The day began with a visit to Lodestar, a factory that makes Stanley Furniture. There, we met many Stanley Furniture executives and the owners of the factory. We toured the factory, seeing the production of furniture from beginning to end. It was interesting to see the workers happily doing such repetitive work, but we learned that repetitive work is culturally valued. We definitely felt the heat. While we were sweating through the 90+ degree heat, the workers seemed to be unaffected. It was interesting to learn about how workers protect themselves; although it is very different from OSHA, many regulations and practices are in place to protect factory workers. Workers also receive three meals a day, and we were told that the meals were considered one of the biggest perks of the job. The factory was well-organized, and many of us were shocked by how nice the facilities were. It was a unique experience to see the way that a major factory in Vietnam works.
At lunch, the group split up in a food court area for lunch. Some ate sushi, while others visited a restaurant with a very familiar name: The Hard Rock Café. After waiting for an extended period of time for our meal (almost an hour), we finally asked the waiter what was happening. He remarked that it was not a fast food restaurant. We all found that very funny, because it shows one of the cultural differences between Vietnam and the United States. Meals are expected to be a longer experience, even at a location like The Hard Rock Café.
In the afternoon, we visited Baker & McKenzie Vietnam, a local branch of a huge international law firm. While there, we learned a lot about the judicial system in Vietnam in relation to counterfeiting. Unlike the United States, there is little to no precedent, and cases are unpublished. Therefore, each decision is made on a case-by-case basis. We found the dramatic contrast between the civil law system versus the common law system very interesting. It was also interesting that when dealing with counterfeit goods, administrative remedies and government raids tend to be more successful than seeking civil or criminal remedies. The experience was an enlightening view into how the government and judicial system work.
At night, many members of the group went on a “Foodie Tour.” They rode on scooters throughout Saigon, which is an experience in itself. They visited many different street food vendors and were able to eat crazy foods like goat and frog. The guides were very knowledgeable, and the group got to visit a variety of locations in the city, ranging from traditional Vietnam to the ex-pat district.
At one location, the guides taught the group a chopstick game. Players received an empty water bottle and a peanut, and to win the game, players must pick up a peanut with their chopsticks. The first group to reach six peanuts won. It was a unique game, though some of the losing groups are bitter about their loss.
The guides were all required to have high levels of education and perfect English. They were incredibly interested to learn about American slang to add to their vocabulary. Many are going on to get more advanced degrees.
All in all, it was a culturally-enriching and fun day in Saigon!
Written by Kelly Holder
