Internship trip of K62 Urban History students in Hai Phong.

In the Department of History, besides traditional majors like "Vietnamese History" or "Global History," the "Urban History" major is also one of the popular choices for students. If you've loved the Department of History since high school, you've probably already had a specialization in mind from the start.

Teachers and the K62 Urban History internship group at the Hai Phong Museum.rice

My semester in my seemingly new major went very well. And like other majors, we'll be doing a week-long internship together. Facing this trip, I felt a mix of anxiety and excitement. Anxiety because I'm used to living alone, and I worry that communal living will make it difficult for me to integrate and work with everyone. Excitement because although Hai Phong – the city where we'll be doing our internship – isn't entirely unfamiliar, going there as an intern, I couldn't imagine what awaited me.

Hai Phong in the eyes of Urban History students

Hai Phong still appeared as the Hai Phong I knew. The same streets, the same famous landmarks like the theater and museum that I had visited in the past. I thought that if this internship had taken place somewhere I had never been before, I would have been more excited. But as they say, when your perspective changes, the things you learn also change. Instead of sitting in a car or cruising through the streets on a motorbike, we explored each street on foot throughout the internship. Although that was quite difficult for someone as lazy as me, my experience in Hai Phong was truly interesting and rewarding.

Teachers and students of the K62 Urban History class at the Hai Phong Grand Theatre.rice

I lingered, observing the buildings more closely and meticulously. I wandered through narrow alleys and old residential areas I'd never seen before. Each time we arrived at a house or villa, my teachers would stop and explain in detail, down to every single brick. I realized that history isn't just found in massive structures or relics preserved behind the glass of museums; even small, humble houses carry history within them. Through what I witnessed, coupled with my teachers' thorough explanations, the ancient city of Hai Phong unfolded before my eyes. It felt like I was lost in the flow of history, voluntarily and with great enthusiasm.

Students from the K62 Urban History class are working at the Hai Phong Museum.

Besides field trips to various neighborhoods, I also had the opportunity to meet experts who specialize solely in Hai Phong research. Can you imagine what kind of stories someone who has dedicated their entire life to studying Hai Phong could tell you? I'll let you imagine it; consider it an invitation to join my field of study.

An indispensable aspect of internships is communal living with approachable and friendly people. I was initially hesitant about communal living before the trip. But with each passing day, my feelings for my major grew stronger. We understood each other better and became closer. More than anyone else, I know that the kind of feelings I have are rare in a university environment. Therefore, I feel even more certain that my choice was the right one and I love my Urban History major even more.

This is my story about Hai Phong from the perspective of an urban studies student. I may return to Hai Phong many times in the future, and perhaps I will become a successful urban historian. The emotions this trip evoked in me are undoubtedly unique and irreplaceable, no matter how hard I try. It has been, and will always be, an experience I will never forget, even as time erodes my memories. Dear students, I know that most of you entering the History Department already have your own career paths, and perhaps you've never heard of Urban History as a major. But if you're as aimless as I once was, and after taking the time to read my words, some emotion has been stirred within you, why not give this major a chance?