Stepping into the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City after a 9-hour plane
journey felt as far away from Adelaide as you can get. I felt instantly
shocked and overwhelmed by the lights and people everywhere. The city felt
otherworldly.
This trip has opened my eyes to how the impact the war has had on Vietnam
and shaped it both socially and politically. From the War Remnants Museum
to the Cu Chi Tunnels to Halong Bay, we have had many invaluable experiences allowing
us to soak in every aspect of this country. I am so fortunate to be
able to hold onto these memories for a lifetime.
One of the most impactful and emotional days during our trip was day 5.
We checked out of our hotel early in Vung Tau and drove to an orphanage in
Ba Ria built by the Australian Vietnam Volunteers Resource Group. We then
had an opportunity to meet some of the 90 children who live in the orphanage.
The orphanage cares for children without parents or children with a
disability. Meeting the children was a very humbling experience,
highlighting how special it is to look out for people on the other side of the
world. Despite the language barrier, we were able to bring a smile to
their faces.
After lunch, we travelled further into the Ba Ria Province to the Battle of
Long Tan Cross. We walked in silence down an avenue of rubber
trees towards the Long Tan cross. This was a very emotional moment
for me.
Looking around taking in the different sights and smells it seemed peaceful. It was hard to imagine this was a battleground. On the trip, we presented research on an Australian soldier who died in Vietnam.
The man I
researched Colin Whiston, died during the Battle of Long
Tan. I connected with his story over the course of a few months.
Then I followed in his journey all the way from Vung Tau to Nui Dat and
his final footsteps in Long Tan.
Thank you to all of those who made this trip memorable and possible.
Thank you to Lara, Tracey, Rebecca and Adam for leading us through this
exciting chapter of my life. Thank you for all your insight and care,
making us feel safe more than 5000km from home. Thank you, Aaron, for
all your hard work in helping us experience the sights, smells,
tastes, and history of Vietnam. Thank you, Dennis, for sharing
your knowledge and insight into the Vietnam war and Australia’s war
history. Thank you for taking the time to present about your medals,
I will always remember the ANZAC Day service you held.
I feel so blessed to have met and spent time with every single
one of the 19 other awardees. To spend time with such a talented
group of young people is something I will hold forever. Going from a group
of strangers at Adelaide Airport to friends in two weeks was a whirlwind I will
always hold dearly. Cảm ơn
See you all soon.
That's cool
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