RP Students Go on Vietnam Study Trip

A team of 10 Republic Polytechnic (RP) students and an accompanying staff were in Vietnam (Hanoi) for a study trip from 25 August to 2 September this year.

This study trip has transformed the students’ perceptions about Vietnam and their perspectives on cross-cultural relations. The students brought back with them fond memories of the trip themed “One Step Beyond”.

The students visited the local high schools, universities, a garment factory, an Australia-Vietnam joint venture roofing company and also made 2 other company visits.

Here are the thoughts of the students after the trip:

Interview

RP: Jian Ming (JM) & Faizal, can you share with us why you decided to sign up for the Vietnam study trip?

JM: I wanted to see for myself how the economy of Vietnam is progressing. I’m also keen to find out why many companies, including Singaporean ones, decide to invest in Vietnam. Last but not least, I wanted to learn more about the Vietnamese culture to raise my awareness of their traditions and also to be more sensitive when dealing with the locals.

Faizal: I decided that Vietnam was the place that I really wanted to go for my study trip because I wanted to get a first-hand experience of life in Vietnam, to see how Vietnam has recovered after the famous war with the United States and to understand the importance of Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam’s history.  

'One Step Beyond' Team	Visit to an Australian-Vietnam Joint Venture Roofing Company

RP: What aspects of the Vietnamese culture and people left a deep impression on you?

JM: Due to its French colonial past, Vietnam exudes a French influence that is not found in other Asian cities. Vietnamese food, architecture, language and culture are all influenced to a certain extent by the French. Examples include building styles which replicate French colonial house designs. The tour guide also told us that parts of the Vietnamese language are actually derived from the French language and that is why some words have similar pronunciations.

Faizal: As I travelled through Hanoi, I observed that the Vietnamese people always radiate a sense of warmth about them. No matter who you are, they will always welcome you and greet you with open arms. I was surprised that our driver, Mr. Long, could chat up his fellow Vietnamese driver and carry on a conversation with little effort. It was as if they knew each other from way back. Initially, I thought Mr. Long was a popular figure in Hanoi because he always seemed to have no problems chatting people up. When we were at Haiphong (2^nd busiest port in Vietnam, 3 hour drive from Hanoi), I saw that he easily engaged the villagers there in conversation too.

Broom Making at a Local Village	Pottery Hands-On

RP: Can you describe your visit to one of the companies?

JM: I learnt most from the Norfolk garment factory. Mr. Kwang, our host, shared many insights with us. I learnt many business tactics and even life skills from him which school books would not be able to teach me. I also learnt that everyone looks at the same problem in different ways. Mr Kwang told us that in order to cut costs the company had to outsource its delivery to other companies, as running their own dispatch and delivery team would cost a lot to maintain. This is a good example of applying textbook theory to a real life situation.

Faizal: I also picked up some interesting points from Norfolk Garment. Apart from Mr. Kwang’s words of wisdom, I managed to see how the factory was being run. From my working experience in a factory, I can see that they are run in a similar fashion as factories in Singapore. The workers earn only about SGD$200 monthly. That is really low compared to what workers in Singapore are being paid for doing a similar job. However, we need to factor in the different living standards and skills that the workers possess. Singapore workers are generally more skilled than most Vietnamese workers due to our educational system and our  country’s high literacy rate.

Visit to a Local High School	Visit to Norfolk Garment Factor (Singapore Joint Venture Co.)

RP: Can you describe your visit to one of the schools?

JM: I learnt most from the University of Sports in Hanoi. Sports really breaks all boundaries and connects people of different races, religions, cultures, practices and languages.

Initially, we had problems communicating with the students there because their English wasn’t very good but once we started playing sports, there were no boundaries. Communication was flowing through the use of the activity and everyone suddenly seemed to understand one another without having to say a single word.

Faizal: The visit to one of the local high schools in Hanoi where we had a mini-exchange programme really opened up my eyes. I realize how lucky I am in Singapore. We were told to introduce ourselves to some of the students and on the way there, as we walked past the corridor, I took a glance into the classrooms and noticed that wooden chairs and tables are still in use at the school. I’m reminded of how often we take things for granted in Singapore, considering the excellent facilities we have in school. The students were friendly - this is characteristic of most Vietnamese people. None of them avoided me when I approached; instead, they would answer my queries with smiles and appreciation. Even though they have a reputation of being more academically-inclined students than us (Vietnamese students outshone Singapore in the recent Math’s Olympiad), they were still humble.

Lunch – Vietnamese style	University of Sports – Friendly Match with the Vietnamese National Team

RP: What value(s) have you learnt from this study trip?

JM: Values of punctuality, patience and being humble.  It is very important to be punctual because when I start my own career in future, I cannot afford to be late for a meeting or event as it would be a tell-tale sign of my tardiness. Patience is important too because when we interact with people from diverse backgrounds, we need to be constantly aware of their feelings and be patient towards them.

One of the most important values is that of being humble. I need to constantly remind myself of how fortunate I am and not to take things for granted at home. From the clay making session, I learnt that being humble also means asking for help when help is needed and to accept good intentions of help from others. On many occasions, we are simply too proud to accept the fact that we need to learn from others constantly.

Faizal: Being grateful. I thought a lot about the Vietnamese people, their painful past and their lifestyles. Due to our fast-paced life, I think many Singaporeans may have forgotten the simple act of appreciating someone or something. This trip made me ask myself, “How many ‘thank-you(s)’ have I said over the years to people around me?”

Being humble. Everyone in his or her life has intentionally or unintentionally been a little arrogant or thinks himself or herself to be a little more superior than others. I came away from the trip with the perception that no one is too clever to learn anything. Being humble also means asking for help, to learn from others constantly and to respect diverse opinions.

Being positive through bad and trying times. This is essential as it keeps us going through hard times. If we do not learn to be positive, we will always be down and out whenever setbacks strike us. There are always lessons to be learnt and opportunities to be grasped even in dire situations.

RP: Finally, what have you achieved from this study trip?

JM: I believe I have seen for myself how well Vietnam is doing as a country in terms of its economy. It is progressing at a very fast pace. I understand why companies are investing money into Vietnam and what types of businesses are doing well. For example, in a developing country where buildings are constantly being built, shopping malls being erected everywhere and roads being upgraded, companies manufacturing building materials like steel will certainly do well. I have also learnt that being familiar with the Vietnamese culture is very important when doing business there. If we do or say something that is acceptable to us but not to them, a business opportunity will come to naught.

All in all, it has been a very fruitful and enjoyable time of networking and gathering contacts.

Faizal: The 8 days spent in Vietnam has really made me feel at home. For the first few days it was difficult, but as I adapted to the environment, I didn’t feel like going home. In conclusion, I have achieved a brief knowledge of the history of Vietnam. I have experienced life in Vietnam, tasted Vietnamese food, picked up different values along the way and made friends in Vietnam.

Thank you for the outstanding “One Step Beyond” Journey!

Words by Huin Jian Ming & Muhammad Faizal Bin Osman. Compiled by Brian Chan (OPI) (VO) (LH)