Today we visited the Cat Lai Terminal as well as the Ben Thanh market. The Lai Terminal is a massive port located at the shore of Saigon. This hub is essential to the shipping and supply lines of all of Vietnam. Gaining the opportunity to see such a massive operation up close is truly special….
Tag: Owen Baker
Day 10: Mekong Madness
I’ve been excited for the Mekong Delta day all week. The visit was everything I could have hoped for and more. Eating fresh honey, riding in a canoe under the mangroves, and feeding alligators was a blast. But most of all, I had fun running in a giant hamster ball. It’s not what comes to…
Day 9: War Has No Winners
Our Buddhism class today and the trip to the pagoda highlighted major differences in philosophy between eastern and western religions. It seemed like the religion emphasizes being satisfied with what you have. The strict followers are also supposed to let go of all relationships and possessions in order to reach peace and be reborn in…
Day 8 Hi-Tech Manufacturing
Vietnam’s technology manufacturing industry is rapidly expanding with the help of government initiatives. One such project is the Saigon Hi-tech Park (SHTP). The park was established around 20 years ago as a way to attract foreign tech investment in Vietnam. The most significant part of our visit was seeing the innovation hub. The quantity of…
Exploring The Underground City
Today we took a road trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels. During the drive, I enjoyed seeing the towns and farmland. The landscape is so different from back home and all the small shops and rice fields helped me understand the rural areas a bit more. It also gave me time to talk with Silo,…
Day 5: Entrepreneurial Advice
GreenViet is the leading sustainable building consultant across Southeast Asia. Established about 12 years ago, the company develops green building projects using technical engineering knowledge and software. The founder, Mr. Quang, took time out of his busy schedule to teach us about his entrepreneurial journey. He walked us through the strategies his company implemented to…
Day 4: An Inspiring Visit
Today we visited the VinaCapital Foundation and spoke with Mr. Kivette. Their mission is to transform the lives of underserved, marginalized and ethnic minority children and to empower their mothers. They typically focus on rural communities across Vietnam where women are massively undervalued and commonly treated in an almost subhuman manner. Some are kidnapped, raped,…
Day 3: Renewable Energy Development
Today we visited PECC2, one of the largest energy companies in Vietnam. They’ve constructed more than 100 large-scale power projects across the country. Although their current largest power generation method comes from coal, they are making a shift towards renewable energy. This push aligns with the Vietnamese government’s goal of reducing GHG emissions by 15%…
Day 2: A Trip to the TTT Corporation
Today we had the opportunity to visit the TTT Corporation factory in district 3 of Ho Chi Minh. This company styles, designs, and produces unique furniture for luxury hotels around Vietnam. These 10-15 million dollar contracts require a cooperative team to achieve a good looking final product. TTT recently put an emphasis on using sustainable…
Day 1: A Surprising Welcome
Today was our first day in Vietnam. I couldn’t believe the warm welcome we received from UEF. They played music, gave us leis, and cheered for us as we walked into the college. The energy and vibrance of the meeting felt very different from the way we welcome guests in the US. Another clear cultural…
Introduction: Owen Baker
Hello everyone, my name is Owen Baker. I’m a first-year business student majoring in accounting and finance. I’m from Washington, PA, about an hour south of Pittsburgh. My favorite hobbies include signing up for every intermural sport, golfing, fishing, and skiing. Since arriving at Pitt, I’ve joined Panther Equity, a student-run investment fund. I’ve also…