On day eight we had a 7:30 start for a big day ahead of us. We all hopped on the bus after breakfast to the Vietnam museum of Ethnology where we looked at Vietnamese culture including the different ethnic groups, the traditional long and tall houses as well as what people wore hundreds of years ago. We also were intrigued about the different Vietnamese traditions, for example the dead ceremony where the Vietnamese people are reminded about their beloved ancestors of the past three generations who had passed away. There was a part of the museum dedicated to someone who could carry 800 fish traps on one push bike in order to survive.
Next, we drove by bus to the temple of literature we were marvelled by the sights as well as the amount of students gathered by a graduation ceremony. We were given information on how the Vietnamese education system works, how they had exams from prep and until they finished school. If they got below 44.4 they would have to repeat the year until they get above the grade that is required. Passing the year level also depends on your behaviour during the year and you cannot miss more than five days of the school year.
Across the street we went to a large restaurant named Nha Hang Koto Van Mieu, where we were given the option of Vietnamese or Western food for the first time on our trip into Vietnam. After a delicious lunch we went on a walk to a small local shop where we stocked up on food for the night as well as breakfast for the overnight train which we are going on for 12 hours tonight as we travel to Hue.
By Sam Perkins and Lachie Michael