Day 7 In Vietnam "Friday July 31, 2026"

The sixth day was one of the days I’d been looking forward to the most since the start of our trip to Vietnam. Unlike the previous days, which were mostly filled with learning activities and visits to tourist attractions, today we would be participating in a more relaxed activity: chatting with an Indonesian citizen who had been working in Vietnam for a long time, followed by a game of mini-soccer together.
That morning, I woke up early because I was feeling so excited. After performing the Fajr prayer, I immediately took a shower and packed the items I would bring. The morning weather in Hanoi was quite cool, making the atmosphere very pleasant. Once all the participants were ready, we gathered for breakfast together before heading to the activity location.
At the dining table, the atmosphere was once again filled with laughter and jokes. Some friends were still talking about their experiences exploring the area around the An Noor Mosque the previous day. Some talked about their favorite foods, others showed off the souvenirs they’d bought, and some even shared stories about trying to speak English with the locals. I felt our bond growing stronger because, during our few days in Vietnam, we’d almost always been doing various activities together.
After breakfast, we boarded the bus to the meeting location. During the trip, our accompanying teacher explained that before playing mini-soccer, we’d have a sharing session with one of our friends  from Ibra’s parents, who have been working in Vietnam for quite some time. The teacher hoped we could take advantage of this opportunity to learn about the working world abroad and gain motivation to start preparing for our future right now.
Shortly afterward, we arrived at the meeting location. He welcomed us warmly and introduced himself. From the very beginning of the meeting, the atmosphere felt friendly because he often cracked jokes, so we didn’t feel awkward.
He then began recounting his life journey that eventually led him to work in Vietnam. He started by explaining that working abroad is not easy. It requires the courage to leave one’s family, the ability to adapt to a new environment, and the willingness to keep learning in order to keep up with developments in the workplace.
I listened to every story with rapt attention. He explained that the work culture in Vietnam differs in several ways from that in Indonesia. One of these differences concerns punctuality. According to him, arriving on time is highly valued. Additionally, good communication with coworkers is one of the keys to ensuring that work runs smoothly.
He also mentioned that English proficiency is a very important asset when working at an international company. Although one doesn’t have to be fluent right away, at the very least, one must be willing to try to communicate and keep learning to improve their foreign language skills.
Hearing that story made me start thinking about my future. I realized that ever since I was in vocational high school, I’ve needed to start preparing myself by improving my skills—both academically and in other areas. I’m also increasingly motivated to keep learning English because I’ve seen firsthand how useful that skill is when you’re abroad.
After the experience-sharing session ended, we were given the opportunity to ask questions directly. Many of my classmates raised their hands and asked various questions. Some asked about the cost of living in Vietnam, the job search process, differences in work culture, and even the most difficult challenges when first living in that country.
He answered all the questions patiently and offered us plenty of encouragement. One of the things I remember most is that opportunities will come to anyone who keeps learning and doesn’t give up easily. Those words gave me renewed motivation to keep pursuing my dreams.
Before ending the sharing session, we took a group photo as a keepsake. I felt very grateful to have had the opportunity to hear firsthand experiences from someone who has successfully worked abroad. That experience gave me a real picture of the international workforce—something I had previously only known via the internet.
After the sharing session ended, we headed straight to the mini-soccer field, which was not too far from the meeting location. From a distance, the field appeared to have synthetic turf and fairly complete facilities. Seeing the field, all the participants seemed even more excited.
Upon arriving at the field, we put down our bags first, did a warm-up together, and then the teacher divided the participants into two teams. Although this was just a friendly match, all the participants played with great enthusiasm.
As soon as the whistle blew, the game began. The field was filled with cheers and laughter. Every time a teammate scored a goal, everyone immediately clapped and cheered them on. Conversely, when someone fell or made a mistake, we helped each other out and didn’t blame one another.
I personally really enjoyed the game. Even though the weather was starting to get quite hot, we didn’t feel tired because we were truly enjoying the game. Every now and then, our supervising teacher would cheer us on from the sidelines while capturing moments of the game with a camera.
The game was quite intense because both teams were equally determined to win. However, what mattered most to us wasn’t the final result, but the sense of camaraderie that developed while we played. We worked together, passed the ball to one another, and cheered each other on until the end. After the game ended, all the participants looked exhausted, but our faces were filled with smiles. We then took a break while enjoying the cold drinks that had been provided. Some friends were still discussing the funny moments during the game, such as when someone mispassed the ball or slipped while chasing an opponent.
Before heading back to the hotel, we gathered again to take a group photo in the middle of the field. That photo has become one of my favorite mementos because it captures the camaraderie among all the participants during our backpacking program in Vietnam.
On the way back to the hostel, I sat by the bus window, taking in the sights of Hanoi. I reflected on all the experiences I’d had that day. I not only learned about the working world and the importance of preparing for the future, but I also learned that camaraderie, teamwork, and sportsmanship are values that are incredibly important in life.