The Traveling Perk of a Teacher : National Village for Ethnic Culture

After of less than a month of staying around Old Quarter, I was worried about that time that I was not able to find a job not like my friend, Madhs, who were able to land a job in one of the best playschools, not just in Viet Nam but in the whole world. Finally, the manager from a center in Vinh Yen, which is an hour away from Ha Noi, decided to picked me up for work. I was not sure where life would lead me at that time but I trust Apo and myself more than whoever. 

The story of this page is not about my career as a teacher maybe, yes but maybe no but since this is a travel blog lemme tell you more of the places I've visited, I was really thankful that this center chose me, I was able to go to different places and experience life that is not really Ha Noi or Ho Chi Minh like. Travelers, there are more to life than these two big cities.  As what I've said, it is for you to find out. More than the anxiety prior I was glad where I am now. It's not perfect but grateful. 

I started to join this center in Vinh Yen during the time that they held Summer Camp last July. My very first students were from different parts of Viet Nam gathered together for a month to learn English and to simply have fun. There were different activities and one of the most memorable was during our trip to National Village for Ethnic Culture.

National Village for Ethnic Culture

Address: Dong Mo Hamlet, Son Tay Town, Ha Noi

Website: http://www.vietnamtourism.com/en/index.php/tourism/items/2922

Our first stop was the Temple of Khmer Ethnic. Originally was located in Mekong River Delta of Viet Nam.

Inside the temple

Outside the temple

You will get to know more of Viet Nam because of National Village for Ethnic Culture. This is a project that houses different ethnic groups of Viet Nam. We were able to visit one of the villages and we were shown other communities too while roaming around.

We stopped at the House of Muong Ethnic located in Hoa Binh Province (North - West Viet Nam) and Thanh Hoa Province (North - Central Viet Nam).

House of Muong Ethnic 

You will be able to visit each villages by cart provided. It should be upon your arrival at the central location.  Where the Champ Tower can be seen and the main office is located. Here is where the introduction of the place occurs and there is also a museum where you will see different artifacts. 

The Cham Tower
This is the highlight in visiting the place. It's vivid color of red bricks makes the tower visible and we could not help but to take photos. 

Cham Tower

Son Tinh Camp 

Address: Đồng Mô, Sơn Đông, Sơn Tây, Hà Nội

Phone: 024 6682 2065

By the time that we went to Son Tinh Camp it was later part of the Summer Camp. I've known some of the students already and undeniably I was already closed to some. The camaraderie was already there and it was strengthened by various activities provided within the camp. It was closed to the Summer Camp graduation so you probably know how we were feeling at that time. 

This trip was kindda like a field trip. So remember during elementary and high school and office team building? It's something like that I was lucky that I was assigned to take photos of the kids so I was not pressured to run or jump or climb any obstacles. Haha! So, here's what you can see. 

Pillows? Haha!

So the reason why we were here was because of team building. 

So there were two teams team pink and team blue. I was the photographer so I did not have any team except for my boss. Haha! Anyway, I love taking photos of my students it's as if I was seeing myself when I was still active and love joining such games. The idea is actually not winning but enjoying each moment. So there they were, screaming and shouting and sweating and thinking and enjoying every activities thrown at them. 

I am sorry but I am a protected mother of my little ones so I will not post their pictures here but only this one. I have the view of the place though and I hope you enjoy looking. 

It was tiring but fun. The kids enjoyed the time they spent here. We were given enough time to talk after all the activities and explore the place together with our closest. 

It's amazing to see such beauty of nature and share the view with the children.

Just after how many hours we packed our things and we went home. I sat beside my little boy, Harry, on the bus and we were singing Try by Pink. It was such a lovely day.