The trip sets up opportunities for interaction with various groups ranging from tour guides to students, and this can enable me to develop a more holistic understanding of the Vietnamese way of life. In particular, the homestay experience allows us to immerse in an authentic Vietnamese environment, promoting language and cultural exchange as we share conversations and build rapport with our Vietnamese friends.

Since Vietnam is very different from Singapore, their views are likely to differ from ours. Therefore, interactions with the Vietnamese can widen my horizons and allow me to consider different perspectives in my work, promoting more diverse, creative viewpoints. They can also help me to develop a greater empathy for those who may not live in environments as comfortable and convenient as Singapore and arouse a deeper curiosity about various cultures and ways of life.

Furthermore, such an intercultural exchange can provide me with a greater pool of knowledge and experiences to draw inspiration and ideas from. I am a Communication Studies student and my insights from the trip can definitely help to shape creative thought processes required in modules such as writing, film and photography. The intercultural exchange prevents insularity as I am made aware of the larger world and different circumstances around me. With globalisation and an increasingly interconnected world, it is important to extend the relevance of my work to a wider audience rather than narrow-mindedly creating work with only a Singaporean audience in mind.

In addition, interpersonal interaction is crucial in Communication Studies as interviews and other forms of exchanges often form the basis of our work. Hence, learning to communicate effectively with people of different cultures and nationalities despite language barriers and other difficulties is an extremely important skill. The interactions with Vietnamese students and tour guides during the trip can therefore bolster my confidence to actively interact with those of different nationalities and backgrounds and help me become a more open-minded, cosmopolitan individual.

Research and fieldwork is something which is unfamiliar to me, even in Singapore. Hence, being involved in these activities in a completely foreign setting adds an extra element of challenge. It urges me to constantly be aware of my surroundings in order to make the most out of an unfamiliar environment. On a personal level, I hope that this trip will push me out of my comfort zone and allow me to become a more confident, outgoing person, capable of thinking on my feet and solving problems in unfamiliar environments.

Coincidentally, I travelled to the old town of Hoi An in Vietnam earlier this year, which varies largely from Hanoi and Sapa. (The featured image is a photo I took in Hoi An.) Personally, I hope to be able to photograph a side of Vietnam I have not seen or experienced. By comparing the purely tourist-like perspective of Vietnam I had on my past trip with a more research-based, investigative perspective this time, I hope to be able to capture a more complete understanding and appreciation of Vietnam.