Group photo with English students in Saigon Central Post Office.
Greetings from Vietnam!
After two full days in the metropolis formerly known as Saigon we are really feeling the heat! The sun has been blazing and the temperature soaring but our spirits are flying even higher. We spent our first day in Vietnam’s largest city by acclimating ourselves to the cuisine and the concrete wilderness that is Ho Chi Minh City. Our first meal was spent in a friendly English-speaking Vietnamese restaurant overlooking a quiet park. There the students had their first taste of authentic local fare and washed it down with fresh fruit smoothies. Once our bellies were full we ventured out into the city and spent the evening exploring the streets, shops, and public centers of this vibrant community. We wrapped up the day (pun intended) with a family style dinner at a restaurant specializing in fresh spring rolls and fried egg rolls, and headed off for an early bed time to catch up on some much needed rest.
Our second day was jam-packed with new experiences. The morning started with a stroll to a nearby park for some getting-to-know-each other activities, but along the way we were distracted by a troop of scouts practicing a dance routine in the park. Three adventurous students jumped in on the action and joined the dance, earning praise from locals and visitors alike. From there we went to a small coffee shop where we had our in-country orientation, discussing as a group our goals for the trip and getting even more excited for what the rest of the journey has in store.
Lou, Margot, and Ava dancing with local scouts.
Next up was a visit to the Vietnam War Remnants Museum, where students were able to view this historic war and its aftermath from the modern Vietnamese perspective, an entirely new outlook for most. From there we visited the famous Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon and the Saigon Central Post Office. It was here where the students had their first real connections with locals, and everyone got the chance to converse with Vietnamese English students. We closed out the day with an amazing dinner and a stroll through the night market.
Off to the village!
– Vi & Ryan
Maya saying goodbye to a local English student after talking for a long while