Very late post, as I was too busy. I just had time to look back on our trip to Vietnam with my fellow Galaxy Campus ambassadors last April, and here are some of my favorite photos (and the stories behind them) that I wasn't able to share! (In random order!)
We went into the Cafe Apartment, and most cafes and shops were already closed (I guess 10 p.m. is a common closing time), but thankfully, Meraki Cafe was open! If I were a local, I would visit this cafe every week. I loved the interior; they sell many things there, such as clothes, aroma oils, etc., and they have the nicest staff as well! I ordered a strawberry smoothie because I cannot drink coffee, which is pretty sad because Vietnam is known for its coffee.
If we have Luneta Park, they have this. I learned an interesting fact from a Galaxy Campus friend from Vietnam that the reason why the cathedral has been under construction for so long is that they wanted to preserve the French architecture, so they had to get the materials from France. I love the fact that when they knew I was an architecture major, they shared a lot of facts about their architecture. I'm really grateful to them for teaching me; I get to appreciate their architecture more as we walked around the city.
Ben Thanh Market. When we got here, it felt familiar. It's pretty similar to Uyanguren here in Davao. And when we entered, it definitely was Uyanguren. This place is pretty intimidating and scary as a shy introvert. You've got to have the guts to haggle confidently and fight with their words (most of them are pretty cruel, two packs of souvenirs, and I already left the place, yep, I am too weak for this). There was a convenience store right outside the market. I bought coffee for my family and friends there instead.
My favorite French structure. It looks so pretty that's all.
Special thanks to Galaxy AI's Object Eraser; I was able to use it for almost all the photos I took! (Ho Chi Minh City is pretty crowded ngl)
Cafe Apartment. I wish we had this here in the Philippines; it's a perfect Gen Z spot. We really loved walking down this street as there were many stores, but we roamed around pretty late, as most shops closed at 10 p.m.
This was actually our first destination after we arrived, and it felt like we learned a lot about Vietnam just by being in the country for about three hours. It is definitely a must-visit; just prepare yourselves.
My favorite place, Bookstreet. As someone who loves books and art, it is heaven. I had hoped to go back there on our last day, but we did not have time. I really wanted to get my portrait done by the old man who does 1 minute(?) portrait paintings. I thought the items here would be expensive, but surprisingly, they are not. I actually highly prefer getting souvenirs here rather than at Ben Thanh Market! They are cheaper and much more aesthetic and meaningful.
Walking street! I loved taking photos here; the S25U's Nightography was excellent. It's just that, if you're an introvert who doesn't drink, doesn't party, doesn't go to bars or clubs, and has blurry eyes with astigmatism and night blindness, skip this place (and yes, I tick all the boxes). It was too loud, and I had to walk closely with my fellow ambassadors as I struggled to see clearly. All I can remember is following my fellow ambassadors as they shopped at different convenience stores inside. But I had fun taking photos here! It was a culture shock experience because the bars and clubs here seemed to be inside out. I'll leave you to understand that.
The cute babies at Independence Palace. Looking back at my gallery, I realized that I have more photos of these babies than of the building itself. The sun was shining, and it was pretty hot. I am so amazed by these babies; they seemed pretty much adapted to their country's heat. Look at them, still looking fresh and not sweaty.
My favorite food in Vietnam. We had brunch at a Michelin restaurant named Madame Lam. It was probably my first time in a while eating in a fancy restaurant. I loved everything, from the exterior to the interior. The restaurant's look and vibe matched the food. The food in the photo tasted like our street-roasted chickens here in the Philippines; that must be the reason why it was my favorite. I craved rice throughout the meal. The drink I ordered was unforgettable; it tasted like the scent of the Cochin Zen hotel (where we stayed).
Landmark 81. I'm so happy that a Vietnamese Galaxy Campus friend who toured us bought us here. Who would have thought I'd be able to see Vietnam's tallest skyscraper? I was able to start what was on my bucket list: to see the different notable structures I've encountered in my architecture class in different countries. Still amazed at how it really looks like bamboo. This was one of my inspirations for one of my plates back when I was a freshman; insane. (I was able to see different angles of this building as we rode the bus!)
Randomly took a photo of this because of 1. Their milk packaging and 2. their "Dutch Mill" being "Dutch Lady".
Our first dinner place. I learned that their food looks similar to our dishes but tastes different; like, they have a sinigang-looking soup, but it turned out to be sweet.
The hotel we stayed in had a lovely zen interior. The drink I had at Madame Lam really tasted like the hotel smelled!
Post Office. Nothing to share about this place; it was just pretty crowded, and this photo has a lot of people in it. Object Eraser at its finest.
That's all I can share! I am forever grateful to Galaxy Campus for this experience. I will forever cherish the memories I made in Vietnam. I hope I can return with my family next time; sharing my story with them isn't enough, they have to be there too.
