Over winter break, the Arches Travel Program hosted a trip to Vietnam with Professor Matthew Masur, a member of the Department of History and Classics at Saint Anselm. Masur’s primary area of research is U.S. relations with the Republic of Vietnam in the 1950s and 1960s, which made him the ideal faculty trip leader.
Travelling alongside Masur were Saint Anselm alumni and other friends of the college. The Arches Travel Program is a tremendous opportunity for participants to explore other countries and reflect on their history and culture.
“It was powerful and often emotional to visit sites associated with the Vietnam War and the Khmer Rouge. We also learned about Vietnam and Cambodia before the war and saw how the countries are developing in the twenty-first century. It was an important reminder that conflict is part of the history of these countries, but not the only part,” said Masur.
Travelers got to meet with Saint Anselm alumna Lan Nguyen ’12 from Vietnam, who is currently living in Ho Chi Minh City. Nguyen joined the group for the afternoon and provided them with information on the significant changes being made in Vietnam today. She also touched on her experience while completing her degree at Saint Anselm.
“It was wonderful to see alums from different eras and with different backgrounds having a meal, sharing stories, and getting to know one another,” Masur added.
Other landmarks the group visited included the site of the self-immolation of Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc in 1963, as well as the street execution of Nguyen Van Lem during the Tet Offensive of 1968. The travelers continued their trip in Vietnam with a tour of Saigon and an exploration of the Cu Chi tunnels that were used during the Vietnam War.
Masur and the other tourists also enjoyed a cruise up the Mekong River on the AmaDara in My Tho. The first stop on the boat cruise was the town of Cai Be. The next stop was at a workshop where numerous products are made from rice.
The group tried puffed rice, rice candy, and other rice-related products. Back on the boat they enjoyed some reading while cruising up the river. The day ended with one of the many beautiful sunsets during the journey.
“We loved the entire experience. I appreciated very much that the tours weren’t just cathedrals, museums, and restaurants. I loved the walks in the countryside in both countries and the visits to homes and businesses. I appreciated also the visit to the genocide sites in Cambodia—powerful and moving. The trip truly was a rich educational experience. I’d love to go back,” said one of the travelers.
There were many more stops along the journey in Vietnam, and the participants enjoyed every second of it. The program’s next trip will take place in October in Normandy, Mont Saint-Michel, and Tocqueville, France.
Life with friends on the hilltop doesn’t have to end after graduation. To learn more about the Arches Travel Program, visit their website here.