Last night we went out with our Vietnamese friends from UEF
(University of Economics and Finance). They picked us up around 6:30 pm, and
they had brought us smoothies when they picked us up. They were freshly made
from mangos, coconuts, or strawberries. Next, they took us on the back of their
motorbikes to a Vietnamese pancake restaurant. The motorbikes were awesome! We
had to wear helmets and masks because of the fume pollution when driving, but
no one cared! At this point in the week, we were starting to long for
non-Vietnamese food, but we were still up for something new. The Vietnamese
pancakes were made form rice flour and filled with vegetable meat. You then
were to wrap and piece of the pancake in a piece of lettuce and dip it in fish
oil. I did not use the fish oil, but did not care for this Vietnamese meal at
all. So I had some spring rolls instead. There were also some beef and peanut
wraps, but the smell of them also made me sick. After dinner, we rode on the
motorbikes to an ice cream shop! The ice cream seemed perfect at that point! I
had coconut ice cream with strawberry syrup! So good! We ran a few blocks back
to the hotel next because a tailor had come to the hotel. He came because some
of the guys were getting CHEAPP tailored suits, which cost about $150. We went
to the pool on the roof of the hotel for a little then and went to bed early
around 11. 
Happy to be at the Ice Cream Shop!
Eric, Tim, Elliot, and I went to the workout room at 6 this
morning. It was already over 80 degrees when we got up there, so we were all
drenched in sweat after running a mile since the windows were open in the gym,
making it over 80 degrees inside the room. We then jumped in the pool to cool
off before heading back down. Who would have thought you could swim in a pool at
6:50 in the morning without freezing. Breakfast did not go over so well since
all I found good to eat at the buffet was a banana, so I had a granola bar a
little later.
After breakfast we went to Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park
(VSIP) which was the company that my group had researched before our trip.
First, we got briefed about the industrial parks in Vietnam, and then we took a
tour of the main industrial park by Ho Chi Minh City. VSIP has four industrial
parks which serve as a location for new companies in Vietnam, assisting the
companies to get permits, workers, buildings, and government approval. After,
we toured II-IV, which is a Pittsburgh-based company in VSIP that produces
optic lenses and other laser equipment used in Lasik surgery and military
weapons. The tour was so cool, and our guide explained things so clearly. It
was interesting to learn how the American company has to adapt their policies
to be more conscious of the culture of its employees.
For lunch, we ate at the hotel again, which had a variety of
Vietnamese foods. We were starving when we got to lunch, but I did not find
much food appetizing, especially after the last few days of straight Vietnamese
food. A group of us then headed to the CO-OP (a smaller version of Walmart)
behind the hotel to grab some familiar snack foods for lunch.
In the afternoon, we had a presentation on the US Commercial
Services in Vietnam. Our speaker, Frank Joseph, discussed how his job involves
helping American companies find profitable markets in Vietnam to market and
sell their products. He has to consider current issues and future projects when
helping the companies. After the presentation, we went back to the hotel and
swam for the rest of the afternoon. We were planning on out Vietnamese student
friends taking us to a restaurant again tonight at 7, but we were starving by 4:30
pm, especially for American food. We then spent the next hour trying to order pizza
from the Domino’s Pizza in Ho Chi Minh, but we only found out that they do not
deliver to the District our hotel is in! Such a disappointment! The students
took us by taxi and motorbike to a barbeque restaurant which was really good. I
also had a mango for dinner which was awesome! We’re all pretty tired right now
and just blogging together at the hotel before we go to bed, so goodnight!
Maybe the food will be more appetizing to me tomorrow.
Chillin' like the Vietnamese do it!
Fun Fact: When crossing a street in Vietnam, the trick is to
walk slowly and let the cars go around you! The motorbikes and cars do not stop
for pedestrians, but they will move around you slightly. We called it playing
“forger” across the road. Also, women have to be extra careful when walking in
the road because people on motorbikes sometimes drive my and snatch purses.
This has not happened to our group though, especially since we hold our bags
and wear them over the opposite shoulder.
Our student friends!
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