We wrapped up our Vietnam trip with a jam-packed day that started at Cat Lai Terminal. port, it was mind-blowing to witness the scale of operations. The sheer volume, 81 containers moved per hour and 18 hours to process a single ship, really put into perspective how complex and fast-paced global trade logistics can be. It’s like watching a giant puzzle constantly in motion.

One thing that stuck out this time, though, was how little I saw in terms of environmental sustainability. If anything, it felt like the opposite. The trucks, cranes, and constant movement don’t exactly scream “green,” and I found myself wondering how ports like this can evolve in a world that’s slowly pivoting toward more eco-conscious logistics.

After a quick lunch and meeting a jumping robot float, we made our way to the talk at the U.S. Consulate brought that brought all of that into a more economic and political lens. With new tariff threats looming, especially those reaching up to 43%, the impact on ports like Cat Lai could be major. A tariff over 20% is already significant, which we learned during the talk today. Since the port is such a hub for both imports and exports, it would undoubtedly feel that pressure.

We ended our day at Ben Thanh Market. I loved walking through the different stalls. Bargaining, though, is not exactly my favorite thing. I didn’t love it, it felt a little awkward at times, but it was really fun to watch the UEF students in action. Anytime I asked for help, they had a strategy ready to go and usually guided me to get the price down. It was a totally different shopping experience than what I’m used to.