An Le, a Donaghey Scholar at UA Little Rock, spent her spring semester studying abroad in Vietnam.
For Le, Vietnam stood out as the obvious choice for her study abroad experience. She spent five months in Vietnam, excited to experience her culture firsthand.
“I chose to study in Vietnam because I wanted to explore my culture and heritage,” Le explained. “I wanted to learn about my parents’ hometown and country. Vietnamese cuisine is also one of my favorite cuisines, and I wanted to enjoy authentic Vietnamese food.”
Le accomplished her goals in this area, exploring many of Vietnam’s popular cities and experiencing the culture up close and personal.
“While in Vietnam I traveled to Phu Quoc, Da Nang, Hoi An, Da Lat, and many other popular cities,” she said. “After my courses were over, I also traveled to China and Thailand. I learned a lot about Vietnamese culture and how kind the Vietnamese people are. Everywhere I visited people were so hospitable and helpful. I got to learn about so many different foods, such as bun dau mam tom (rice vermicelli with fried tofu and shrimp paste) and snails with salted egg sauce.”
During her time studying abroad, not only did Le take advantage of the opportunity to expand her understanding of Vietnamese culture, but the marketing and management double major also took courses at RMIT University, where she learned valuable lessons about business.
“I have learned many new things,” stated Le. “The courses I participated in allowed me to understand problems local companies faced, and even present my solutions to these companies. One of my favorite courses was eco-sustainability in tourism and hospitality management, which allowed me to see what companies have to deal with while balancing the economy, the environment, and the people.”
One of the standout memories for Le during her time abroad was her magical experience in Hoi An.
“Hoi An was such a beautiful city filled with beaches, historical locations, and tradition,” she said. “I loved witnessing the lanterns and nightlife at Hoi An’s night market. It reminded me of the lantern scene in Tangled. The architecture of the buildings in Hoi An is beautiful and preserved really well, so many people can appreciate its beauty.”
Le was able to experience a lot of growth from her study abroad experience and recommends the experience to other students.
“This allowed me to grow and experience a completely different routine,” said Le. “I grew to love Vietnam so much, from the small details such as the fresh fruit juice to the big details like the city life in Ho Chi Minh. The experience changed my perspective on so many things and I just feel generally a lot brighter and happier. I have also become so thankful for all the small things. I would definitely recommend this experience to other students.”