I have to admit, the heat is no joke. I now realize that air conditioning is perhaps one of the most important privileges in the world.

We had another Kahoot today, and somehow I won both first and second place under the names “Emer” and “Emer 1” (Max). My group then presented on ExxonMobil because of the current Middle East conflicts and how they’re reshaping global supply chains and production costs. Prof Minh had an interesting take on ESG. He highlighted how Vietnam’s growing ESG commitments are think ESG is not important, but ultimately it became one of the key drivers in the decision for global tech giants to feel comfortable setting up in these locations.

Today’s lunch has been my favorite so far. Mashing up steak, eggs, sausage, and a homemade sauce, filling it into a bun with lettuce and cabbage to taste. It was spectacular and exactly what I was craving, After lunch we headed to Dien Quang at the Saigon Hi-Tech Park. In 2000, they had zero competitors. Today they have 800+. This surprised me as it made me realize how fast Vietnam’s electronics and lighting industry has scaled (notably not a very easy industry to break into as it requires a lot of knowledge and expertise). The fact that Dien Quang has held its ground in a hypercompetitive market means they’ve figured out how to maintain margins while new market entrants try and steal customers. I also noticed how much human labor was still part of the process even at a supposedly tech-forward company. It seems that despite high levels of automation, it really is about the work culture.

I found the smart bar particularly interesting; different lighting tones can completely changed how meat, fruit, and even clothing can look. Raw meat can look potentially much more appetizing by just being shelved with better lighting: same product with a different appeals. This can also be used in fashion stores, airports, and even a kitchen. Perhaps I should consider buying one for my steaks…