First week in Vietnam: experiencing the Vietnamese lifestyle

 It has now been 5 weeks since I arrived in Vietnam and a lot of things happened since. I haven't been the most active blogger but don't worry, I'll make it up to you.

My first experience in Vietnam was quite disheartening. After landing at the airport, I hailed a taxi and agreed on the fare upfront. But, to my surprise, the driver tried to scam me and even threatened me with his hand. I felt shocked and vulnerable in that situation. Eventually, I decided to get out of the taxi and walk back to my place. Along the way, a Vietnamese girl on a motorbike noticed my distress and stopped to check if I was okay. Her kindness was a ray of light amidst the troubling start, reminding me that not everyone in the country had ill intentions.

Rest assured, I've never encountered any scams since that unfortunate incident. When I first arrived in Vietnam, the temperature felt twice as hot as what I was used to in the north of France. The sweltering heat made me sweat profusely during the entire first week. Thankfully, my room had air conditioning, making it relatively comfortable.

A significant turning point in my Vietnam experience was when I met other French students at the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi. They warmly welcomed me and took me under their wing, showing me the ropes and sharing invaluable tips. In those first few weeks, we spent our evenings exploring the city and dining out since eating out in Vietnam proved more affordable than cooking by ourselves. 

From left to right: Loïc, Rachel, Nari, Mathis, me and Louis

I was also fortunate to meet two fellow French engineering students who were working on a similar task. Their guidance and support helped me get started smoothly. As for my first weekend, we embarked on an exciting trip to Sapa, a renowned tourist destination in the northern part of the country. I'll save the details of that adventure for another article!