After two great weeks in Ho Chi Minh City, our trip came to an end today. The day was full of festivities. At 9:30 AM, we all went to play sports and Vietnamese games with the UEF students. The first game we played was soccer. I played goalie in both of ours scrimmages, and we…
Author: cameronmangioneplus3
Day 11- Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park and II-VI Incorporated- Required Topic #4
Bright and early at 7:50 AM, we headed to the Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park. VSIP was the company I prepared a presentation for before heading to Vietnam. With seven different locations spread throughout Vietnam, VSIP is considered the leading Township and Industrial Park Developer in Vietnam. In 2015, VSIP received a total of $7.9 billion…
Day 10- Reunification Palace and Tan Cang Cat Lai Terminal- Required Topic #2
After a relaxing and restful night, I met everyone in the lobby at 8:30 and headed to the Reunification Palace. The Reunification Palace was formerly known as the Independence Palace during the Vietnam War. The Palace used to be where the president and vice president of South Vietnam lived and did business. The Reunification Palace…
Day 9- Xa Loi Pagoda, Thich Quang Duc Memorial, and the War Remnants Museum- Required Topic #5
At the University of Economics and Finance, we had three lectures starting at 9:15 AM. Our first lecture covered the second part of our Vietnam History and Culture lecture. We learned about Buddhist and Confucian influences on Vietnamese customs and culture. Heading into Vietnam, I did not have a great sense of Vietnamese culture. After…
Day 8- Ben Thanh Market and TVS visit- Required Topic #4
Today marked our visit to the Ben Thanh Market. The Ben Thanh market is a large market in downtown Ho Chi Minh where tourists can barter buy goods ranging from shirts and other clothing to paintings and trinkets as well. I hit a bit of a learning curve when I started bartering when I seriously overpaid for…
Day 7- Cu Chi Tunnels- Required Topic #7
As preparation for our trip, we were all required to read a book called Vietnam-Culture Smart! that gave us a general sense of what we would see during our time here. The book includes information on Vietnam’s history, its customs, holidays, and also information on its popular tourist sights. Vietnam-Culture Smart! describes the Cu Chi Tunnels as a “Chance…
Day 5- Vietnamese History and US Consulate Visit- Required Topic #1
For our two classes at the University of Economics and Finance today, we had a class on Vietnamese history and culture and our daily language class. I enjoyed learning more about Vietnamese history from their perspective. The topic I thought was most interesting was how the guest lecturer discussed the Vietnam War. His main point…
Day 6- Mekong Delta Trip- Required Topic #6
Today was our group tour day of the Mekong Delta. We were in the lobby at 8:00 in the morning and arrived at Tien Giang at 9:30. We started our day at Tien Giang where we got to check out a snake farm. At the farm, we got to see dozens of different snakes, including…
Day 4- Vung Tau beach Trip
I got the opportunity to travel to the city of Vung Tau yesterday. Vung Tau is a beach city approximately two hours south of Ho Chi Minh City. The city is known for its resorts and its picturesque views. Another famous landmark of the city is the 105-foot tall statue of Jesus Christ. To get…
Day 3- Mekong Delta Lecture and Glass Egg- Required Topic #3
In preparation for our day long trip to the Mekong Delta on Saturday, we heard two guest lectures giving us an overall context of the delta, the goods and services produced there, and the current issues occurring in the Mekong Delta. It was fascinating to learn that the Mekong Delta of Vietnam produces 50% of…
Day 2- Urban Development and Phu My Hung- Required Topic #2
After breakfast, I headed to the University of Economics and Finance to hear a guest lecture presentation on Urban Planning and Development of Ho Chi Minh City and the architectural heritage of Vietnam. This presentation set a great tone for our company visit to Phu My Hung (pronounced foo me hung). Phu My Hung is a…
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