Today was our first day in Vietnam, and I think that, despite our struggles with the sweltering heat (97°F💔), everything went very well! We started the day with getting fitted for áo dài (traditional Vietnamese clothing) and tailored suits – the tailors were very quick and knowledgeable. Then later, when we arrived at the University of Economics and Finance, we were welcomed very warmly and in all sorts of ways, from the average “hi, how are you, what’s your name,” to music performances, to interactive games between the Pitt students and the UEF students. I noticed that the welcome ceremony we had was much larger and decorated than one that we would’ve had in the US. A very significant cultural difference between the US and Vietnam is the usage of motorbikes; I knew beforehand that motorbikes are used a lot in this country, but I didn’t realize just how prominent they are until today when we were riding the tour bus. The amount of motorbikes in traffic was equal to, if not greater than, the amount of cars; there are even people who ride their motorbikes on the sidewalk.
During our tour bus ride, I noticed that there were quite a few chain stores(GS25, Circle K, 7/11, etc), but they were surrounded by an abundance of local/regional businesses. I also noticed a lot of advertisements for Heineken.
The food, as expected, was great! They gave us a nice selection of protein, like beef, chicken, shrimp, squid, and pork, which they balanced out with rice, vegetables, and soup. I was not really surprised by any of the customs seen at the lunch and dinner – I am relatively accustomed to the family style meals that I know are a lot more popular in Asian cuisine/countries. I really enjoyed the meals, as it gave me opportunities to connect with the UEF students and my fellow Pitt students.
I think that this was a great start to our two-week trip, and I can’t wait to see what experiences the following days will bring!