At the beginning of July, five Shiplake students embarked on an unforgettable volunteering expedition to Vietnam, combining cultural exploration with community service.
The journey began in Hanoi, where the group immersed themselves in the sights, sounds and flavours of Vietnam's vibrant capital. From visiting cultural landmarks to sampling local delicacies, the students embraced every opportunity to experience Vietnamese life.
After two days in the city, the group travelled into the mountains to the remote village of Na Chao. Staying with a local host family, they quickly adapted to the challenges of a language barrier, enjoyed traditional home-cooked meals and gained a deeper understanding of rural Vietnamese culture.
The main purpose of the trip was volunteering, and the students rose magnificently to the challenge. Working alongside local people, they helped build a road connecting Na Chao to neighbouring mountain communities. The work was physically demanding, involving mixing and spreading cement by hand, but the students rolled up their sleeves and demonstrated impressive dedication, resilience and teamwork. Their willingness to work hard earned the admiration and respect of the local villagers who in turn swapped skills and invited them to cookery lessons and taught them how to weave baskets from reeds.
After long days of manual labour, evenings were usually spent relaxing together with lively Jungle Speed and Connect Four tournaments before an early night. However, the final evening provided a memorable highlight. Dressed in traditional local clothing, the students performed a local dance for a large gathering of villagers who had come to the homestay for an evening of entertainment. Their enthusiasm was met with great excitement and the event became a joyful celebration of cultural exchange.
Before returning home, the group headed back to Hanoi, fitting in even more experiences, including a traditional water puppet show and some enthusiastic haggling at the bustling night markets.
The trip was a fantastic success, broadening horizons, developing leadership skills and creating memories that will stay with the students for years to come. Most importantly, they made a positive contribution to a community and returned home with a greater appreciation of the world and their place within it.
