Did you know that Southeast Asia is home to the largest NIU Alumni population outside of Illinois?

Vietnam, like all places, has a complex past. For Americans, it is a place often shrouded in mystery, as thick as the mist that sits on Halong Bay. We have seen it portrayed in our popular culture, in movies like Forrest Gump or Full Metal Jacket, and we have long heard about the upheaval that the Vietnamese conflict brought to our streets, to families of lost soldiers, and to our collective memory.

Before COVID, Vietnam welcomed over 18 million international tourists, its highest number ever. It is the fifth most-visited country in the Asia Pacific region, competing with heavy hitters like Japan and Australia. It is home to thirty-one national parks, and Halong Bay is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Hanoi is consistently ranked as a top-ten city of the world.

In addition to the top-notch cuisine and friendly people, there is the opportunity to visit and pay respect to historical military sites. These include the Hỏa Lò Prison, the Củ Chi tunnels, and the War Remnants Museum.

Staff Host: Andrea Hodgman

Andrea Hodgman is the director of alumni travel for the NIU Foundation. She is responsible for selecting and fulfilling alumni travel trips, which boost engagement and affinity.