After a grueling 30 hours of layovers, flights, and movies, we finally arrived – Hồ Chí Minh City. After settling into the hotel, and the next day, we embarked on our first journey of discovering Vietnamese culture and went to a restaurant where they served a tour of Vietnamese food. Vietnamese cuisine is incredibly flavorful, offering a mix of leafy greens, different noodles, and the occasional grilled meat. With the sauce complementing it, each dish was extraordinarily delicious.

After a filling lunch, we went to the University of Economics and Finance where we were greeted by the highlight of the day, the students. Every student I interacted with was very warm, welcoming, and curious about my background. Interested in my Vietnamese name, they would ask about my background and assist me in practicing my Vietnamese speaking skills by speaking Vietnamese back. We would talk about favorite hobbies and singers, and interestingly enough, we had similar tastes as they all knew many American artists. After socializing, we went on a bus tour where we witnessed another interesting effect of globalization: the presence of famous well-known brands and businesses in HCMC. These big names included JPMorgan, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton among other names that have recognized the potential in Vietnam as it has entered the global player space.

The tour was astonishing as the amazing views showed off the strength of the Vietnamese effort toward development and growth. There were many tall buildings and developments that touched the sky and showed remarkable signs of resolve and ambition by the Vietnamese people. Many newer apartment buildings and developments show off the appeal of HCMC as a place of business and activity. As the night went on, the city only grew in aesthetics. Many buildings were lit up and displayed beautiful colors that painted the skyline. It was certainly the perfect view to end the night. I’m looking forward to many more nights seeing these lights!

Overall, the first day was incredible because, not only was it my first ever day abroad, I got to meet the incredible students at UEF and see HCMC. In the culture book we studied, we learned all about the Vietnamese people’s thousand year struggle for independence, and its amazing to see the success its people have realized having finally gained it, and I can’t wait to learn more!