I started off the day wanting a taste of home: Matcha. The delectable herbal beverage that hails from Japan was perhaps the best I have had. What is usually $15 back home was only $5 here. Sensational.

University of Economics and Finance kicked things off with a reception that included a martial arts performance, music performances, and some fun games between us and the UEF students. Talking to them was a great opportunity to hear from a different perspective; they had great English despite many of them never being to the U.S. Definitely one of the coolest greetings I’ve ever gotten from any institution.

The city tour was a great opportunity to see the city in full effect. It reminded me a lot of Miami: dense humidity, palm trees mixed with high-rises, and perpetually under construction. It seems that Motorbikes are the main source of transportation. This was the biggest difference I noticed between Vietnam and the U.S. They also do not have a Pedestrian Countdown Signal, so the light will turn green while you are in the middle of the road. You have to be aware when navigating traffic. Fortunately, the drivers here do try to evade colliding with others. We passed buildings with Deutsche Bank and JP Morgan signage. It seems Vietnam isn’t solely manufacturing for the global supply chain anymore.

The welcome lunch was pretty good. Everything came out family-style, which I am pretty familiar with considering it is a popular Asian custom. During dinner I was surprised how important spring roll wrappers and fresh vegetables are to regular meals in Vietnam. In the US, spring rolls are often appetizers, but here, they seem to be served as an entree. The lychee dessert was an unexpected discovery: light, sweet, and the perfect desert when it’s 95 degrees outside.

Day one was great. Excited for what tomorrow brings.