#4 – Vietnam
Location: Southeast Asia
Language: Vietnamese
“Hello” is “Xin Chao” (sin chow)
Population: 92.7 million
GOOD MORNING VIETNAM!
(Robin Williams, I miss you)
So some basic background info – Vietnam used to be split in two; the communist half (north) and the non-communist half (south). It was made whole again, but their human rights are still limited, one of those especially being freedom of religion. The largest religion in Vietnam is Buddhism.
We’ve been told that our job in Vietnam will mostly likely be teaching English and building relationships with locals we meet. I have heard from past racers that the months that are more flexible can be huge for God to move in big ways. I’m excited to leave space for God to use us in unexpected ways!
The most widely eaten food is called Pho – it’s a soup with noodles and beef or chicken. (I’ll just pick around the green stuff haha)
Fun fact – Vietnam is the largest exporter of cashew nuts…fascinating stuff man.
We’ll be reaching Vietnam in November! In North Vietnam, the weather will be pretty moderate, the center of Vietnam will be in rainy season, and the south will be in summer. So who knows what we’ll find!
AND IT LOOKS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! SO MUCH ADVENTURE
My prayer for Vietnam is that we would be able to build relationships with people that allow us an opportunity to share the gospel. I pray that God would use us in such big ways that the impact reaches far past the month we are there. Vietnam will be our first country in Southeast Asia, and my first time in Asia at all. One of my prayers is that our squad would dive into the culture and be able to smoothly transition into such a different way of life.
Pro-tips I’ve been told about Vietnam:
– stock up on toilet paper when you can
– don’t wear anything shiny or expensive looking
– beware of pick-pockets
– the weather varies a lot. be prepared.
– locals appreciate it if you try to speak Vietnamese
I’M SO EXCITED! If you have any more tips, please share!
I AM SO PUMPED FOR VIETNAM. Just sayin’.