Today was a full day of cultural exploration, but first, let’s start with our trip to the Cu Chi tunnels on Sunday. I’m not going to lie—it was not the most enjoyable experience. The heat, humidity, and still air in the tunnels were brutal, and by the end of the first one, everyone was drenched in sweat. We thought that was bad until we reached the long tunnel. It seemed never-ending, and even though they said the tunnels had been widened for tourists, I’m not convinced that’s true. Almost everyone was struggling to get out by the end.
I can’t imagine being a soldier in the war, spending years of life not just trying to survive, but to fight. The tunnels already felt cramped, so I can’t imagine the mindset of the soldiers who endured it. The mental strain is definitely something not everyone could withstand.
Today, we started with a lecture on Buddhism at UEF. I found Buddhism to be an interesting religion. They identify materialism as the root cause of suffering, and Buddhists spend their lives working toward Nirvana—a total state of peace. It’s an admirable goal that requires immense time and devotion. However, I didn’t fully agree with all of the Confucian beliefs. It’s fascinating to see how different cultural norms evolve. In the U.S., breaking away from traditional gender roles has become the norm, while in this culture, those gender roles are expected as a way of life.
The Buddhist pagoda was not what I was expecting. It was interesting to visit, but with our large group, it felt a bit small. What surprised me most was all the merchandise for sale. Typically, places of worship don’t seem focused on profiting from visitors. I’d be curious to see other temples—maybe ones that aren’t as public.
After lunch, we visited the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum. Personally, I found the museum more engaging. It portrayed a horrific part of history that isn’t covered in U.S. schools. I enjoy learning about different perspectives, and this visit was eye-opening. No one wants to be seen as the aggressor, so the U.S. portrays its role as saving the country from Communism—despite committing numerous war crimes and acting in deeply inhumane ways.
The number of civilians killed and the methods of torture were honestly sickening. 2 out of 3 million were civilians. We talked about it afterward and agreed that, in terms of significance, it is on par with WWII. The difference is that it paints the U.S. in a very dark light—especially with the number of women and children killed, the use of Agent Orange as a large-scale human experiment. It wasn’t an easy experience, but it was certainly valuable, and there is an important lesson to take from it. If there’s one thing to learn, it’s that there are always two sides to every story. If you don’t know one of them, don’t just accept face value—instead, find the other perspective before forming an opinion.
