Once again in 2018, ECJS returned to East Asia. The event began on the Thursday with an early morning start to explore the Vietnam War Cu Chi Tunnels, followed by an afternoon studying HCMC with its Presidential Palace and War Remnants Museum. On Friday participants experienced traditional Vietnamese environments visiting the Mekong Delta, and as stilt houses, fishing villages as well as tasting traditional Vietnamese fruit. For Shabbat we relaxed in the hotel and learnt about the history of the Jewish Community of Vietnam, before a fun evening riding Scooters around the busy city streets and skyline.
On Sunday everyone got up early for a morning flight to Hanoi, and then got to visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex before the scenic Tay Ho (West Lake) region and an evening learning about the history of Vietnam through a comical Water Puppet show. On Monday everyone went on a long day trip to the beautiful Ha Long Bay (one of the seven Modern Wonders of the World) and then on Tuesday the event finished with a true-life experience meeting families living in poverty in the East Hanoi slums under the Long Bien Bridge in the middle of the Red River.