Ho Yu Fong
BSocSc Class of 2017
I did an internship at the Singapore Embassy in Vientiane, Laos in June 2015. The internship lasted for a month and gave me a really good exposure to life as a Foreign Service Officer. During my internship stint, I had the opportunity to attend Informal events such as a cycling event hosted by the European Union that provided me with a chance to get to know the city better.
Cycling around Vientiane! Participated in a cycling event hosted by the EU over the weekend to raise awareness of climate change.
My favourite café in Laos that serves local breakfast – and frequented by foreigners
As I stayed in Laos for one month, I had the opportunity to see Laos through the lens of an expatriate and was frankly amazed by the vast variety of food options and cafes available in Vientiane’s city centre. There was a wide range of cuisine ranging from the local Lao food (that was similar yet distinct from Thai food) as well as Italian, French, Chinese and Japanese cuisine. I was also lucky to have really friendly colleagues and mentor who would bring me around and invite me to their apartments for meals.
Yes, there’s “Food Republic” in Vientiane – the only food court that I’ve seen
Minced meat with rice – one of the staples in Lao cuisine
Patuxai – the Arc de Triompe of Vientiane (with Lao characteristics)
Staying in Vientiane for a month also gave me many opportunities to explore Vientiane on foot or on a bicycle. While lesser-developed than its neighbours Thailand, Vietnam and China, Laos is actually one of the safest places in Southeast Asia (aside from Singapore). I was thus free to explore Vientiane on weekends and after work without fear. The rich cultural relics in Laos also enhanced my understanding of Buddhism in Laos and its historical past.
A more ‘realistic’ view of Vientiane along the Mekong River
I also went on a day-trip to Northeastern Thailand such as Nong Khai and Udon Thani over the weekends and was surprised by the disparity between Vientiane and Thailand, especially in terms of infrastructure development. While I have mostly viewed Laos from a tourist perspective, Vientiane faced real challenges in terms of weak infrastructure (including the absence of modern medical facilities) and the prevalence of poverty. Many expats often head to Thailand to stock up on products not found in Vientiane – especially certain furniture, kitchen appliances, etc. I was initially shocked by the idea of travelling to Thailand to bowl (they apparently have better bowling facilities) and shop (there is only one sparse shopping centre in Vientiane).
An overseas internship in Vientiane presented me with a wonderful opportunity to get to know a country I had little knowledge of previously. While I once thought of Laos as extremely under-developed and backwards, my experience in Laos has enhanced my understanding of a different path of development and to immerse myself in a culture and language entirely different from what I have been used to. I also took the opportunity to travel to Luang Prabang after my internship ended and got to see the touristy side of rural Laos.