Matchless Venture
Est. October 2023
Xin Chào!
You've reached the part where I compiled the wonders I have seen in Vietnam. The photographer in me couldn't help but be amazed with every spot we visited.
Together, let us enjoy taking a look at the snaps taken from the very first week until our last days in the lands of Timeless Charm- Vietnam.
Feel free to visit the links provided below for the full photo experience.
In our first week, we had a campus tour, which was led by our buddies and Mr. Tien, a teacher at DThU. We also had a cultural exchange program, which enabled us to share our culture with people from Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, and Korea. After the program, we ate one of Vietnam's most famous noodles, the Phờ. Since we didn't have much to do in our first week, we toured around Cao Lanh City. We went to Khu Di Tích Nguyễn Sinh Sắc and to tell you honestly, the place is amazing. You can really see how they give importance to their history. After that, we had our first Jollibee experience at Coop Mart. Additionally, we had more than just a sip of the coffee and beverages at DT Coffee, a café in front of Dong Thap University. Everything that they serve their is undeniably palatable. In the next days, we went to Chợ Quê Tân Thuận Đông- Traditional Market, and believe it or not, we ate a rat! But oops , it's grilled and it came from the field, so it's not the rat you're thinking of. From that trip, we were able to ride a ferry, and tried lots of Vietnamese foods. Also, we have given a taste to their Bánh mì. And, it was really good, honestly. What made it more memorable was the celebration of our fellow exchange- students' birthdays, Cielo and Alya. Those nights were full of laughter... and tears... of joy. All in all, our first week was more than just a headstart. Everything felt so surreal and exceptional. Read more and take a look at my second week to know more about our journey!
In our second second week, guess what? More foods...more drinks...and more fun. Of course, we're already there, so why not enjoy every second of the day? So moving forward, I have tried DT Coffee's Sinh Tố Sầu Riêng or Durian Smoothie, Hủ tiếu Nam Vang, a noodle, which is also well-known in Cambodia, rode on their motorbike for the first time, went to a souvenir shop (but unluckily, it was closed that time). Big thanks to Ý, one of our friends their, for letting me experience those things. Together with our buddies, Tina and Ý, we went to VinCom Plaza, where we tried playing at their arcade games, and had our first Korean Buffet experience. All I can say is that everything was just so good. The place, the food, and the people we're surrounded with, xuất sắc(excellent)! Apart from that, we also spent a night in Lấp Vò district with the very vibrant, pretty, genuine, and bubbly, Ms. Mai, a teacher at DThU. Supposedly, we were gonna try a Vietnamese food (I forgot the name), but then again, the store was closed because their Independence day, which is commemorated every 1st to 4th of September, was nearing. However, we found another store that serves another variety of soup noodles, so we ate there. After that, we went to a café in Lấp Vò, and to tell you honestly, the place is really great, most especially at night. That was one of the most romantic night in my life, no cap. Everything there just felt so smooth and relaxing. One of the most colorful trip I had their was our trip to Sa Dec Flower Village. Every corner of the place is filled with colorful and blooming flowers. I really had fun in that place. It was a haven worth staring at for a day. After visiting that place, we had our second Jollibee experience in Sa Đéc City. Additionally, we have tried to eat fertilized duck egg, commonly known as balut in the Philippines, and it was subarashii, mate! Here comes the holiday, where our buddies went back to their hometown, meaning, we only have ourselves to rely on whenever we want to go anywhere and buy stuff. And, during those days, we also prepared our lesson plan for our teaching demonstration at the Future School. Honestly, it was kind of difficult talking to the vendors their, but thanks to the translator app, we managed to push it through. We managed to buy things that we needed, foods that we craved for, and things that we wanted to experience. It was all xuất sắc , and I could not wait to have my next experience there! Oh, we're bound to our last week there! Give yourselves comfort and take a leap to the last and final chapter of this trip.
Haiyaa, here comes the last week of our trip to Vietnam. It was filled with mixed emotions, not gonna lie. Happiness brought by the circumstance that we'll get to visit the Future School, where we did our class observation and teaching demonstration. Sadness, caused by the unstoppable nearing of our departure from the place. Excitement, because of the chance to experience many things, again. In our last week, we did our classroom observation and teaching demonstration. And to give it a wrap, it has really improved us in different measures. We went to Lotus Kafé with our buddies, tried some of their drinks, bought some souvenirs at the book street, and went to the Coop Mart after. I really enjoyed that day because, we rode on a motorbike and enjoyed every scene around Cao Lanh. It was also the week where we grabbed and grabbed more drinks— coffee, smoothie, and the like. It was in our last week, when we had our Farewell Meeting. That night was full of laughter and tears. I can still recall how we enjoyed every song that played on that night. I can still feel the emotions I had when we sang songs together with our fellow exchange students, buddies, Ms. Mai, and Mr. Truc. While writing this, I can't help but breathe so deep because, I feel like everything just happened yesterday. Blessed as we were there, our journey in Vietnam was made more bearable by some Filipino teachers— Ms. Ana Rea Lagrosa, Sir Rob, and Ms. Milrose. It felt so good to feel their warm welcome and accommodation. In Ms. Ana's place, one of my mates from the Philippines, Julia, cooked Sinigang, a famous Filipino delicacy made with pork and a sour soup, and she also prepared Pork Adobo with Ms. Ana. We all enjoyed the food that day, and I will never forget how it was filled with laughter while sharing our experiences in Vietnam. I just wish we had more days with them. Well, some things really come to an end, and not all endings are bad and sad. Just like the breathtaking sunrise and sunset that I witnessed in Vietnam, it reminds us that we will always get the chance to start again, and that things, inevitably, will come to an end... and that things can have beautiful endings, too. And let us never forget that we will get the chance to see each other again, soon. I guess this chapter ends here? Thank you for joining me in my trip! I hope I gave you learnings and motivations. One thing I want to tell you is that, whenever you want to achieve something, whenever you want to take a risk, give yourself a time to reflect and think about it, for in life, beautiful things can come in the most unexpected ways. Once again, daghang salamat! This is Edrian M. Luga, glad and honored to share a life- changing experience of mine. Carpe diem!