A Memoir by Michael Emblem
Twenty-Five Years in Asia
My Life and Times in Nepal and Vietnam
Twenty-Five Years in Asia is a personal account of more than two decades living and working in Nepal and Vietnam.
The book follows Michael Emblem's experiences from life and development work in Nepal through years of involvement in Canadian-supported international development programs in Vietnam, against the backdrop of extraordinary social and economic change across both countries.
Read on Amazon Kindle →Published August 2025 · 243 pages
About the Book
For twenty-five years, Michael Emblem lived and worked across Asia, particularly in Nepal and Vietnam. This memoir looks back on those years through the people, places, projects and experiences that shaped his life.
It includes his experiences living in Nepal and his later work in Vietnam during a period when the country was undergoing remarkable economic and social transformation.
Along the way, the book provides a personal perspective on international development — not simply as policy or foreign aid, but as relationships between people and institutions working together across cultures.
About Michael Emblem
Michael Emblem spent much of his professional career working in international development in Asia, with extensive experience in Nepal and Vietnam.
In Vietnam, he served as Canadian Project Director and Co-Director of the Vietnam Skills for Employment Project (VSEP), a Canadian-supported initiative working with Vietnamese universities, colleges, government institutions and employers to strengthen technical and vocational education and training.
His work included collaboration with Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City and development programs supported by the Government of Canada.
After completing his international development career, Michael returned to another lifelong interest: classical guitar. His current music projects and recordings can also be found on this website.