Day 2 In Vietnam "Sunday July 26, 2026"

My first morning in Vietnam was one of the moments I’d been looking forward to the most, long before I left Indonesia. After a long flight and a night’s rest at my lodging, I finally got to experience what it’s like to start the day in another country. When I opened the window of my room, the morning air in Hanoi felt warmer than in Indonesia—perhaps because there was hardly any breeze in Hanoi, just the sun, so it felt hotter, likely since it was summer.
After showering and making my bed, my friends and I headed down to the common area. Our chaperone was already waiting and gave us a briefing on the activities we would be doing that day. He explained that the first two days in Vietnam wouldn’t be packed with activities because we still needed time to adjust to our surroundings. The main goal was for all participants to get to know the area around our lodging so that if we were ever given free time, we’d already know our way around and wouldn’t get lost easily.
Before leaving, we had breakfast together. The breakfast menu that morning was quite simple, but it still tasted good. The dining table was lively as all the participants shared stories about their experiences during the trip from Indonesia to Vietnam. Some were still sleepy because they weren’t used to the travel schedule yet, while others talked about their experiences traveling abroad without their parents, and others were still in awe that their dream of visiting Vietnam had finally come true.
Around eight in the morning, we set out on foot from our lodging. The teacher asked us to walk in groups so it would be easier to keep an eye on us. I walked with a few friends, carrying a water bottle and my phone’s camera to capture various moments.
The farther we walked, the more I began to notice the daily life of Hanoi’s residents. The streets looked quite clean and well-organized. Although there were quite a few vehicles passing by, the traffic felt more orderly than I had previously imagined. I also saw many motorcycles, which serve as the main mode of transportation for the locals—much like in Indonesia. This made me feel that the atmosphere in Vietnam wasn’t all that unfamiliar to me.
The buildings along the street also caught my attention. Most of the houses were tall but not very wide. The buildings came in a variety of colors, ranging from white and yellow to gray. On the ground floor, there were many small shops, coffee shops, restaurants, and grocery stores that were already bustling with customers early in the morning.
Every now and then, our teacher reminded us to always pay attention to traffic signs and to be careful when crossing the street. I realized that a backpacking trip like this truly fosters independence because we have to learn to read street directions, remember important locations, and keep an eye on our belongings.  their own luggage.
Our trip then stopped at a Circle K convenience store. As soon as I walked in, I immediately felt quite at home because the atmosphere was almost identical to the Circle K stores I’d seen in Indonesia. The shelves were neatly arranged, the beverage coolers were stocked with a wide variety of drinks, and the cashiers served customers quickly.
The teacher gave us time to buy personal items. I bought a Monster energy drink because I was thirsty from the trip to Circle K, and I bought one pack of Pop Mie because I was hungry—and it turned out to taste pretty much the same as the Pop Mie in Indonesia.
What caught my attention was the many products I’d never seen before. The packaging was labeled in Vietnamese, so I had to look at the pictures on the packages first before deciding what to buy. My friends and I even asked each other about the flavors of the drinks we’d chosen because they all looked interesting to try.
After we finished shopping, we gathered again in front of Circle K. The teacher made sure everyone was present before we headed back to the hotel.