At the end of our last full day in Vietnam, the students were given the chance to reflect on a randomly drawn topic relating to Vietnam, it’s culture and our journey:
Meghna- Markets
The markets in Vietnam certainly participated in the Australian to Vietnamese culture shock, a plethora of colours and a wide array of unique products. Although the markets were quite chaotic, a beautiful range of eye-catching souvenirs caught our attention in the Saigon Night Markets and as soon as we received the price for them, my group immediately began to haggle and lower the price, sometimes we were successful, sometimes we were shouted at by the shopkeepers. I will definitely miss the markets, it will be odd to return to Australia and only see fixed prices. The markets have certainly been an experience, I have learnt to barter like a pro!
Faye – Architecture
There have been various forms of architecture that we have seen in Vietnam over the past few weeks. One of the most substantial forms of architecture in Vietnam have been influenced by French colonialism, especially in Hoi An where the streets were filled with cadmium yellow buildings that were used for shops. The architecture has lasted since the early 1900’s when the French took over Vietnam. I will never forget all of the beautiful buildings that I have seen in Vietnam especially the Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City. The architecture is very different to Australia but is very beautiful.
Nicole – Hotels/accommodation
Along with the gorgeous sights of Vietnam, we have been very lucky to have air conditioned hotel rooms to go back to at the end of each day. We have experienced various accommodation of different styles and quality, from a magnificent 4 star hotel in Hue to the homely long houses of Mai Chau. We were treated like royalty, with traditional breakfasts like deep fried banana pancakes and some familiar dishes. Due to the hot weather, we have made great use of the hotel pools and fully stocked mini fridges, which were often much needed after the days adventures. Although I’m excited to see my own bed again, I will miss the late night swims and comfortable lodgings.
Taliesin – Tailors
In Hoi An, our whole group visited Yaly, a place where we all could get clothes personally tailored for us. When we arrived, we got to choose the fabrics we wanted, to make shirts, ties, or shorts. I was the only person who wanted to get a jacket. The next day we checked our clothes for our first fitting, and almost everybody had to make adjustments to their clothing. Finally at the end of the day, our clothes arrived at the hotel. I’m sure that every one enjoyed the whole experience and no-one will forget it.
Will – Traffic
Firstly no one was hurt, so the traffic must not have been that bad. It was quite a novel experience when we first crossed the road in Hanoi, judging by how crazy the traffic was I assumed you could only cross at traffic lights but I could not be more wrong. When you feel like crossing all you do is wander over the road and do not stop, you just keep on walking at the same speed as you watch the scooters zip by from all directions. After all of the chaos in the traffic I still see an advantage, you can cross whenever you want. The insane traffic adds an interesting aspect to the interesting country of Vietnam.
James St John – Fashion
I came on this journey equipped for a camping trip so when I realised that this was not the case, I tried to adapt my luggage to meet the fashion needs of the situation. Sadly, this was to no avail as it is too hot here for jeans and all they sell are cheap knock offs, ‘witty’ novelty shirts, North Face T-shirts and caps and genie pants. Some of us actually came prepared and have managed the limited luggage.
Parker – The Vietnam War
There are a lot of things we did relating to the Vietnam War. The first of these was a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels. This was enjoyable but much of the “education” was propaganda. Today we went to the Vietnam War Remnants museum. It was much more informative but still very biased. The effects and impact the war had on the people are still visible today. It is clear that the many wars have affected how the country functions today.
Anna – Bike Riding
We have completed two scenic bike rides – one in Hoi An and the other in the Mekong Delta. In Hoi An we rode through some busy streets but mostly quiet roads on the way to the beautiful beach, which tortured us as we couldn’t swim. It was a long easy ride and our butts were aching by the end of it. The bike ride on a small island in the Mekong Delta was the opposite. It was shorter and we were riding on rocky ground. The bike rides let us see more of Vietnam and see it in a way in which the locals see it.
Andrew – Village Life
Life for the villagers in Vietnam is very simple. They do only what is necessary. They do not farm if they have enough food to survive and enjoy the rest of the time with family and friends.
Connor – Keeping Healthy
To keep healthy on the trip the group had to stay constantly hydrated, have a balanced diet and try a variety of foods. The temptation to buy a box of Choco-pies or a litre of Coke was always a struggle, but the group knew that to stay healthy and enjoy the experience we had to make smart choices. To stay hydrated in the village of Mai Chau was a challenge as the heat and building work was very exhausting, but a quick Hydralyte was always a good solution. Most of us have stayed healthy with few problems, thanks to the help from Mr. G.
James C – Group Travel
Travelling as a group throughout the trip has been a great experience. On planes, boats and busses we have all got to know each other really well. Many new friendships have formed. We have seen many different landscapes throughout the journey and they have all added to the experience.
Harry – Spring Rolls
Throughout the entire trip, every meal began with a plate of six spring rolls to share between four. It was always a race to see who could demolish those rolls of goodness first to get a second spring roll. In the end it came down to who could endure the heat of the freshly cooked spring rolls quick enough to get another.
Elise – The Australian Embassy
Once the initial awkwardness of the situation passed, the Australian Embassy visit helped us to gain a large amount of knowledge on the role Australia plays in fostering a relationship with Vietnam. I don’t think the three people talking to us had a set plan for what to say and many awkward silences ensued. They relied on us asking questions, so once we started asking, it became interesting.
Climate – Meg
Every day has been a new challenge and good challenges at that! Weather has played a large role in our appearances on this trip, making sweat drip off our faces and our hair stick out like a crazy scientist’s hair. Even once we had our hair clinging to our faces due to a relieving storm. While the heat has made us slightly unhappy at times, we quickly forgot about that with the fun activities we do each day. Only one day left and it feels like yesterday we were saying good bye at the South Road gates.
Sofie – Towns
Towns can come in all sizes, shapes and forms. I thought that all towns in Vietnam look the same but after 16 days I’ve realised that they are all different. Some filled with lanterns and lights and others with rice fields and cows. Of all the towns we have visited, Mai Chau is the one that has stood out the most. The sounds of motor bikes and birds waking you up in the morning and the sounds of crickets and fans at night was a unique experience I will never forget.
Magnus – The Amazing Race
To wrap up the awesome trip we have all had so far, our group formed into multiple teams to complete a series of questions and challenges throughout the city of Saigon. After each team received a sheet filled with questions regarding the history of Saigon and how it’s been influenced, we set off to explore the city. To begin the race, groups walked to the Notre Dame Cathedral and old post office with the aid of a map. The race eventually let us to a market and even the tallest building in South Vietnam. The amazing winning team which showed great power, courage, persistence and glory was the “Winx Club” which included Will, Tom T, Anna, Meg and myself. The great winning team was eventually treated to a tasty lunch free of charge. It proved to be a very amazing race indeed.
James Reid – souvenirs
Throughout the trip we have had lots of time to shop as well as show off our bargaining skills. One of the main types of purchases has been souvenirs, ranging from small happy Buddhas to larger statues of monuments. Buying souvenirs will give us the opportunity to remember and think of places we have visited on our amazing trip. I personally have purchased a few small souvenirs and these will remind me of my Big Experience with all my friends and the teachers for years to come.
Tom T – Bartering/haggling
Throughout the trip there have been many great bartering stories. Most recently there was the story of the “don’t tell your friend” guy. Will bought a hammock from the guy for 65 000 VND. About 3 minutes later, he came up to me and I bartered him down from his ‘best price’ and paid only 50,000 VND. Aside from that, as a whole we have improved our bartering skills a lot and have been getting the prices of items for much cheaper than we could in Hanoi. There were many other stories that you are all bound to hear once we return home.
Pat – Snacks
Snacks are a vital part of many people’s diet. For some they are more important than meals. For Connor, James, Harry, Mr G and I the Big Experience was a constant struggle to find M&M’s. When we were able to find a packet, they cost 45,000 Dong for only 15 grams. The Vietnamese treasure these chocky treats! We ended the trip with a great purchase of a medium bag of M&M’s for 130,000 Dong. We would do anything for these treats.
The highlight for most of us was changing the life of this family.
