Today, we got to experience many parts of Vietnamese culture including religion, history, and government. We started the day by heading to UEF and learning about Buddhism in Vietnam. We learned about the origins of Buddhism and how it migrated to Vietnam. Then we got the opportunity to visit a Buddhist Pagoda in which we learned about the traditional prayer rituals and explored the unique architecture and design. Then we went to lunch at a beautiful restaurant with flowers and tapestries. The food was very delicious!
Afterwards, we visited the reunification palace. This was such a cool experience because we got to explore the inside of personal chambers and meeting rooms that high-ranking officials of Vietnam once lived and worked. My favorite part was going to the top of the palace and checking out the view. The roof looked out onto the open grassy field with the water fountain and streets of Ho Chi Minh City in view. I even saw the landing pad for where the helicopter landed on the palace!
My favorite part of the day was the Vietnam War Museum. Although devastating to see, it was important to learn about the war from a different perspective other than the American perspective. One moment from this trip really stuck out to me: One of the UEF students was looking at a picture of a Vietnamese town being struck with Agent Orange. It showed the devastating effects of the chemical, including the destruction of the entire village. I noticed she was crying, so I went over to see what was wrong. She then proceeded to tell me that the town that was destroyed was where she was from in Vietnam. In this moment I became extremely emotional, and although I was devastated my whole time at the museum, I began to cry in this moment as well. It is truly heartbreaking how much war can destroy, and the Vietnam War in particular was, in my opinion, gruesome and ignorant. Although some pictures were difficult to witness, I am glad I learned this side of history as it really allowed me to broaden my horizons and have more empathy for all who the war affected.
Ultimately, I greatly enjoyed this day because I was able to open my mind and learn more about Vietnam and its deep culture and history.
