La Voz

While protesters held banners and flags outside, Vietnamese National Assembly Ambassador Ton- Nu-Thi Ninh faced harsh questions inside a small classroom at De Anza College on Feb. 21.

While on the campus Ninh toured the nursing department and sat in on a Asian studies class where she gave a brief speech and fielded questions from students.

With all the seats filled and administrators and students alike standing around the edges, Ninh explained the effect of global expansion of fast food franchises on culture and society of Vietnam.

Ninh, conceded that the fight to maintain cultural identity while accommodating business provided struggles for many countries, she then went on to stress the importance of building local commerce and keeping an eye on the culture of Vietnam.

The Ambassador is nearing the end of her term and has ambitions to start a college and was at De Anza to gain insight on higher education in America according to John Swensson, Dean of Language Arts.

Prior to her current position, Ninh served in Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a diplomat, and according to her official bio was responsible for numerous international and humanitarian efforts including the 1997 summit of French-Speaking Countries.

Request for comment by Ninh's press department nor Asian studies instructor Micheal Chang were not immediately returned.

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