We started the day with the Fajr prayer, followed by our morning dhikr and a group Qur'an recitation. Today was my group's turn to cook, so we got ourselves ready while waiting for the ingredients to arrive. Our group mentor, Mr. Tio, went to the local market to buy everything we needed. When he returned, we were greeted by eggs, carrots, cabbage, potatoes, onions, and plenty of other vegetables. The breakfast menu was already decided: fried eggs with vegetable soup.
After dividing the tasks, everyone immediately got to work. Some cooked the rice, others fried the eggs, while the rest peeled and chopped the vegetables. My job was cutting the carrots, and I made sure to do it carefully since my finger was still recovering from the fan accident on my first night in Vietnam. We cooked from early morning until almost noon, so breakfast ended up becoming lunch as well. After eating, we cleaned our rooms, took showers, and got ready because we had been told there would be an important meeting with our teachers. Once we were ready, we walked over to the accommodation where Group 3 was staying for the meeting.
During the meeting, our teachers announced that we would be buying local SIM cards so we could stay connected while exploring outside the accommodation. Groups 3, 4, and 5 immediately headed out together. Before leaving, our teacher explained that the SIM card package cost 330,000 VND, which included 4 GB of data every day for one month.
That's when each group started thinking about strategy. Groups 3 and 4 only had two phones for six people, meaning each phone would be shared by three students. My group, on the other hand, had three phones, so each one would only be shared by two people. Naturally, every group came up with a different plan. Some considered buying a SIM card for every phone, while others thought about buying just one and sharing the internet connection instead.
When we finally arrived at the mobile store, buying a SIM card turned out to be surprisingly simple. All we needed was money, a phone, and our passports. First, we told the staff which package we wanted. Then they asked for our passports before taking a photo of us to verify that our faces matched our passport photos. After that, they installed the SIM card into the phone, and the last step was simply making the payment.
While waiting for my turn, I started chatting with a tourist from Ireland. We talked in English, and I was enjoying the conversation so much that I barely noticed the staff calling my name. When I looked over, I saw someone else sitting in front of the counter, so I assumed they were still being served. I told the staff it was okay to help that person first because I wanted to continue talking with the tourist a little longer.
The staff kept waiting.
A few moments later, the customer sitting in front of the counter called out to me, and even the Irish tourist suggested that I should probably go over. So I finally walked to the counter.
While the staff processed my SIM card, one of my friends and I thought it would be fun to record a short vlog explaining how to buy a SIM card in Vietnam. Unfortunately, the customer who had been waiting beside us didn't appreciate the idea. He thought filming the tutorial would slow everything down and make everyone else wait even longer. He politely but firmly told us that if we wanted to buy a SIM card, we should simply buy it instead of making a video while other people were still in line.
Fair enough.
I guess the tutorial could wait for another day.
New experience unlocked: my first public scolding during this trip.
By the time we finished, it was already getting late in the afternoon, and everyone was hungry. The closest place to eat happened to be Domino's Pizza. Since dark clouds had already started filling the sky, we didn't waste any time and went straight inside. Luckily, there was a buy-one-get-one promotion. We asked which pizzas were halal, and out of the entire menu, only three options were available. We ordered the Cheese Mania pizza for 215,000 VND. Four of us split the bill, paying about 55,000 VND each. For that price, we each got three slices of medium pizza and a Coca-Cola. It was filling, worth the money, and I'd happily give it an 8 out of 10.
Not long after we ordered, heavy rain started pouring outside. Thankfully, we were already indoors, enjoying our pizza while waiting for the rain to stop. Once the weather cleared up, we made our way back to the accommodation. The streets were flooded and muddy, with that familiar smell that somehow reminded us of home. Coming from Indonesia, it didn't feel all that unusual.
After resting for a while, a few of my friends and I decided to continue exploring the neighborhood. Earlier, I had noticed a café nearby, and I thought it was finally time to try authentic Vietnamese coffee. The atmosphere inside didn't feel much different from cafés back home. After looking through the menu, we asked the waiter what they would recommend for first-time visitors. They suggested the Vietnamese white coffee, which cost 40,000 VND. Reyhan and I decided to share one cup because, honestly, we were just curious about the taste—and, in this economy, saving money comes first.
Before long, our order arrived.
My first sip?
Not bad.
It reminded me of Indonesian coffee with milk, although the presentation was much more unique. The bottom layer was white, probably milk or creamer, while the coffee rested on top in a rich brown layer. The flavor itself wasn't too different from what I was used to, but the experience was still enjoyable. I'd give it an 8 out of 10.
After finishing our coffee, we returned to the accommodation, took our showers, had dinner, and called it a day.