During the June/July school holidays, I had the opportunity to go on a trip half way across the world to Vietnam a country so different from my own. After a year of waiting, I was anxious to start.

From the minute the 18 of us landed in the capitol, Hanoi, we were welcomed with kindness, not only from our amazing guide but from all the locals. In Hanoi although it was a short stay, it was my favourite city that we visited. The hustle of all the scooters was different and scary, but still seemed to have order that excited me.

Everywhere we went from the breathtaking Halong Bay, to ancient Hoi An town, to the busy markets of Ho Chi Minh City, we were greeted with mountains of food and friendly faces. The food was incredible with variety to suit everyone in our group. And although we had many long bus trips, we were always kept entertained by our guide, telling us of local customs, or teaching us some Vietnamese phrases.

Everyday was filled with new experiences, like the Eco Tour in Hoi An, where we got to have a go at traditional farming, or when we had the chance to help the children at a centre for disabled children in Saigon.

My trip to Vietnam not only had my heart racing with anticipation at every turn, but opened my eyes to see that not everything has to be like home, that different is good.

Thank you to my teachers and Vietnam School Tours for introducing me to another world, I hope to return soon.