Social Entrepreneurship Project in Vietnam - Sebastien Mazerolle's Story

Travelling to Vietnam was very exhausting, with the Halifax to Vancouver flight being 6 hours and the Vancouver to Manila flight being 12 hours. While the plane rides and airport security was a pain, the worst part of travelling was the 8 to 12 hour layovers. There wasn’t enough time to go to a hotel to sleep and wash up, but too much time to simply wait in the airport without being bored out of your skull.

Once we made it to Ho Chi Minh City the trip finally started to come together. There’s lots to see and do, but honestly the night life there was a bit too much for me. I was excited for the bed and shower in Ho Chi Minh when we arrived, and excited to leave for Tra Vinh after one night.

Even though the events leading up to our stay at Tra Vinh University was a little rough, staying in Tra Vinh for two weeks was incredible. The students and the other locals were so warm and friendly, the scenery was gorgeous, all the food I tried was great, and the traffic was a very unique and thrilling experience. For those of you readers who are wondering why the traffic was noteworthy, the way people drive and cross streets in Vietnam is wild and I absolutely implore you to experience it for yourself.

Tra Vinh was an absolute blast, with lots of day trips dedicated to learning about the local history and traditions. We also did all sorts of fun activities like karaoke, playing games, and exploring with the Tra Vinh University students. I had so much fun going out with everyone to cafés and restaurants, and especially enjoyed riding on the back of a moped.

While on the trip I picked up a few Vietnamese words, but I would love to learn more. For me, the highlight of the trip was the people. I learned so much from both the Tra Vinh University students and my fellow NSCC students. Out of everything it was the people that truly made my trip to Vietnam an unforgettable experience that I will always cherish.

Thanks for reading,

Sebastien Mazerolle
Industrial Engineering Technology Student
NSCC Ivany Campus