DAY 2 OF SDARL 2020 TO VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA
-Ho Chi Minh City
-Words of the day = Sin Chao is Hello and Cam an is Thank You
-After pounding through jet lag, many in the group found themselves waking up between 1-2 am and after the brief shock of waking up in the middle of the night, many easily went back to sleep.
-For those that woke up around 5:30 am for a walk/run it is said that one would sweat a gallon. Vietnam has high humidity this time of year.
-For breakfast we were greeted with a 5 star cornucopia of options (Omelets, Pineapple Jam, Fish, Rice, Pot stickers and much much more.)
-The group left the hotel at 8 am sharp for a tour of  Hi-tech Agricultural Management Centre in Vietnam.

Director of Hi-Tech Ag Center with Jessica as interpreter 

-While driving to the Hi-Tech Centre, we found ourselves in a large bus battling thousands of mopeds. On the way there Jessica (our tour guide) shared the following facts:
-South Vietnam is in the dry season 28-35 degrees Celsius (82 to 95 degrees F).
-Vietnam can experience 10 typhoons between Oct-Dec.
-On our way to the countryside, we passed the Vietnam Military Base that used to be an American base.
- Jessica also said that if you want to date a lady in Vietnam you buy them a Vespa (high end moped) or an IPhone.
-Jessica also made a joke that a lady on a scooter in Vietnam traffic is sometimes referred to as a Ninja because they go wherever they want.
-Coronavirus has effected trade of Vietnam Ag products to China so Melons are cheap right now!
-Vietnam is a communist country so there is not much belief in God or Buddha.  Catholics are reported as six million and Buddhism is reported at 2 million but Jesssica says many do not report because they do not like to give the government much info.
-As we drove to the Hi Tech farm we drove by many rubber tree plantations.
-The Ho Chi Minh Hi Tech Agriculture park has 40 investors with many being from Japan.
-Our guide made it possible to communicate with the presenters at the park.
-The agriculture center is a think tank, organic hydroponics, ecotourism, post-harvest handling, betterment of trade, Medicine, Fertilizer and water consumption research centre.
-Mushroom handling-production and research is similar to university extension
-200 plus employees at the park plus investor employees.
-Local growers can learn for free.  Education is similar to our extension.
-Reishi Mushroom is raised and used as a supplement for homeopathic.
-They were asked what their 1-3 year goals were and they said the future of their research is advanced technology machines for agriculture
-Yarsagumba Mushroom from Tibetan Mountains (Grows on the roots of the trees)

We visited an old rubber tree farm that was abandoned and leased by a woman who started an organic fertilizer farm.  The fertilizer is produced from water buffalo dung and earth worms.  The worms do the work in moist tents that cover the soil/dirt.  When the tents are removed, the sun causes the worms to dive deep and the soil/fertilizer is removed.  Worms can also be harvested for animal feed.
The woman that leased the rubber tree farm was the only woman farmer in the area and made the rubber tree farm profitable.

Compost fertilizer from the earthworm farm

How they remove rubber extraction at the plantation

For lunch we ate at a restaurant along a river with an open air atmosphere.  On the menu was spring rolls, rice, chicken, fish, and a banana for dessert.
On the bus ride to Cu Chi tunnels we received some trivia from our tour guide. Cu Chi Tunnels are a relic left over from the Vietnam War. They are a maze of underground passages, chambers, rooms, and booby traps used by the Vietcong against the American forces.
At the Cu Chi tunnnels many found that the guerrilas of the Cu Chi were resourceful and masters of underground living and warfare.  Walking in the tunnels proved challenging for many.  We only had 3-4 feet of height to maneuver through.

Elli Haerter in the Cu Chi Tunnels

On our way back to Ho Chi Minh, we stopped at a local city government run program for people who are handicapped and affected by agent orange.  Those affected have the opportunity to work on art projects sold to locals and tourist.  The art truly was great pieces of work and many pieces would take 1-3 months to complete.

Many class members bought pieces to bring home. The technique included the use of a bamboo background and egg shells that were cracked and placed onto the canvas.

The final drive home to the city gave the class a rush hour experience down the middle of the city.  The honking here is more out of respect/heads up rather than a rude “get out of my way” mindset.  Some of the strangest things we saw on a moped today included; propane tank, 5’ welding tank, dog balancing itself behind the driver on its own, families of 4, and a chicken cage with a rooster and many more.  We learned by observation that mopeds are a major source of transportation but that only enhances creativity in how they are used.

It’s been a day of breakthrough technology, entrepreneurial spirit, brutal realities of war, show casing of abilities despite limitations and everyday ingenuity.

 Grant Harms, Reporter; Lance Larsen and Don Nickelson, photographers