Our third day began with an engaging lecture on the role of green transformation in Vietnam. One aspect of Professor Minh’s talk that really resonated with me was the insight into how deeply air pollution has been normalized by the citizens of Hanoi. During the presentation, we watched an interview with a local resident who explained that the high levels of pollution had little to no impact on his daily life. For him, it was simply “normal” to him. I found this both surprising and unsettling. While the residents may have grown used to the conditions, it was shocking to hear how such a harmful environment could become so widely accepted. This highlighted just how urgent and necessary a shift toward sustainability is, not only for Vietnam’s environmental future but also for the health and well-being of its people. With Vietnam’s rapidly growing population and rising pollution levels, green transformation has become an essential part of the country’s economic development.
After our lessons for the day, we ventured over to FPT Software for our second official site visit. We were able to tour the building and workplace. What stood out most to me was the social design of the workspace. When we toured the offices, I noticed the open desk layout. There were no cubicles, and employees worked face-to-face with one another. To me, an open and collaborative work environment is essential not just for productivity but also for employee engagement. It fosters communication, creativity, and a sense of community within the company.
Later, we had a discussion session with Phil, and I found it incredibly helpful. As someone who hopes to become a Software Engineer, I was especially intrigued by the development processes he described and how projects come together at FPT. What stood out to me was how Phil, now a Business Analyst, studied software engineering in college. This showed me just how diverse and flexible the tech industry is. It was encouraging to see how skills in software can open doors to various roles and opportunities across the industry.
Overall, today was filled with eye-opening experiences. From learning about Vietnam’s sustainability challenges to envisioning what a future career in tech might look like. I’m excited to see what the rest of this journey brings!
