We started the day at the VinaCapital Foundation, listening to CEO Rad Kivette walk us through each of the organization’s projects. One by one, he explained how they fund surgeries for children with congenital heart defects, support COVID-19 orphans, bring clean water to schools and clinics, and empower women trapped by exploitative cultural norms.

The initiatives tackling pollution and women’s exploitation interested me most. They’re possible only because of Vietnam’s rapid economic rise and show the country’s determination to mature culturally as well as financially, a theme I sensed the moment I landed.

Government backing lets VinaCapital move at a speed Western charities rarely match. The CleanWater program, for instance, launched in December 2024 and has already installed more than 100 filtration systems, reaching tens of thousands of people. That level of efficiency feels almost unimaginable back home.

After that heartfelt visit, we returned to UEF for another language class and a session painting nón lá, the iconic conical hats. Knowing we had a boat tour later, I painted rolling waves beneath a sunset. Two UEF students added their own sketches and signatures, turning the hat into a personalized keepsake.

We ended the day on the water, visiting a riverside community filled with street vendors and leafy parks. The atmosphere was lively yet relaxed. Lights reflected from the bridge on the river, the food was delicious, and the passage of time seemed non-existent, like the community was in a bubble separate from the rest of the world.