That day, I started my day earlier than usual. Around 4:00 a.m., I was already awake because I needed to buy some groceries for our lodging. After making the bed and washing my face, I headed straight to the market, which was not far from where we were staying. Hanoi was still very quiet that morning. The sky was still dark, and only a few people could be seen starting to open their shops. The morning air felt very cool, making the walk to the market quite pleasant.
Upon arriving at the market, I immediately looked for the items I wanted to buy: eggs, cooking oil, and mushroom broth. However, finding these items turned out to be harder than I’d imagined. Since it was still very early, many stalls hadn’t opened yet, so the selection of available goods was still very limited. My friends and I had to go from one stall to another to find the ingredients we needed.
We tried several times to ask the vendors using simple English, aided by hand gestures and occasionally using a translation app on our cell phones. Despite the language barrier, the vendors still tried to help us kindly. After walking around for quite a while, we finally managed to find everything we needed. I felt relieved that our mission to the morning market had finally been accomplished.
After we finished shopping, we I decided to walk back to the hotel. The walk home was pleasant because the atmosphere in Hanoi was starting to get busier. Shops were opening for business, people were heading to work, and the streets, which had previously been quiet, were slowly filling up with vehicles. As I walked, I enjoyed the morning atmosphere while occasionally chatting with my friend about our plans for the day.
Upon arriving at the guesthouse, I went straight to my room to shower and get ready. We had a very important agenda that day: visiting the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Vietnam. I was quite excited because this was my first time visiting an official Indonesian representative office abroad.
After showering and getting dressed, I joined my friends for breakfast. We enjoyed our meal while discussing the activities planned at the Indonesian Embassy. Our chaperone also reminded us to always maintain proper decorum and behave well while there, as we were representing both our school and Indonesia.
After all the participants finished breakfast and gathered their belongings, we gathered in front of the hotel. From there, my group and I walked to the Mixue outlet, which had been designated as the Grab pickup point. That location was chosen because it was easy for the driver to find.
A few minutes later, the Grab car we had ordered finally arrived. We immediately got into the car and set off for the Indonesian Embassy in Vietnam. During the ride, I enjoyed the view of Hanoi from the car window. The streets were starting to buzz with activity. Every now and then, I spotted office buildings, shopping districts, and various vehicles coming and going, filling the roads.
Before long, we arrived at the Indonesian Embassy compound. Before entering the building, all participants gathered with our accompanying teacher. The teacher reminded us once again to maintain proper conduct, speak politely, and observe proper etiquette throughout the event. He also urged us to make the most of this opportunity to learn as much as possible from the speakers who would be presenting the material.
After receiving these instructions, we were invited to enter the embassy building. I felt proud when I saw the Garuda Pancasila emblem and the red-and-white flag flying in the courtyard. Even though I was in another country, the atmosphere inside the embassy made me feel as if I were in Indonesia.
The event began with an introductory session, followed by a discussion with representatives from the Indonesian Embassy. During that session, we received a detailed explanation of the duties and functions of the Indonesian Embassy as the official representative of the Indonesian government abroad. We were also provided with information regarding the services offered to Indonesian citizens (WNI) in Vietnam, ranging from passport services and protection of Indonesian citizens to assistance during emergencies.
In addition, the speakers shared various experiences from their time serving in Vietnam. I had no idea that working at the Indonesian Embassy entails such significant responsibilities—serving the Indonesian community while also maintaining good relations between Indonesia and Vietnam. This explanation helped me better understand the importance of the Indonesian Embassy’s role for all Indonesian citizens abroad.
Throughout the session, I listened intently. Several of my friends were also given the opportunity to ask questions. The discussion took place in a relaxed yet informative atmosphere. I felt very grateful for the opportunity to learn firsthand from the Embassy staff.
After the sharing session ended, we took a group photo as a keepsake. Before leaving the building, the Embassy staff thanked us for our visit and encouraged us to continue learning and to become a young generation capable of upholding Indonesia’s good name. After leaving the Indonesian Embassy, the accompanying teacher gave all participants some time to explore the surrounding area. However, one of my friends and I chose to head home early because we had some personal matters that needed to be taken care of right away.
Our first stop was to find the ASUS Store in Hanoi. My laptop was having some issues, so I hoped to get it repaired while I was still in Vietnam. After using a navigation app, we finally managed to find the store. We immediately spoke with a staff member and explained the problem with my laptop.
The staff member then checked the device’s information and explained that a more thorough inspection could only be conducted on Friday. After considering the time we had available, I ultimately decided not to have the laptop repaired in Vietnam and chose to bring it back to Indonesia so it could be fixed after I returned home.
After wrapping up our business at the ASUS Store, we continued on to a pharmacy located not far from our lodging. I needed to have the stitches removed from my leg because, shortly before leaving for Vietnam, I’d undergone minor surgery in Indonesia. Since our departure was imminent, I hadn’t had a chance to return to the hospital to have the stitches removed.
Upon arriving at the pharmacy, our accompanying teacher helped explain my condition to the staff. He asked if they could help remove the stitches that were still in my leg. After the staff confirmed that the procedure could be performed, I was invited into the examination room.
At first, I felt a little nervous because it was my first time receiving medical treatment abroad. However, the healthcare staff treated me very kindly and professionally. They cleaned the wound area first, then slowly began removing the stitches one by one. The process went fairly quickly and wasn’t too painful. Once finished, my leg was cleaned again, and I was given some advice on how to keep the wound clean.
I felt a huge sense of relief that the stitches had finally been successfully removed. I thanked the staff for their help, and then we walked back to our lodging.
Upon arriving at the lodging, I immediately freshened up and changed my clothes since I’d been doing a lot of outdoor activities since early that morning. After that, I enjoyed lunch with my friends, then performed the Zuhr prayer.
That afternoon, I used the time to finish the school assignments I’d been given before leaving for Vietnam. I opened my laptop and started working on the assignments little by little so they wouldn’t pile up when I returned to Indonesia. Even though I was on a backpacking trip, I still had responsibilities as a student, so I had to keep up with my schoolwork. After finishing my tasks, I performed the Asr prayer. I spent the rest of the afternoon reading books available in my guesthouse room. The peaceful atmosphere allowed me to read comfortably while resting after a fairly busy day starting from the morning.
As evening approached, I performed the Maghrib prayer again, followed by the Isha prayer in congregation with my friends. Afterward, we had dinner together while sharing our respective experiences from the day’s activities. Some talked about their time around the Indonesian Embassy, others discussed their shopping experiences, and I shared my experience of having the stitches removed from my leg in Vietnam.
That evening, I ended the day with a sense of gratitude. The day had provided many new experiences, from shopping at a traditional Vietnamese market at dawn, to visiting the Indonesian Embassy, searching for an ASUS service center, and receiving medical care in Vietnam. All of these experiences were valuable lessons I will never forget. After all the activities were finished, I returned to my room to rest so my body would be refreshed and ready for the next day’s itinerary.