Our first day in Ho Chi Minh City was certainly an eventful one; and despite adjusting to jet lag and the eleven-hour time difference, it was a day that was filled with energy. Our UEF hosts could not have been more gracious or accommodating, and it was somewhat of a relief to know that we already had some friendly faces to guide us on our journey. I personally was thrilled to make some incredible new friends, Olivia and Jenny, who have already made adjusting to the culture shock much easier.

On our bus tour of Ho Chi Minh, I was floored by the amount of mopeds that the Vietnamese manage to fit on one road — that was a spectacle all on its own. I was also struck, though, by how seamlessly the modern developments blended with some of the more ancient architecture. It gave the impression that the city was up-and-coming without sacrificing at all its storied heritage, a balance that I think is unique to this part of the world.

As far as the food was concerned, I can say that it has lived up to all of the hype. The sandwiches we had for lunch were incredible. Dinner was excellent as well, but I did have some difficulty in figuring out how to eat some of the courses (mainly whether or not to wrap said course in lettuce or not). All in all, it was definitely a solid first day and I look forward to seeing what’s in store for us tomorrow.