My first day in Vietnam opened me up to a world of fun and new experiences. Waking up at 5:30am just to try the breakfast bar at the Victory Hotel ended being worth the effort as my roommate and I were the first to arrive to the restaurant, thus having our pick of food, and after gorging ourselves on dim sum, fruit, and potent coffee, we headed to the University of Economics and Finance where droves of enthusiastic students greeted us with stickers, leis, and teddy bears. We spent our morning meeting our host students one on one as they helped to dispel any myths or false preconceived notions we had of Vietnam and its people, like what types of street foods were popular and how to appropriately greet others. After spending an hour struggling to pronounce basic Vietnamese vocabulary, we sadly departed on a tour of Saigon.  

From the first stop on our bus tour at a phở restaurant for lunch where the food was extraordinarily cheap, a single bowl roughly costing $1.29, to the last we marveled at the impressive metropolis we had before us. The bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh, a city of fourteen million inhabitants, were filled to the brim with mopeds and motorcycles. Many of the buildings held so much historical significance, especially in relation to the war in Vietnam, as they call it the American War. From the central radio tower being the original marine radio station during wartime efforts to the United States consulate being the previously demolished United States embassy. There were many other impressive works of architecture, the biggest surprise being the post office which was designed by Gustav Eiffel, of Eiffel Tower fame. Our tour of district one, what is considered the most ‘westernized’ area of Ho Chi Minh, showed a great deal of global influence, as designer fashion brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Prada lining the streets while international fast food chains such as McDonalds, Popeyes, and KFC were filled with customers. Corporate offices were intertwined with local logistics companies in buildings with some of the most uniquely beautiful designs I have ever seen where influences of any time period in Vietnam’s history can be seen as modern designs of glass and steel mixed with old French colonial housing, even sporting its own Notre Dame Cathedral currently undergoing renovation and restoration. Construction was everywhere too, as old buildings were receiving a much-needed renovation, other newer buildings were being constructed atop the old. A large section of the city was cutoff in fact, due to Ho Chi Minh first subway system being in progress as a joint venture between Japan and Vietnam.              

After our tour, we spent a good amount of time wandering the streets, getting to know our way around the city. It was an enjoyable bonding experience with my peers, sitting and eating together. After our snack we were fitted for suits and traditional wear before heading out onto the water aboard the Indochina Queen where we ate a nice Welcome Dinner. The first mystery we were confronted with was the strange yellow-y liquid occupying the space where our water should have been. Being the most curious at out table, I took the first sip which, to my relief, was met with the taste of lukewarm green tea, a strange way for it to be served, but we were glad it was a familiar beverage nonetheless. As we departed the dock, serving commenced and with guidance of our enthusiastic Vietnamese friend, Alice, we tackled dish after dish. With two separate appetizers of spring rolls and salad along with a serving of fried fish followed by plates of beef, pork, and rice, the sheer volume of food surprised us, and we questioned whether or not we were expected to finish every dish, luckily, we were not as we learned that the Vietnamese usually opted for a more family-style type of serving meant for everyone to have their fill. The live music on the boat was also surprisingly enjoyable, as musicians used instruments made from only plant materials, at one point their performance consisted of only a leaf.

Overall, my first day was hectic, long, hot, muggy, and one of the best experiences I’ve had to date. Meeting students who were excited to see us, discovering new foods, becoming a millionaire instantly, Vietnam has treated me better than I ever expected it to.