This morning, we started our day with a lecture on Buddhism and the origins of the Buddha. There are many Buddhist people in Vietnam, including UEF classmates, so learning more about the root of their values and lifestyles gave insights into learning more about our friends. After the lesson, we were able to visit a Buddhist pagoda, a place of worship where we burned incense and walked around the statues and large figures. Overall, it was a great cultural experience that gave perspective on a very significant portion of Vietnamese culture.

After the cultural lesson on Buddhism, we dived into history and toured Reunification Palace followed by a visit to the War Remnants Museum. It was incredible to see how well-maintained the old southern palace was, and it was incredible being able to see all the old rooms from the old government. Afterwards, we went to the War Remnants Museum to see how the Vietnam War, or the American War as the Vietnamese call it, is remembered in history. Seeing all the exhibits was gruesome as they included methods of torture, war crimes, and the lasting effects of Agent Orange. It was very eye-opening in seeing the reality of war and the damage that it does to the innocent. 

If there was any takeaway, I’d say it’s the Vietnamese peoples’ resilience and ability to rebuild. The damage and destruction we saw in just the museum was horrifying and it’s impossible to imagine what it was like experiencing it. But since then, the Vietnamese people have rebuilt and developed an incredible society that we get to experience and is the main highlight of the trip. Seeing their progress since the war, is awe-inspiring and an incredible testament to the will of these people.