silver Medal in the National Music and Dance Festival in 2009 and 2015, a Gold Medal in Tieng hat duong 9 xanh in 2010, and numerous other awards.

On November 7, Saigon Choir received the Certificate of Excellence (equivalent to the Gold medal) at the World Choir Games 2021 in Ho Chi Minh City. This is the second time the Saigon Choir has won a global contest. The submission of Saigon Choir belongs to the category of Virtual Choir - Video Clip A Cappella competition. Accordingly, each team has to make a single choir video clip and send it to the organizers. With the desire to introduce Vietnamese folk music to the world, Saigon Choir successfully performed the song "Nang co con xuan" - a masterpiece by Duc Tri musician - and achieved great success. Earlier in 2017, when International Choir Competition was held in Hoi An, this group won the Mixed Chamber Choir Gold Award. Once again, Saigon Choir has become a source of national pride, contributing to the internationalization of the Vietnamese choir.

Times Higher Education (THE) has just released the World University Rankings 2022. This year, five Vietnamese universities are listed on the board. In a total of 99 countries or regions represented in the ranking, Vietnam has 5 representatives (2 more than 2021) including: Duy Tan University ranking no. 401-500 Ton Duc Thang University ranking no. 401-500 Vietnam National University, Hanoi ranking no. 1001-1200 Hanoi University of Science and Technology ranking no. 1201+ Vietnam National University (Ho Chi Minh City) ranking no. 1201+ THE is a British magazine best known for its annual reports on higher education and university rankings around the world. The ranking methodology is based on five metrics: teaching (learning environment), research (volume, income, and reputation), citations (research influence), international outlook (staff, students, research), and industry income (knowledge transfer). This year, Duy Tan University and Ton Duc Thang University appear on the board for the first time and are highly rated in terms of citations and international outlook.

Following Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP, Hanoi and HCMC intend to reopen schools one at a time, until all schools resume their original functions in 2022. However, many students are apprehensive about returning to in-person classes. In October, National Economics University (NEU) announced on their school page that they were preparing for students to return to school. In response to the announcement, many students leave comments suggesting that NEU extend the duration of the online sessions for a variety of reasons, including vaccination, COVID-19, the weather in Northern Vietnam, and the fact that the students are getting used to online classes. On the other hand, institutions with high tuition fees are expected to reopen as soon as possible. Responding to the media, Prof. Robert McClelland – Deputy Dean of RMIT University stated that the most difficult challenge that RMIT faced during the pandemic was the acceptance of parents and students when it came to the online environment for education, due to the tuition fees being quite high.

The Vietnamese language course for beginners and intermediate students at Brown University is taught by a Vietnamese teacher, Ms. Trang Tran. Besides, Princeton University also began teaching this course through a joint training program with Brown University. The teaching modules utilized in the course were all updated this year, according to lecturer Trang Tran. Vietnamese-American students and foreign students interested in Vietnamese who are studying at the two universities mentioned above will be the learners. In addition to language instruction, the course will be broadened to let students learn more about Vietnamese history and culture.

Tran Huu Dai Nhat is the first Vietnamese student to graduate from the University of the People (UoPeople) - the world's first non-profit, American-accredited, and tuition-free online university dedicated to increasing global access to higher education. Nhat finished his studies at the age of 29 and appeared in NasDaily's viral video as a motivation for many people to pursue lifelong learning. When the wrong station leads to the right place QUESTION: Could you tell me a little about your background. Did you grow up in Vietnam? DAI NHAT: I grew up in a warm and welcoming home in Danang, Vietnam. My father was the iron-willed founder of an electrical-construction company and my mother was a gentle accountant. I moved to Ho Chi Minh City in 2009 to study business administration. But, just after finishing my business administration advanced diploma (with a GPA of 3.98/4.0), my life was turned upside down when my father declared bankruptcy in 2011. I felt a personal duty to secure my family as I stared at the debt bills. So I dropped out of college while working 80 hours per week as a marketer, writer, and project coordinator. This hectic schedule compelled me to acquire the most money and skills possible. By the time my family's situation improved in 2014, I had built up my professional capital and a desire to further my education. My LinkedIn profile now portrays me as an enterprising young man who has thrived as an IT Scrum Master, social entrepreneur, and self-learning author. My full-time job now is to help an award-winning IT startup build a high-performing team. On the side, I consult with non-profit organizations on digital transformation. On weekends, I blog about my learning experiment and coach students and young professionals on important work skills. QUESTION: Are you a first-generation college student? DAI NHAT: I am a first-generation college student, and the first Vietnamese to graduate from UoPeople. The university also mentioned that I was the first non-English native speaker, and the first Asian student to graduate from UoPeople. QUESTION: What led you to study at the University of the People? DAI NHAT: My initial goal was to get a bachelor degree, so that I would be eligible for a Master’s degree scholarship. It was frustrating that most universities and scholarship programs rejected my application just because I did not have the right bachelor certification, despite my years of working achievements. “Some days I felt overwhelmed, and other days I wanted to give up” I enjoy learning and was a top student in my previous college. Due to family issues, my financial situation was tight in my case, and I was working three jobs at the same time to support myself and my family. Some universities in Vietnam are more expensive than UoPeople, and their night classes, in my opinion, are not of the quality I expected. Incurring any more student debt was a no-no for me. There were no local universities that accommodated my work schedule in 2016. It was difficult for a mature learner to return to school. UoPeople's online learning was especially beneficial to my schedule. It was difficult to work from 9 a.m to 9 p.m, then squeeze in any free time - early morning, late at night, and on weekends - to complete my assignments. Some days I felt overwhelmed, and other days I wanted to give up. However, after a year, the erratic schedule had become the new normal. I even hiked to the Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal while finishing my Financial Accounting 201 course, or submitted my Ethics 101 written assignment while spending the night at a Jjimjilbang in Seoul, Korea. The flexibility at UoPeople was a super powerful intangible value; you could learn anywhere, at any time, and I successfully embraced it. Lifelong learning journey has just begun QUESTION: How long did it take you to earn your degree? DAI NHAT: Began in October 2016 and graduated in June 2019. It took a little longer than expected because I got a few months off. However, it was also shorter than anticipated. Halfway through my program, UoPeople began to accept credit transfer; I was also able to transfer my previous credits in order to eliminate a few course modules. A typical student will finish their bachelor's degree in four years, or 3.5 years if they are ambitious enough to take four subjects per course. QUESTION: Was this your first time learning online? Did you find courses easy or difficult, and do you recommend online learning to others? DAI NHAT: I was no stranger to online education. I used to look through LinkedIn Learning short courses, CreativeLive online workshops, and Coursera short courses. But for an extensive 4-years commitment to online learning at UoPeople, it was my first time. UoPeople is uniquely 100% online. Without the flexibility, I could not imagine how I could finish the course. I was working 3 jobs at the same time to make ends meet and save enough money to pursue my dream of higher education. As a computer geek, I enjoy online learning and found it matches my expectation excellently. However, online education is not for everyone. Some people find it difficult to focus, interact online, or lack the necessary equipment. However, in the new normal of the COVID-19 situation, it is an unavoidable normal to which we must adapt. I've also organized online learning workshops with a high level of interaction, so the online learning environment is definitely improving. Nowadays, obtaining educational information is simple, convenient, and inexpensive. What we struggle with is our own psychology and self-discipline. But that's a different story. QUESTION: I once get to know you’re headed to Ireland next. What are your plans for the future? DAI NHAT: In 2021-2022, I will begin studies at University College Cork for an MSc in Information System in Business Performance. These cutting-edge course modules will not only satisfy my desire to make ICT useful to people, but will also provide me with the necessary skills to build, manage, and leverage information systems to improve business performance. My professional journey reflects my desire to use ICT to empower more organizations toward long-term development. As a result, my post-graduate plans will center on developing platforms, infrastructure, and services to help organizations transform digitally, particularly in the fields of FinTech and e-education. I am also very excited to consult on digital transformation for my established network of nonprofits in Vietnam as a means of achieving sustainable development, poverty reduction, and citizen participation. I am not sure how the future will turn out, but I am sure that I will keep learning. My biggest takeaway from years of hardship and UoPeople journey is that everyone has the potential to take their lives to the next level, and learning is the key to living a good life. Thank you for spending your time with Metropolitan!

University autonomy is beginning a new chapter with the promise of a better educational system in Vietnam. Many international universities have succeeded in implementing self-autonomy, but without proper adjustments, it may become a burden for Vietnamese universities and students. The first step for Vietnamese universities According to Mai Thanh Phong – the principal of Ho Chi Minh University of Technology (HCMUT), the tuition fee is the main source of income (approximately 70%) for any higher education facility in Vietnam when it comes to self-financing autonomy. Low tuition charges have always been a decisive factor, an advantage of public institutions that shapes the rational choices (considering prices and quality) of many students and parents in Vietnam. By granting universities autonomy, the tuition gap between public and private institutions is gradually closing. In an interview with the Media (Science and Development), Prof. Hoang Minh Son, president of Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST), stated that in order to run the university, they had to raise tuition fees and convince students, parents, and the general public that better educational quality is on the way. To be able to do so, HUST had to use its own reserve funds in the first few years to invest in infrastructure development and other necessities for higher-quality education. Although this may appear to be an ideal solution, because HUST's outcomes remain quite admirable, it necessitates efficient systematic financial management, which is a bit of a conundrum for other universities with less reputation and budget. More tuition fees but no more funding from the government Huynh Quyet Thang, principal of HUST, suggested at the Vietnam Education Conference (VEC 2020) that relying on tuition fees will not result in a breakthrough in higher education quality. "We should diversify our revenue streams", he added. Self-autonomy means that universities are now able to decide how to generate revenue and how to use that money to complete tasks assigned by the Government, this granted the universities the ability to manage their budget directly; theoretically, money will be spent efficiently, and the working processes between higher education facilities and the government will be minimized. Adjustments in regulations are requested Even so, there are always some major issues that arise when implementing new regulations, some of which cannot be solved solely by universities. Creating multiple sources of income may help, but universities are still required to follow other legal documents, which prevents them from generating revenue. The Public Investment Law (2019), for example, states that universities cannot profit from available infrastructures, which are designated as public investments; not to mention the Law on Public Employees (2008), the Law on State Budget (2015), and other taxes. Another puzzle to solve is the range of tuition fees; by resolving this issue, we ensure educational accessibility for all social classes while also maintaining educational quality. However, this is still a contentious issue. Universities can make education more accessible by offering scholarships and other support policies, but there are still limitations for students who are misjudged by the grading system. Decree No. 81/2021/ND-CP recently broadened the range of tuition fees, allowing universities to increase their income in order to improve educational quality. According to Decree No. 60/2021/ND-CP (Article 4), instead of funding public non-business units, the state budget will give direct support to the social class with low socio-economic position. However, if the burden is transferred to the middle class, they will have to work harder, and sometimes working harder does not mean more money. There are no tools or any criteria for them to evaluate if the universities' quality improves over time.