While it is only our first day in Vietnam, I have already grown to love its culture, food, and most importantly, its people. It is evident how welcoming and polite the Vietnamese people are, visible through every interaction. For example, to start off my day, I had decided to get a bowl of fresh hot pho for breakfast at the hotel. There, I was greeted with a warm smile from the cook, who kindly recommended me condiments I should add to improve the flavor. After breakfast, we met up with tailors who planned to tailor us suits and traditional wear to bring home. Just as the employees in breakfast lounge, the tailors worked efficiently and attentively, noting accurate measurements and remembering our clothing preferences. Although the high temperature and laborious work had made sweat drip down their faces, the tailors did not take breaks nor voiced complaints. They always kept on their smiles and gentle attitudes, no matter how large the workload was.
Of course, the most evident form of the Vietnamese hospitality was the UEF staff and students. From a block away, we could see the UEF students lined up in front of the entrance, patiently waiting for us in the hot weather. As soon as we stepped off the bus, they rushed to greet us with the biggest smiles and led us to take pictures with them. All of the students had genuine smiles on their faces, looking beyond excited to see us. Later in the day, I found out that most of these students had volunteered months of their time to prepare and coordinate this phenomenal experience for us. From weekly rehearsals to arranging the activities, UEF students and staff truly put all of their best efforts into improving our two-week visit.
In the evening, to end off our first visit to UEF, we went on a Ho Chi Minh City bus tour. as we entered deeper into the city, a blend of skyscrapers filled the horizon while the sun set. I was thoroughly impressed by the skyline, as well as how clean the streets seemed. It also surprised me to see restaurants and stores from other cultures, such as China and Russia, signifying the wide development and globalization in the heart of the country. As darkness dawned upon the city, we ended the tour and went for dinner.
We went to an aesthetic local restaurant for dinner. Despite the fact that I was starving, I could still tell that the taste of the dishes were great. We were served many dishes with shrimp, such as in salads, spring rolls, and fried. The shrimp were super fresh and delicious. It surprised me in learning how big of a role shrimp must play in the diet of the Vietnamese.
It seems that the culture smart book was right. The Vietnamese people’s hospitality, kindness, and commitment to relationship building are unmatched. I am so excited to see what tomorrow brings!
