Through my observations, I realised how things are not as simple as they look. The litter along the trek turned out to be contributed by both the locals and the tourists. Globalisation may have improved their quality of life, but due to the lack of education and awareness, it also caused them to contribute to the decline of their own environment. This taught me the importance of conducting research with an open mind, without assumptions that may skew our questions and direction.

We did not have a concrete plan of who and when to interview. As a very task-oriented person, I began to worry about our data collection. However, in Sapa, we slowly found our roles within the group. Some initiated the interviews/ took photos, while I naturally took on the role of the scribe. I realised that I could rely on my team mates and that we complemented each other well because our strengths do not overlap and overpower one another.

Our social identities changed throughout the trip. From ambassadors, to researchers, to tourists. Underneath all these, were are still our unique selves, and can also be identified as USP scholars.

Every conversation transmits information in both ways. As we find out more about the locals, we naturally do a comparison to ourselves. From there, we share what is different in Singapore with them. As we grow in our awareness and knowledge of Vietnam, they too have an increased understanding of Singapore. As such, we need to do our best as ambassadors of Singapore.

The process has been interesting so far, but there is a lot of work yet to be done, before we can create an actual impact with our research. As a psychology major, going into research as a career is a possible path that I am considering. I hope to gain more experience to further develop myself as a researcher and to explore my interest in this field.

The Amazing race taught us how to prioritise our time. During the amazing race, we tried hard for the first portion of the race. After which, we realised that the other venues were too far to reach, and we had yet to explore the city. With the little time we had left in Hanoi, we decided to let go of our desire to win, and instead, enjoy what Hanoi had to offer. Thus we decided to complete the side tasks instead, and spend the remaining time shopping and bonding. Through the race, we struck mini-conversations with our Vietnamese friend, Ha. During the tea session, we had a deeper exchange of culture with regard to food, schooling, and things like compulsory military service and the equivalent in Vietnam.

Throughout the trip, we had to consistently discuss our topic to make sure that we were on the right track. We got confused at times, as our topic seemed too vague. With constant redefinition, we slowly became clearer of the picture we wanted to paint in our report. For example, we started off with ‘the daily life of a tour operator’. We then realised that our overarching topic was supposedly ‘ecotourism’. In the end, we focused on our homestay guides and other Sapa O Chau guides to get the bulk of our data, as we felt that that is the closest to our initial research question.

Every time we talked to the guides and hosts, we uncovered new layers and got to know them as individuals. I am grateful that the locals were very open to share and even thanked us for our interest in their culture.

The home-stay/ trekking was the most impactful. The family was very welcoming and willing to satisfy our overflowing curiosity. This was an irreplaceable experience, with stories shared firsthand that could not be obtained from reading literature reviews/ elsewhere. Getting to know these people and interact with them was an honour.

When I sat down for meals at the home-stay, I realised that all ingredients were home grown/ reared. This was so different from the sources of food I had back in Singapore. I learn to appreciate the simplicity of sustenance farming and self-sustainability.

Though the trek was not as I expected or prepared for, the entire experience, from the time we met our guides, was the best portion of the trip for me.

In Sapa, it was evident how a rise in (eco)tourism has changed the town so much. We still see their culture, but most of the stores were catered to tourists. Villagers mind the cafes wearing their traditional costumes, a sight that would not be seen elsewhere. Instead of farming, many have found lucrative alternatives in the (eco)tourism industry. They engage in ecotourism because it is what they do best, and because it offers a better life than farming alone.

Most of them led simple lives and were content as long as their families could be kept full. This left me to ruminate over what a ‘good life’ is. What is the convenience that we live with worth? Is there always ‘a better life’? Is it worth the pursuit?

Throughout the trip, we met many people who were passionate about learning English. The students at HanoiKids took their personal time and effort to learn a new language, and the villagers picked up the language on their own to be able to sell handicraft more easily. This shows how English is a very powerful language for communication. The Vietnamese seemed to really value English and think highly of those who have a good command of the language.

Thanks to their ability to converse in English, we could hear the locals’ stories first hand. This allowed us to gain a more accurate understanding of how the entire ecotourism industry in Sapa came about, how more and more tourists came in, and why and how they began providing tourist services as ethnic minorities who live in the villages close by. Though they never formally learnt business or hospitality, they picked up similar skills on their own.

Overall, this has been a heart-filling and eye-opening experience. I guess it is now time to use our findings to create some real impact on society.