VIETNAM
DESTINATION: Vietnam is a country of farming, fertile soils, lush green hills, tropical landscape and forested mountains. A Southeast Asian country that borders China, Laos, and Cambodia with over 2,000 miles of coastline hugging the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. The size of Vietnam is equivalent to the size of New Mexico, about 127,000 square miles, but in a narrow ‘S’ shape known to many as the North, Central and the South. The narrowest part is about 30 miles, from the border of Laos to the China Sea. The most well known cities in Vietnam are Hanoi and Halong Bay in the North, Hue and Da Nang in Central and Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, in the South. I wish to travel throughout North, Central and South Vietnam by train, bus and/or motorbike without . My journey will begin in north vietnam, I will visit the Temple of Literature, it is the site of Vietnam’s first university, established here in 1076, a one of a kind well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture. I will experience Halong Bay’s spectacular seascape formed with thick jungle vegetation and Sa Pa’s mountainous living with thick bamboo woodlands, home to local mountainous people. In central region, I will visit Hue and Da Nang. Hue is a city with filled with historic tombs, grand pagodas and palaces. Da Nang is a coastal city filled with sandy beaches, modern architecture, limestone caves and buddhist temples. In south Vietnam, I would visit the biggest and most authentic market in Ho Chi Minh City, enter the Cu Chi Tunnels the hiding place of Viet Cong Guerrilla army during the Vietnam War, and experience the Mekong Delta water village and floating markets travel only by boats. Throughout my journey to these amazing destinations, I wish to learn about local food cultures, ingredients and cooking styles. It would be a great opportunity to find local cooking classes to enrich my hunger for flavors.
PURPOSE: When we think of Vietnam, it is often associated with the 30 year long Vietnam War. A piece of recent history that ended just over 40 years ago. A pivotal shift of my family history of Chinese descent to three generations in Vietnam. I was born after the Vietnam War in Ho Chi Minh City, Chinatown District, as a 3rd generation Chinese-Vietnamese. My family and I didn’t speak a word of Vietnamese. I was home schooled and sheltered from the scary world outside of home. There was not an opportunity to explore Vietnam, most days were tough and the post war morale was very low. The only goal we had was to leave the land of tears and sorrows in search of a new beginning. It is time to be courageous and revisit this beautiful country I once called home. I want to go back and explore beyond my childhood boundaries, breakout of my comfort zone, navigate through the country and explore! This trip will bring great courage and independence. I will be planning all the details of the trip and learn how to commute utilizing local transportation and possibly learn the language. I will have a deeper understanding of Vietnamese lifestyle and cultures. I’m hopeful that I will create beautiful memories of Vietnam that will last for a lifetime.
DOCUMENTATION:
I’m very excited to share my journey through photographs, video recordings and I will keep a journal on events and activities along the way. I will present my journey to describe my personal, first hand experiences and in my own words. There will be many explorations, emotions and thoughts during my journey. I will share my honest opinions and express my feelings. I expect the unexpected encounters that may occur during my long train rides from North to Central and down to South Vietnam, an experience within itself. I will miss my bed, I will seek comfort, but I will power through the unknowns and uncertainties. Authentic and candid moments will be captured along my journey of beautiful sceneries, local street markets, meal preparations at a local home-stay, recordings of local people and possibly ask them to speak a few words of their experiences as local Vietnamese. Every experiences will be very close to the heart and at times indescribable with words, but I see this as an opportunity to push through my comfort zone and challenge myself.