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Title: Cần Thơ- Qùynh Nga và Qùynh Xuân

Chào các cô và chào các bạn!

Mình tên là Yiwen, tên tiếng Việt là Qùynh Xuân. Mình là sinh viên nam thứ nhầt, học ngành khoa học xã hội.

I went to Vietnam two years ago, during the December holidays with my family. We visited Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip because there were many interesting things to see and delicious food to eat there! We went to the Cu Chi Tunnels in Ho Chi Minh and I found it very informative and fun. I learnt that the tunnels were shaped just nice for the Asian built which prevented the Americans from being able to fit into them and this was extremely interesting to me! We also visited Halong Bay which was very beautiful and scenic. One aspect of the trip that i really loved was the food!!:D The phở was  my favourite dish in Vietnam! Especially in Hanoi where the weather was colder, eating a hot bowl of phở was very satisfying. All in all, I love Vietnam and would like to visit it again, and hopefully explore Da Nang and Sapa.

Mình tên là Rasyiqah, tên tiếng Việt là Quỳnh Nga. Mình là sinh viên năm thứ nhất. Mình định học ngành khoa học xã hội. My first time in Vietnam was back in July of this year where my mother, her friends and I visited Ho Chi Minh City for a few days. In Ho Chi Minh City, we spent most of our time shopping because the hotel that we stayed in was conveniently located opposite Bien Tanh Market. I also had the opportunity to eat some of the local dishes such as Vietnamese spring rolls and salad. However, I felt that they are many other things that Vietnam has to offer which I was not able to experience during the short trip. These include knowing more about the history of Vietnam and how the country and the people have managed to overcome all their past troubles as well as the beatiful natural landscapes outside of the city and in other regions. Nonetheless, I am glad to have learnt a thing or two about Vietnamese culture and history through this module. I am hopeful that I will be back in Vietnam in the near future and will put to good use my acquired knowledge of the language over the past three months. This added advantage will definitely allow me to have a deeper and meaningful experience in Vietnam.

Why we chose Can Tho and what we learnt?

We chose Can Tho because we wanted to go somewhere which was not very well-known. We also felt that Can Tho is not receiving enough attention from visitors to Vietnam that it deserves as compared to other places in the country. Can Tho is located on the Mekong Delta in Southern Vietnam where the Mekong River, the longest river in Southeast Asia, ends its journey and flows into the South China Sea.

One of the unique aspect of our trip is the Cai Rang floating market which is on the Mekong River and we were very fascinated by the whole idea of a market on water where goods were sold on boats. The best way to visit and explore the market is by hiring a boat where we can experience first hand the way of life and culture of the Vietnamese people who live at the coastal areas. The market has a lot to offer from local fresh fruits to the wide variety of fresh seafood and handmade crafts. Picturesque views of the market, river and ‘floating’ stilt houses along the river are abundant and are perfect photographic opportunities for us to show off to family and friends back home.

There are several museums in Can Tho which are the perfect places to visit to learn more about the province and the country. One of them is Bảo Tàng Hồ Chí Minh where we can learn more about the history of renowned revolutionary leader of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh. Another museum is Bảo Tàng Cần Thơ which offers us an insight on the history of the province when it was under foreign rule as well as its culture.

As Can Tho is surrounded by waters, there are many riverside restaurants in the province where we can try various specialty seafood dishes of the Mekong Delta. One specialty dish is cá kho tộ. Other than enjoying the Vietnamese cuisine, we can also enjoy the cool breeze while taking in the beautiful sights of the river. It is only at night when colourful lights from the restaurants illuminate the river to give an almost magical and surreal experience for us to unwind and appreciate nature.

There are also visits to historical sites in our trip so that we can have better appreciation of the history and identity of Vietnam. One of them is the Nam Nhã pagoda, a 100-year old historical-cultural relic known for its ancient architecture and its important role in the country’s history of achieving sovereignty. The other historical site is the Bình Thủy temple or ancient house which is one of the most ancient temples in Southern Vietnam.

Through this project, we learnt the various means of transportation that are available in Vietnam of which some are not found or largely used in Singapore. We also learnt how the Vietnamese people in this province survive on very little as compared to us and lead very simple lives. They are also dependent on the environment for survival as it is the main source of food and income for the people. As for conversational skills, we learnt how to bargain for cheaper prices and how to negotiate with our 'costumers' by coming up with new deals.