Farewell to Vietnam: 10 weeks of learning, new friendships, and memories for a lifetime

What one does after studying varies greatly. Some choose to go straight back to Norway, while others choose to travel.

Many of the students this semester have chosen to travel to the Ha Giang Loop, a roughly 400-kilometer long motorcycle ride that spans over 3 days in the mountains of Northern Vietnam.

The route has become very popular among backpackers and young tourists in recent years, and has also attracted many students from Kulturstudier.

It was sad to have to say goodbye to Hoi An after so many weeks. I'm going to miss cycling around the streets, all the great cafes, running along the rice fields, and the beautiful beach.

Hoi An has truly been a perfect city for a 10-week study stay – a perfect mix of just big enough, but not too big. Just enough culture, plenty of things to see and do, but not so much that it becomes overwhelming.

I have particularly noticed this when visiting other cities in Vietnam. The big cities can often be a bit overwhelming, both in terms of noise and pollution and the sheer amount of impressions.

However, this should not deter anyone from traveling around the country, as some of my best memories from my stay here in Vietnam come from the trips I and we as a group have been on, but it has also always been nice to return to Hoi An again after a trip is over.

Even though the stay in Hoi An is over for now, it doesn't mean goodbye forever. All the students have already been invited back again for a visit by manager Vinh. He is responsible for all the practical organization of the study program.

Those of you considering applying for Development Studies 1, can definitely rely on having someone down there who supports you and has a good solution for any situation! Vinh truly meets all the criteria to be called a real jack-of-all-trades.

Without him, the program wouldn't have been possible, and we are all very grateful for having had the opportunity to get to know him, as well as the other wonderful staff, like our seminar leaders Ha My and Duc.

I would really recommend to anyone out there who wants an exciting mix of travel, studies, and vacation to apply for Kulturstudier.

Of course, I don't fully know what the other study programs are like, but if they are anywhere near as good as Vietnam and Development Studies have been, then I really think one should go for it.

The teenage years are meant for exploring the world, acquiring new knowledge, and gaining new perspectives on things. I have learned a lot about a region I was not very familiar with before, and made new friends and knowledge that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

I wish all students who are going to travel for the fall semester of 2025, and all upcoming semesters, the best of luck – and hope that you will have as wonderful and memorable a stay as we have had!