Day 9

Today a majority of the group woke up early to take Andrew up on his offer on going to a French Pastry shop a ‘block away’. Now I have finally understood his margin of error with a block and it’s roughly a one to two mile radius. Regardless we went on a voyage and found this amazing pastry shop. They had literally everything you could dream of and it was so good. I got about 5 different pastries for a total of 2 dollars ≈ 40,000 dong, this was shocking because this in the states should probably be about 3 dollars for each pastry I had. It turns out many amazing French shops remain from French influences when they ruled in Vietnam. This can also be seen in various structures as French Architects had a great impact of many structures that remain today.

After the scrumptious breakfast we headed to a business related stock market Viet Capital Securities Company. There we were briefed shortly on what the company did, as many Vietnamese people watched 3 stock screens that represented a majority of businesses in Ho Chi Minh City. This was a little harder to grasp but I believe the company simply sold stocks to interested buyers, the Vietnamese carefully studying the screens. Despite the size of this condensed room it reflected any typical stock market across the world, people anxiously awaiting a valued purchase and brokers selling stocks. It was another very unique experience to add to my list of what I witnessed in Vietnam.

Once finished a bit early than expected we changed gears into Tourist mode and went traveled to the Tax Center. This building was like any American Mall three stories tall containing as many upscale products you could imagine. It was very westernized and a flashback to shopping at home versus the typical Vietnamese Markets. Here however bartering, as Vietnamese custom, was in effect and that meant I was determined to get the lowest price always. Rayna and I went searching on the top floor for gifts for our parents and family and turned out quite successful.

Lunch was at the Victory Hotel buffet so as a group we headed back and began feasting. Today my stomach had recovered to about half strength so as Dr.Berman offered snakehead fish to me and I obliged. I still, however, tried the soft serve Vietnamese ice cream and it was phenomenal. This rekindled a memory to Ice Cream I have eaten before at the Chincoteague Beach. The kind they serve at the mini-putts that is part gelatin and sooo good.

Next the group gathered and we traveled to E-Town 2 located next to E-Town, which housed Glass Egg Digital Media. There we met with the CEO’s of Ascenx Technologies and were given a very detailed presentation. Their company, Ascenx, consists of electrical and mechanical engineers that work on remanufacturing old technologies to newer more efficient ones. What these engineers do is remarkable because it’s extremely innovative and rigorous having to work on projects for generally 3-months at a time and completely redesign the initial product. A few examples were changing old computer monitors into flat screen space efficient ones. As an engineer it is so inspiring see what can actually be done with the knowledge I am learning through college.

On top of the presentation Tung T. Bach had an amazing story tying into everything we have been learning about the Vietnam-American War and it’s relations to the Vietnamese people of how it has affected differently. His story was of his uncle who was great naval officer of South Vietnam. He had wanted to escape to the refuge island in 1975 but his grandfather said no. As a result of his uncle’s defiance he was sent to a re-education camp. Regardless his uncle had a brilliant mind and an instinct to survive as well as Tung’s mother who rode a day away to the camp to support him for 3 years. After this time he finally escaped with two others navigating at night through the rivers of Vietnam. He then remained totally aliased only confiding in family, devised more plans to escape to the refuge island. Eventually he had 3 tickets to leave for the United States and he chose him because his mother’s loyalty and his youngest sister because she most likely to live the longest. It was remarkable that he was picked over brother’s son as in Vietnamese tradition he would be selected. To accomplish everything the Uncle told him they were just going to the field. Next thing he knew they were boarding boat in the Mekong Delta and covered with fish to remain hidden. His uncle navigated away from Viet Cong ships out to the ocean and had everything planned to sail like a mastermind. Once finally at the Refuge Island Tung realized never see mom or dad he was very sad but his uncle became both his father and mother. That’s where he traveled to California and met his partner another Vietnamese-American and eventually established Ascenx. Now a 1.2 million company they are extremely thankful for the United States involvement in Vietnam. War clearly had impacted people negatively but there are some, like this, unbelievable success stories. They were so polite and positive they even took us out to have coffee with them. This was probably the most amazing experience I had in Vietnam with such kind people. It speaks wonders how their business has had such success as they themselves have such amazing character. They are something I one day aspire to be.

Once we finished our time at Ascenx we were recommended to go to ‘Black Cat’ for the best burgers in Vietnam. This was a great decision as these burgers were unmatched in Vietnam they were incontension, in my mind, with any burger in the states. On top of everything it was nice continuing a stabilizing trend for my stomach. It would surprise you after a certain time in a country how refreshing having food from home can be. At the end of the night the group went out and had a great time interacting with Vietnamese residents out at Club Lush.