While today was not our last day it is our last blog. We went to the Cat Lai terminal and Banh Thanh market. These were both cool experiences, seeing the operation of the 17th busiest port in the world and bargaining with the locals of Saigon at the market to try to get a good price. I would talk about these more, but because this is my last blog I’d like to talk more the trip as a whole.

Vietnam has been the experience of a lifetime. I knew it was going to be great, but it exceeded my expectations in the best way possible. We did so much and I really don’t even know where to start. I have seen and felt so many thing that its hard to put it all into words. I’ve had some great opportunities to go abroad and have been to several different countries. Yet this has been like non of them. It was so unique and an experience that I will talk about for the rest of my life.

Firstly, the Vietnamese students and staff we worked with, they have been amazing. The way they welcome and embraced us was truly unlike any other culture that I’ve visited. They were so open, honest and friendly. You may think coming here that there may still be some bitterness from the war, but we have faced none. We even had the opportunity to work with people effected by Agent Orange, and they welcomed us with a smile, and were so, so friendly. The way they allowed us to immersed ourselves in their culture too was amazing. They gifted us several Vietnamese traditional items, like cloths, scarfs, and hats. They gave us all these things and encouraged us to try them. Not everywhere I’ve been has been okay with foreigners trying thing within their culture, so I am truly grateful for this opportunity.

Then there were the sites we got to see too. There were some very fun, interesting, and informative places we visited. We went to Vung Tau City, a beach town that looked like Rio. We went to Cu Chi and went through the tunnels that the Vietcong used during the war. We saw the Reunification Palace and War Remnants Museum. We went to the Mekong Delta and engaged with the locals. We did so much more and if I sat here and listed them out it would be far too much. The point is we did just about anything you could want to do in Vietnam and saw so much it had to offer.

There is so, so much more I could talk about. I could ramble forever with my experience but now I must wrap it up. Coming to Vietnam was truly eye opening. I have made many new friends form here and hope to stay in touch with them. When I came here I though it would be awesome, a great experience but the only time in my life I’d make it to Vietnam. That’s changed. I have to travel here again. While we did a lot there’s still so much more I’d want to do and see. And next time I have friends here to help me out. For now, tạm biệt Việt Nam!