Having returned from my Vietnam travels, I see the two weeks I spent overseas as an unforgettable experience. The trip began with a warm welcome from students and staff at the University of Economics and Finance (UEF), setting the tone for the rest of my stay. Throughout the trip, I got to know many Vietnamese students who acted as my guides and, more importantly, my new friends. The trip consisted of cultural and recreational visits for tourists and Vietnamese company visits following the main theme of our travels: globalization and development. Throughout our activities, the UEF representatives acted as incredibly hospitable hosts and introduced us to Vietnamese culture while enhancing our education and learning experience.

During the trip, I learned much about business briefing in Vietnam and developments in sustainability and engineering since the Vietnam War. I had the opportunity to ask large company executives about their practices and goals and heard much about what makes development in engineering and business in Vietnam successful. One of the companies we visited, Coherent, is based in Pennsylvania but recently began manufacturing and development in Vietnam. The company moved to development in Vietnam because of cheap labor and manufacturing costs and has seen great growth as an industry leader in high-technology optics. This company was one example of why Vietnam has seen substantial economic growth and investment and has a promising outlook for the future. Another company we visited, VinaCapital Foundation, has a different mission in Vietnam than Coherent. The foundation is a charitable American organization dedicated to supporting disadvantaged mothers in rural Vietnam. Their work and programs were incredibly admirable and inspiring, and the visit taught me a lot about the living conditions of women in rural Vietnam and how the standards are improving. These two companies are a great overview of the types of opportunities I had on my travels and what I learned about in Vietnam.

Overall, the experience taught me much about the interdependencies of engineering and business practices. I was able to see how a developing country grows, especially in a situation as disadvantaged as Vietnam following the conclusion of the Vietnam War. In my professional engineering career, I will work to enhance my understanding of the reliance on business and economics in the industry. I want to use what I learned to take a different career path that I may not have expected for myself out of college. I am so thankful for my life-changing experiences in Vietnam, and I know that they will be even more important as I continue my path as an engineering student.