Day 9- War remnants museum

Today started with another Co.op baguette, this time funded by a 50.000 dong bill we found on the floor. After our quick breakfast we headed to UEF for Vietnamese culture class where we learned the difficulties of creating a unified vietnamese population and culture due to the fragmented nature of the country’s ethnic groups. After Vietnamese culture class we had our last Vietnamese language class, which was a relief, because of the difficulty of the language. After Vietnamese class we ate banh mi kebab and had pineapple juice which was very delicious. After lunch we had a lecture on Buddhism and its underpinnings. Then, we went to the famous spot where a buddhist monk set himself on fire in protest of the Vietnam war. Afterwards we went to an ornate Pagoda where we saw people worshipping buddha. Next, we went to the War Remnants Museum which was a difficult yet powerful experience. The hardest part of the visit was the perspective of information, as we rarely see information that is not presented in a pro-American perspective. By far the most powerful part of the visit was the agent orange room, with pictures of the many  birth defects caused by this dangerous chemical. The room was painted a bright orange increasing the intensity of the visit. After the powerful visit we decided to relax a bit and pursued the aisles of the Co.op mart for interesting things we could buy like interesting candies and cookies. Overall I am sad to see that the trip is coming to an end, but at the same time I could really use a chipotle burrito. I am excited to see what the next few days have in store and I will surely miss this serene but chaotic country.