05/27/2026
: “I have had the honor and opportunity to study abroad in Vietnam. Initially, when I first arrived in the country, my knowledge was limited solely to what I had learned about the Vietnam War and the devastation it brought. But as I sadly departed, the experience changed me wholly as a person.
One would ask: why come to Vietnam when Europe offers so much to explore? The answer is that Vietnam, as a whole, is home to so many things different climates and cultures, rich food and history, and diverse ways of life that stand apart from one another. It is a country no longer defined by the traumas of war, but one home to exotic beauty and resilience. From the rice plantations of the Mekong Delta to the historic capital of Hanoi, the country thrives and grows, and the sense of mystery deepens with every passing day.
With each morning came a new adventure an opportunity to try new things, explore cultures and religions, or do something as simple as sitting at a food stall, talking with friends and enjoying a bowl of Bún Chả at the very restaurant where President Obama and Anthony Bourdain once shared a meal. As Bourdain himself said about Vietnam: ‘It grabs you and it doesn’t let you go. Once you love it, you love it forever.’”
