One word that sums up my experience: Really cool. All jokes aside, I am so happy I went on this trip. I am proud of the numerous times I left my comfort zone, whether eating fish eyes or sipping tea next to bees or climbing in a cramped tunnel. I will give examples of three…

I felt like Indiana Jones today. Our whole day was spent exploring and learning about the Mekong Delta, located here: It is the top agricultural center of Vietnam. Most of Vietnam’s rice comes from this area, and it is a powerhouse for rural production. The land is also holds deep cultural roots in the form…

Today was another early one- our bus left around 7:30 in the morning. Our schedule was less complicated today. We visited Cat Lai Terminal, then we went to the Reunification Palace, which is where this famous picture was taken: The Cat Lai terminal is one of Vietnam’s busiest ports. Large shipping containers filter in and…

I’m sitting down to write this after a very busy day. Starting at 8:30 and ending at 7:00, here’s what we did: Buddhism lecture, pagoda visit, lunch, War Remnants museum, open market, language class, suit refitting. To start, I’ll discuss Buddhism and the War Remnants museum. The most popular religion is Vietnamese traditional religion, which…

I put on my best business casual for today. The highlight of my morning was when I tied my tie without any help. We visited Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP), an industrial and township developer, and II-VI, an engineering company that produces photonics, performance products, and laser solutions. Between the visits, we walked around a mall…

Yup, I’m surprised I fit through that too. Today we visited the Cu Chi tunnel system, a network of underground passages that protected Viet Cong soldiers. In the late 1940s, a tunnel passage was created to escape French soldiers. The same tunnel was expanded during the Vietnam War. Eventually, the system became very complex with…

After a long week of lectures, classes, and company visits, today’s visit to the beach was much needed. I was excited to lay in the sun and relax. As the saying goes, focus on the journey. not the destination. Our journey was a three-hour bus ride from Ho Chi Minh City to the resort, Vung…

The bus left at 9:30 AM instead of 8:30 AM, so this morning was automatically pretty nice. I skipped breakfast to sleep in a little more. Our first event of the day was a visit to the U.S. Consulate. It is located in a nice building in downtown HCMC. A consulate is different from an…

I got to see my Vietnamese friend from breakfast again this morning, that started my day off nicely. Once we made it to UEF, we attended a lecture on Vietnamese history and culture, followed by another language class. I got to try café suda, a traditional Vietnamese coffee. Finished it in three sips. Lunch was…

I piled a mountain of food on my plate at breakfast, like my usual routine. I saw a plate at an empty table and assumed that it was one of my friends’, so I sat down. I was surprised to see an older Vietnamese gentleman sit down instead of a Plus3 student. I quickly apologized…

My day started off with another great breakfast, and this time I decided to branch out and get a coffee. I am not a coffee drinker, but my GOD it was delicious. I felt less tired after that cup. I also got fitted for a suit! We then attended a lecture on rural development in…

Waking up this morning was difficult, but the idea of trying real Vietnamese food for the first time spurred me along. Once at the buffet, I filled my plate with many different fruits, meats, and noodles. I also got my first taste of Pho, a soup that’s freshly made with noodles, beef, and broth. The…

Hey everybody! My name is Ryan MacElroy. I am one of eight children, and I am very excited to embark on Plus3 Vietnam! I live in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. My hobbies include skiing, soccer, and watching documentaries. Fun fact: I once ate an entire bag of chocolate chips in one sitting. I am a freshman…