Day 3 In Vietnam "Monday 27 July 2026.

Our day in Vietnam turned out quite differently from what we had imagined. As soon as I woke up that morning, I could hear the patter of rain outside the guesthouse window. When I opened the curtains, the sky looked very dark, and thick clouds covered almost the entire city of Hanoi. The rain was falling quite heavily, so the street in front of the guesthouse was wet and flooded in several spots.
At first, we hoped the rain would stop soon so we could carry out our activities as planned. However, after waiting for a while, the rain actually got heavier, accompanied by fairly strong winds. Our accompanying teacher finally decided to postpone all outdoor activities to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants.
Although I was a little disappointed that we couldn’t explore Hanoi, I understood the decision. The participants’ safety is, of course, the top priority during this backpacking program. The teacher also reminded us that weather conditions are unpredictable, so we must learn to adapt to the situation.
Since the outdoor activities were canceled, we spent the whole day at the guesthouse. After showering and tidying up our rooms, we gathered in the common room for a casual chat. The atmosphere felt quite warm since all the participants were inside the guesthouse. We shared stories about our experiences during the trip from Indonesia until our arrival in Vietnam. Some friends also showed us the photos they’d taken on the first day, so the atmosphere was filled with jokes and laughter.
As Zuhr prayer time approached, the rain still showed no signs of letting up. We then performed our prayers at the lodging. Even though we weren’t at a mosque, we still made an effort to maintain our religious practices while abroad.
When lunchtime arrived, the food that had been ordered by our accompanying teacher was distributed to all participants. We ate together while discussing plans for activities in case the weather cleared up the next day. After finishing our meal, some of my friends chose to rest in their rooms, and I also decided to sleep until the rain had subsided.
As the afternoon wore on, we performed the Asr prayer again. After the prayer, I sat with a few friends in the common area, playing light games and chatting. Even though we were confined to the guesthouse, the atmosphere remained enjoyable because we were able to spend time together.
As evening approached, the rain finally began to let up. We performed the Maghrib and Isha prayers, then had dinner together. Afterward, our accompanying teacher gathered all the participants to provide instructions regarding the next day’s activities. He mentioned that, weather permitting, we would begin exploring several tourist attractions in Hanoi.
Hearing this, I felt excited again I hoped the weather the next day would be truly sunny so we could resume the activities that had been postponed. After the briefing was over, I went back to my room, packed the gear I would need for the next day, and then went to bed early to rest up.