A rich culture that blends tradition with modernity

Pharmacy student Charis Wu aspires to pursue a career in regional sales for pharmaceutical products. This motivated her to take up a Minor in Business to gain a better understanding of how markets work, as well as to embark on an NUS Study Trips for Engagement and EnRichment (STEER) to Vietnam to explore the business environment and pharmaceutical landscape abroad.

Visiting hospitals and pharmaceutical factories provided firsthand insights into Vietnam’s healthcare system. Observing local pharmacists and industry professionals in their work settings highlighted the significance of accessibility and cultural competence in pharmacy practice.

She says, “The visit allowed me to immerse myself in a different healthcare environment. It also provided greater depth and dimension to my understanding of the pharmaceutical industry, including Vietnam’s healthcare infrastructure, regulations, pharmaceutical supply chain, medication access and patient care approaches.”

Vietnam is teeming with life and Charis recalls being “hit with a sensory overload” at the colours, sights and sounds of its street life and rich culture. During the trip, she ventured to various popular haunts such as President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, where she discovered the architecture, relics and stories of Vietnamese history. She also visited the Temple of Literature, a historical place where students visit to pray for academic success.  

In her free and easy time, she also explored the famous Hanoi Train Street, Old Quarter Lake and the Hanoi Night Marketo, where she savoured a rich variety of local food. And on the last day in Hanoi, she dressed up in Áo dài, the traditional dress costume in Vietnam.

Describing her experience as “an important element of global education”, Charis’ Vietnam visit proved to be an adventure like no other, a unique setting for an educational journey that goes way beyond textbooks.