From Hanoi to the Delta
Penn Global Seminar: Pacific Worlds: Vietnam
Sarah, one of the Spring 2026 Penn Global Seminar Correspondents, shares her experience abroad during the Spring Break. Follow along with the group of correspondents on our blog and look out for their images on the @pennabroad Instagram feed.
I went into the trip thinking I had a pretty good idea of what to expect from Vietnam. After spending a whole semester studying its history and culture, I’d built up a mental image of the country. But what surprised me most was just how distinct each place felt, and how often I found myself caught off guard by experiences I never could have anticipated.
Hanoi was dense and busy in a way that was kind of overwhelming at first, but in an exciting way once I got used to it. Walking through the Old Quarter — narrow streets packed with shops and motorbikes squeezing through tight gaps — was such a change of pace from the suburban town I grew up in. Visiting Hoa Lo Prison, a colonial-era jail built by the French for Vietnamese political prisoners, was haunting and memorable. The cells are small and the conditions were brutal, and standing in them made the history feel immediate in a way that a lecture just doesn’t. The Dong Nhan Temple visit was also such a cool moment where classroom studies turned into reality. The temple is dedicated to the Trung Sisters, two first-century women who led one of Vietnam’s earliest uprisings against Chinese rule and are considered among the country’s first national heroes. We’d spent a lot of time studying them this semester, so watching people leave offerings and honor them made the history feel vivid and alive.
Then we went to Mai Châu, a rural valley in northern Vietnam about three hours from Hanoi, known for its rice fields and ethnic minority villages, and everything slowed way down. We walked through traditional Thai ethnic villages, and learned weaving from a local woman who was so kind to teach us. Even though it was hot and humid, it turned out to be one of my favorite days of the whole trip.
Saigon had a completely different energy. It was faster, more modern, and had an international feel. The War Remnants Museum, which documents the Vietnam War, was a lot to process but it forced me to confront the human cost of conflict in a way that statistics and textbooks never could. Walking through those exhibits made the war feel personal and immediate, and reminded me how history shapes real lives, not just narratives, so I’m glad we went. Afterwards, experiencing Saigon’s street food was a vivid contrast to the heaviness of the museum. The bustling markets, the incredible variety of flavors, and the way food draws people together gave me a fresh perspective on everyday life. Each meal was unique and was easily among the best I’ve ever tasted.
Our day trip to the Mekong Delta rounded out the week perfectly. Gliding along the river by boat and visiting small workshops where people wove baskets from water hyacinth or made coconut candy by hand, everything moved at a slower, more deliberate pace. It was the most hands-on experience of the trip and a peaceful way to close out our time.
Reflecting on it all, I feel incredibly grateful to have had this experience — and I know I’d love to return to Vietnam someday!