My slumber was abruptly interrupted as the sound of burning rubber echoed through the cabin when SQ176 touched down at Hanoi International Airport. “Welcome to Hanoi” the pilot said. We were finally here. First ever overseas trip with a school in my entire life. As I unbuckled my seatbelt and disembarked the plane, I was ecstatic as this will not be the only “first” I will experience in my tenure here in Vietnam.

The first three days of the trip were mostly spent in SaPa. Seeing my own breath as I exhaled the SaPa winds proved that the weather forecasts were true; I was in for a chilly ride. SaPa town was a small neighborhood packed with vibrancy and culture with shop house-like structures aligned beside one another along inclined roads. Time in SaPa was valuable to Hanoirific as most of the fieldwork was to be done there. We were working at full throttle the entire time, making the most of our interactions with local businesses and tour guides – the Elysian Hotel and SaPa Sisters respectively. We were surprised at how well the locals here developed their communication skills in English, which made interviews conducted smoother.

As the dawn of Trek Day arrived, a sense of anxiousness fills the air as it would be a first for many to experience a trek. However, with the patience and guidance of our tour guide, Hanoirific overcame our physical constraints to trek a route which was unplanned for as well as conduct fieldwork along the way. We generally observed that although it was a natural trail, there were significant amounts of rubbish along the route. Even more so was that the rubbish clogged some vital waterways which the locals use for drinking water.

After approximately eight hours of trekking, we approached our homestay. Our homeowner was extremely welcoming as she provided comfortable sandals and piping hot tea. As we rested by the balcony, we marvelled at the breath-taking landscape before us as day turned to night in a matter of minutes. With temperature plummeting, we were treated to a hot herbal bath that was to die for. Dinner followed as various Vietnamese delicacies were served along with some “Happy Water” – aka Rice Wine. I vividly remember chewing on a piece of pork as the Homeowner exclaimed, “This pig I kill 2 days ago”.

As our time in SaPa came to an end, it was time to board the train back to Hanoi where we spent our remaining days shopping and exploring the city landscapes.

At the end of our tenure in Vietnam, I believe that our presence in the Vietnamese social and cultural setting did not have much of an impact with the locals as the areas that we visited were highly exposed to tourists. Hence, the locals would see us merely as tourists visiting their country. In addition, I personally do feel a heightened sense of identity as a Singaporean during our tenure in Vietnam. Our visit to Hanoi University made me realise how blessed Singaporean students were in terms of having the optimal learning environment supported by state of the art tools and technology to aid us in learning. In general, I feel that Singaporeans should admire and even employ the commitment and dedication the Vietnamese tour guides and locals had in terms of stepping out of their comfort zones and learning something new. For example, almost all our interviewees mentioned that they had to learn English completely from scratch and they simply got better by constant interactions with tourists.

I felt that this trip has indeed pushed me to the limit in terms of tapping into other traits of myself which have yet to be discovered. During this trip, I have been exposed to situations which put my communication skills to the test. I learnt the intricacies of holding a smooth, coherent and constructive interview. How to make the interviewee feel comfortable even when he/she is being recorded. Checking back with my Pre-Trip Projection, the communication barrier was very much prevalent not so much during the fieldwork, but rather during OTOT. Conversing in the field was not much of a difficulty as the tour guides attached to us were very proficient in English which made interviews slightly easier. In addition to that, it was with our tour guide’s help that we were able hold an interview with the home owner back in SaPa.

There were some events that stood out during the trip. Firstly, it would be the leadership workshop held by Professor Zachary back in SaPa town. Many people tend to forget the importance of the first impression. Everything that you do within the first seven seconds will form an impression on the person you are interacting with. Hence, the simulations which he made us undergo – from maintaining eye contact, using hand gestures while conversing and having a firm and confident handshake, in my opinion were very apt and essential tools needed today where we meet individuals from different backgrounds and societal standings. Second impactful event was Café Hopping time where all scholars were to “hop” around different Cafés around SaPa town to meet and interact with the staff of the USP family. This event was impactful in a sense that it is important for not only USP scholars to grow, but for the ENTIRE USP family – administrative staff and professors to grow alongside the students as well. Third would be the Tea Session with Buddies back in Hilton Hanoi Hotel (after Amazing Race) where the various teams reflected on each individuals’ traits and it was then I realised that everyone was a leader in their own right and that there are many different kinds of leaders.

Overall, Vietnam was rather exhausting as our schedules were jam packed – especially when we were in SaPa Town, but it was truly worth it. I would confidently say that I will do it all over again. Big thanks to the leadership team and faculty members for making this trip and unforgettable one!