Journalism in Vietnam
Written by Kate Maruyama, CET Japan and Vietnam Program Manager
For a journalism student, Vietnam provides a particularly interesting case study. Some are interested in how the Vietnamese perspective of the war differs from US textbooks; others find the rapid modernization alongside the traditional fascinating; nearly everyone loves the food. For two weeks in May, Washington and Lee University professor Robert de Maria and 11 students journey through Vietnam on the customized program designed to explore these themes. Read the group blog and find out more on their first impressions of Vietnam, thoughts on the museums, and reactions to speakers. Common themes include:
- Eating pho at the same restaurant of a famous person (places so far: Bill Clinton & George Bush, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie)
- Seeing the party line at the War Remnants Museum is really [sobering, makes you think about what it means to be an “American”]
- The traffic is crazy. I know I was told that, but it really is crazy.
- I never thought of the war from that perspective, but I can see where they are coming from…
- It’s really, really, really hot and humid.
- Wow, I never realized how much I’ve always taken [understanding the language, the luxury of being able to drink the water, etc.] for granted…
- That was a really long flight…
Now, the group leaves cosmopolitan HCMC for the Mekong Delta and then the Central Region. Stay tuned!
CET Academic Programs