Vietnamese Trip

 

Culture, Language, Literature and Service

Despite the weather and the delayed flight, everyone remained  extremely enthusiastic and energetic.  Our flight took off at 4:40pm and reached Ha Noi by 6:30pm. We were very late but we still managed the time to experience Hanoi’s night culture in the street market and walked through the Ancient Town where old buildings are still resplendent .

 

Day two involved full day of sight-seeing .  First we visited the First National University in Vietnam “ Quoc Tu Giam” where we were lucky to meet the famous Vietnamese historian DUONG TRUNG QUOC and shook hands with him. Although Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum was under maintenance, we were able to observe his simple living style at Uncle Ho’s Stilt House. More impressive was the Memorial House of Kim Lan where his Literature works “ LANG” “ VO NHAT”  taught for IB Vietnamese have been displayed. We saw his works first-hand and knew more about his life and career throughout the words of his fifth son.

Afterwards, we played indoor and outdoor games with the orphans at SOS village. The friendly and joyous environment filled all corners of the village with laughter. We scuttled to the conference room of Hoa Binh hotel to meet a well-known literary professor TA KIM HOI and a Literature teacher. Two students Tina Le of year 13 and Duy Tran of year 12 produced excellent presentations which turned into interesting and though provoking discussions between Mr Hoi and the students. The short sketches of Drama, which were both humorous and thoughtful, were our last activities in Ha Noi.

With these sights and sounds also came the Hanoian cuisine which has brought a new and vibrant gastronomic world tastes to BIS students. Returning from Ha Noi, we were filled with memories of the people and the peerless atmosphere of Ha Noi’s unique culture. 

By a group of year 12 students

Dang Minh / Le Thanh Ngan / Mai Phuoc Trong Nghia / Nguyen Mai  / Nguyen Jannie