I hate to be redundant, but wow was it humid today! Not that it mattered much when we were at UEF for a very interesting lecture. Today’s lecture was about global production operations, focusing specifically on sustainability. The activities and Kahoot were, again, very fun and interactive.

Lunch was at a beautiful restaurant with the prettiest plates of food. The pumpkin soup was an amazing start to the meal: fresh, sweet, and creamy. After that, the just-as-creamy shrimp pasta was also delicious with the right amount of spice. While everyone else had steak, I was given salmon with a sweet glaze alongside mashed potato and vegetables. The salmon was cooked perfectly and the glaze added a fruity touch to the fish.

The highlight of today was the visit to Điện Quang, a lighting and appliance manufacturer. They are one of the largest companies in their market sector and most of Vietnam uses their products. We started with a introductory video which explained the basics of the company. They have been in business for 50+ years, specializing in smart home technology, solar power, and lighting solutions for a variety of clients. I find them to be a very diverse and flexible company. Their ability to create new and innovative ways to display things, no matter the difference between their other projects, is amazing. For example, they can create lighting that changes with temperature for the lobby of a hotel, but also the lighting of a clothing store display case to highlight the details of clothing put on the mannequins. I also find it very unique that they emphasize and prioritize how much energy they save with their technology. It is imperative that corporations that create these kinds of products keep in mind the environment and how to incorporate renewable energy into their production, but Điện Quang goes above and beyond. Their commitment to sustainability is respectable, considering the amount of innovation and effort is put into the actual manufacturing work. What I also found very interesting is their experiments with light and how it makes things look a certain way. The food under each light looked especially delectable, which is actually based on what type and color light was shining on it. This shows their interesting way of thinking and ways their lighting can be used practically, say in a grocery store.

Overall, the visit was very informative and gave me insight to an industry I did not know much about. It was really cool to see the behind-the-scenes of such a large business in Vietnam and learn about their offerings and practices. I did not really understand how impactful a company like Điện Quang could be, but now I know how much they actually contribute to the innovative home technology sector and just how sustainable a company can be.

Side note: the interpreter helping us connect with the employees at Điện Quang was absolutely amazing! She was such a gem, asking us questions and getting to know us during the whole visit.

Today would have a great day to be indoors, but either way, I learn more, have fun, and enjoy good food every day here, so I am not complaining!