Hello!
Today, I have made it back to Alabama after another long and tiring day of travel. However, I am incredibly fulfilled after completing our time in North Vietnam and Taipei, Taiwan. Both places were far slower in culture than Ho Chi Minh City, and Taipei was one of the nicest cities I have been to–clean, industrious, and not crowded. Before visiting those areas, though, we spend a little time east of Hanoi, in the coastal areas of Hai Phong (known for its signature crab broth soup) and Ha Long Bay (maybe the most beautiful place I have ever been). We didn’t do much business-related stuff there–just vacation–so I’ll go ahead and skip to the places where we did.
Hanoi:
- Visited FPT University and learned about semiconductor manufacturing in a Special economic zone outside Hanoi
- Met with local historians over dinner and learned about how Vietnamese history influences current business and economy
- Visited local marketplaces to directly observe business practices in a rapidly developing market
- Learned about French colonial history in Vietnam
Taipei:
- Met with local entrepreneurs to learn about crowdfunding and finding resources for new high-tech businesses
- Visited ITRI in Hsinchu to view new technological breakthroughs and fascinating research facilities
- Visited Corning’s R&D center in Hsinchu to see how complex ideas are turned into market products
- Learned about Taiwanese history following the communist growth in China following WWII
All in all, I am extremely satisfied to have participated in this program. The business lessons I learned were more than enough to propel me in my studies and career, and my cultural knowledge has grown unprecedentedly. If I can, I will definitely return to Southeast Asia, and I hope you will spend some time there too!