Day 1 Reflections - Jamie

EQ1. How is innovation a key feature of survival?

Innovation has helped the South Vietnamese to build a set of long tunnels (Cu Chi Tunnels) that have allowed them to survive during the war. This can be seen in the 3 levels of the tunnels, in which even though the Americans knew of the tunnels, they did not know about the depth and length of the tunnel. Using innovation, the South Vietnamese have built 3 different levels, with the 3rd level being with the furthest depth. Innovation is shown as normally, tunnels would only be consisting of 1 level only, which once discovered by the Americans, would mean that the whole tunnel would be destroyed and useless. Thus, in order to make sure that the tunnel, which was essential to their final success during the war, would not be easily discovered by the Americans, the Vietnamese used innovation in order to manipulate the basic idea of a tunnel into something that was adapted to benefit their surroundings, situation and conditions more.

EQ2. How is cultural integration reflected in design?

Cultural integration was reflected in the design of the Cao Dai Temple. This is as because in Caodaism, they believe that different religions are equal, irregardless of their god or saint. This can be seen from “The noble effort of Cao Dai is to unite all of humanity through a common vision of the Supreme Being, whatever our minor differences, in order to promote peace and understanding throughout the world. Cao Dai does not seek to create a gray world, where all religions are exactly the same, only to create a more tolerant world, where all can see each other as sisters and brothers from a common divine source reaching out to a common divine destiny realizing peace within and without.” (quoted from http://www.religionfacts.com/a-z-religion-index/cao_dai.htm) They also believe that the Holy See/the Divine Eye would be able to see everyone everywhere, and thus help anyone in need, which reflects the beliefs of Caodaism that it would like to ‘unite everybody’. Thus, cultural integration is seen in the design of inside of the temple, where the Holy See/the Divine Eye is seen very frequently, even on the walls. This would mean that the cultural aspect of the religion, is integrated into the design of the temple.

Day 1 Reflections-Bryan Kong

EQ1:I feel that innovation is important as it played a very important part in the Vietnam war. The Vietnamese were quite smart and made traps that could help them effectively against the Americans. One example are the small and narrow tunnels that the Vietnamese built. They were narrow as Americans were bigger is size thus, they would be unable to go inside their tunnels, making more time for Vietnamese to escape. They also recycle any items they could find and make them into something useful to go against the americans. One example are the powder in the bomb and using it to create landmines for their own use.

EQ2: Their culture has a mixture of three well-known religions: Christianity, Buddhism and Confucious. They also had one eye to represent their god which watches over them all and protects them.

Day 1 Reflections - Jing Yi

EQ 1. How is innovation a key feature of survival?
Innovation is a key feature of survival in the context of the Vietnam War, as the Vietcong were very creative in their various traps that were targeted at the Americans, as well as the ARVN. Thus, they were able to survive and have a lower number of casualties. By digging tunnels underground, they could move around discreetly, and planned their strategic attacks while not being detected by their enemies. Although the tunnels were narrow in certain places, but they were able to move around efficiently as they had small and slim figures. They also used innovative ideas such as having backward tracks on the soles of their shoes so as not to be detected, as well as disguising the scent with the American uniform. The Vietcong were also rather clever and knew the concept of recycling as they used the used bomb fragments to make new items such as landmines.

EQ 2. How is cultural innovation reflected in design?
We could see that cultural innovation is reflected in design when we went the the Cai Dai temple. It is a temple that was built with the intention of a merge between 3 religions; Buddhism, Catholicism and Confucianism. Thus, on the carvings and decorations on the walls had the combination of the 3 religions.

HCMC Day 1 Reflections, Toby Gail Lim

EQ1: How is innovation a key feature of survival?
Innovation was one of the key factors that helped Vietnamese fight and survive during the war. Innovation can be seen from the traps, the structure of their hideout and more. The traps were created such that when someone steps into it, they are unable to escape, and most of the traps would cause the people who fall in to definitely die. This helped the Vietnamese to fight and decrease the number of enemies. 


The  Vietnamese also created their own hideout which is "underground". As the land is quite high, they have their different facilities below the surface. They also invented their own tunnels which is their way of transporting to the different areas of the hideout. Among the hideout there is also a way to escape by going to the river. Vietnamese also made use of their size. Because they are naturally smaller built than Americans, they made use of that and built their things smaller so only they could fit. Vietnamese also used innovation by taking the uniform of the Americans who died and placed it on themselves to camouflage. Thus when Americans see from afar, they would not be able to recognize the Vietnamese easily. The Vietnamese made used of the tire and made it into sandals, they wore it the opposite way so that they would mislead the Americans.
 

EQ2: How is cultural integration reflected in design?

The temple reflected three different religions: Buddhism, Catholicism and Confucius. All of these pictures within the temple and more have two purposes, one which is for design purposes, another is for their own beliefs. Thus, we can see the different aspects of each religion within every corner of the temple. On the ceilings, there was a particular area with three different animals together. Each animal probably represents one religion. There was also a flag with three different colours: red, blue, yellow. Each colour represents on religion. There are many structures that are inspired from the religion's beliefs, such as the eye within the triangle. The pillars were also carved and painting with pictures of dragons and more, which is also inspired from the beliefs of the religion. 

Day 1 Reflections - Bryan Sim

EQ1) How is innovation a key feature of survival?

The Vietnamese were extremely innovative, and thus they were able to win the war against the Americans. The Vietnamese dug out the Cu Chi Tunnel using their own handmade tools to hide innocent villagers from the Americans and also a way to launch surprise attacks on the Americans. The Vietnamese also knew how to use exploded bomb shells and fragments to make land mines. Some of the metal fragments were also used to make home-made traps which were very efficient.

EQ2) How is cultural integration reflected in design?

When we visited the Cai Dai Temple, I noticed that most of the decorations there were a combination of red, blue and yellow. According the the tour guide, Red, blue and yellow represents Buddhism, Confucianism and Catholicism. There were also several designs/carvings of dragons on the pillar itself, which shows that design can be affected by culture.

Day 1 Reflections by Matthew

EQ 1: How is innovation a key feature of survival
 Like in today's example, the villagers used guerrilla warfare to defend themselves with some other intuitive actions. For one, the soldiers wore their sandals the opposite way in order to create tracks that would mislead the Americans from their underground tunnels. The entrances to the tunnels were covered with dead leaves that would camouflage it plus, the dimensions were very small to suit the Vietnamese's small body frame whereas the Americans had a larger frame and would not be able to fit inside.

EQ 2: How is cultural integration reflected in design?

The Cai Dai temple had three religions intertwined with it - Buddhism, Confucianism and Catholicism. In the temple, there were three curtains (blue, red and yellow) that separated 3 large monuments each belonging to their religions.

Day 1 Reflections - Dylan Loo

Essential Question 1: How is innovation a key feature of survival?
Innovation is a key feature in survival in many ways. In terms of the Cu Chi Tunnel, it is very obvious in the many ways and means that the Vietnamese used in the war with the Americans and the other Vietnamese.

One example would be the Cu Chi Tunnel itself. The tunnel was so well planned out and made properly that they were able to live in there for over many years despite the war also going on at that time. They had escape routes planned out and ways for smoke to escape when they cooked so that they were not spotted as easily. The holes were also purposely made small in diameter such that they would only be able to fit in Vietnamese themselves and not the Americans as they were considered to be rather big-sized to fit into the tunnel.

Essential Question 2: How is cultural integration reflected in design?
This is apparent in the Cai Dai Temple, where parts of various religions can be seen clearly in the architecture of the building. It can be reflected in the design as well-known symbols from the religion being put into parts of the building, or put into the little minute details of the building as well.
For example, there was an eye in the middle of the pyramid, and this symbol was very apparent all across the temple. It can be integrated, like this into the building both to enhance its aesthetics and to also serve the relevant purpose of the building.

Day 1 Reflection by Saishwar

EQ1. How is innovation a key feature for survival?

The Vietnamese had created a path of tunnels across a long distance and these tunnels had been used for various purposes. They had been created in a way to not only move around discreetly but to attack and fool the enemies. They had created various traps which the enemies would not have thought of and also used various other methods to fool the enemies. These include wearing the slippers backwards to cover up the paths. They had also used the American's cloaks as a camouflage to fool other Americans. These various actions had actually helped them to save lives and eventually win the war.

 EQ2. How is cultural integration reflected in design?




The cultural integration played a huge part in design. In the temple, the three main religions of Vietnam were put into a single temple and made it seem as if all the people united into one common place instead of going to three separate places. This shows open-mindedness in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Day 1 Reflection by Valery

EQ1: How is innovation a key feature in survival?

They made use of their knowledge of the difference in size between the two countries' soldiers, making the pathways in the tunnel to be as narrow as possible so that the Americans would not be able to crawl through and infiltrate their base. The entrances of the tunnel are hidden underneath leaves so that the Americans won't find out. But even if they do find out, the tunnels are still too small for them to fit through. 

 The traps that they had and used were very innovative as well. The door trap, which would swing out and stab the person was really cool and harmful, if not deadly. It was cool in a way that it was very unsuspecting for the Americans if they chose to walk through the door where many Vietnamese soldiers were. 

They were also innovative in the way that they recycled the bomb shells to make weapons. This was very smart of them as they efficiently made use of present resources around them to overcome the lack of resources.

EQ2: How is cultural integration reflected in design?

The unique religion is made up of three religions put together, Buddhism, Catholicism, and Confucianism, thus the design on the pillars and walls reflecting each of the representative design for each religion, such as the dragons.The eye in the triangle shows that it can see everything and protect everything. Thus this religion, instead of separating the three different religions, had instead united the three religions into one, being more open-minded.

Day 1 Reflections by Claire

1. How is innovation a key feature of survival?
Innovation helps a lot in helping us survive and is very useful. In this case, innovation helped the Vietnamese during the Vietnamese war to fight against the American soldiers. They innovated on things like traps and tunnels, also how to move around the tunnels. This gave them quite a bit of advantage over the Americans. They reused a lot of items, and they were very smart. The Americans were depleted because of the traps. This is one of the examples why innovation is important for us to survive.

2. How is cultural integration reflected in design?
Design has everything, even cultural integration. In Vietnam, there is a religion that combines these three religions, Catholicism, Buddhism, and Confucianism together. In the Cai Dai temple that practices this religions, the design of the building is very unique, which shows off the beliefs of the people. This makes the building special to the people and shows very clearly their beliefs.

Day 1 reflections: Devanshi

Day 1 Reflections: Visit Cu Chi  tunnel and Cai Dai temple 


Learning outcomes:

1. Students will learn about the essential considerations that influence the design of an underground structure. 
2. Students will learn how innovation can be applied to overcome resource and other constraints. 
3. Students will uncover how culture and religious can be integrated.

EQ1. How is innovation a key feature of survival?

As shown by the innovation of the Vietnamese during the war, we can see that innovation contributed to the survival of many Vietnamese. The Vietnamese and the Americans were both very innovative when it came to them trying to mislead the other. For example, the Vietnamese released the smoke from the tunnels when they were cooking more than 100 meters away from the kitchen and they released it in the morning. This made the smoke blend into the surroundings as mist to make it less noticeable and to conceal the location of the kitchen. And them having the holes far from the actual kitchen would mislead them to think the kitchen was there. The Americans used dogs to sniff out places the vietnamese would have been since the dogs are not familiar with the smell of them. 




The Vietnamese  also   assembled several different types of traps that would increase their chances of survival. They made the traps blend into the surroundings very well and made use of the resources they had such as bamboo sticks to use to their advantage as a weapon against the Americans.  This shows that innovation can be very beneficial and may even be the difference between life and death in this case. Example of holes that American dogs would sniff out. 

 

                                                                      EQ2. How is cultural integration reflected in design?

Cultural integration was reflected in design when we visited the Cai Dai temple. The temple was a combination of three different religion, Buddhism, Catholicism and Confucius. These three different religions were brought together in this temple by having an eye as the see and protect all in the world. These three religions were incorporated into the building by having three different umbrella like structures together to represent each religion and by hanging flags that show the three colours representing the three cultures together. A bamboo trap made by the Vietnamese. 

The three coloured flag(Credits:SevareidFamily)

Day 1 Reflection by NG YING LIANG

Q1: How is innovation a key feature to survival?

Innovation is very important to survival during the war time in Guchi Village. Villagers made use of their small sizes and created small tunnels for villagers to crawl through to escape from the Americans. It is linked to the Saigon River at the end. Also, the vietnamese created the slippers with the sole inverted so that Americans will be confused by the footprints and won't know where the vietnamese is escaping. Lastly, making use of the morning fog, they cook so that the smoke that is emitted while they are cooking can be disguised as the fog too so that Americans will then not find out where their locations are.

EQ2: How is cultural integration reflected in design?

The design of the temples merge the three religions, Buddhism, Catholicism and Confucianism together. In the temple, lots of dragons could be seen, even the pillars of the temples have dragons carved on it. Also on the wall of the temple, there is a eye, it is said to look over everyone and protect the people. 

Day 1 Reflections - Isaac Lim

 EQ1. How is innovation a key feature of survival? Innovation is the improvement of existing items around you, and then using them to your advantage. Since in survival, you can just barely get along with each day with the limited materials and resources, innovation is a must. For example, the Vietnamese had used the Americans’ camouflage cloaks to hide from enemy helicopters and to deter dogs from their scent. That was innovation, since they had used the cloaks that they had salvaged from the dead American soldiers for different uses than they were originally intended, and this had all been a very important part in the survival of the Vietnamese.

 EQ2. How is cultural integration reflected in design? The designs are thought up from the people who were affected by their culture in the first place, and as such, those people’s minds are influenced by the culture that they are used to. As such, the designs in a country would be heavily influenced by their cultures or religions. For example, the temple’s pillars had carvings and imagery on them of dragons, and these decisions in designing would reflect quite clearly on either the culture or the religion and beliefs of the people.

Day 1 Reflection by Kaneko Yoshiki

EQ1: How is innovation a key feature of survival?
The Vietnamese people created a network of tunnels so as to hide their supplies and to be able to hide away from their enemies. In those tunnels, there are some misleading ones where they do not lead anywhere. Also, some of their tunnels are so small that one has to lie down just to get through. These tunnels can even lead to Saigong river. Also, the vietnamese created their own traps and these traps were simple yet very effective. The vietnamese soldiers also wore the american uniforms so that if they were sighted by the american soldiers, that american soldiers would not shoot them straight away but hesitate.

EQ2: How is cultural integration reflected in design?
Their culture is a mixture of the three cultures and when it is mixed a very nice impression is formed. The religion also has one eye whereby it is said that it watches over everyone and part of the different religions. This eye is what the people worship to.

Day 1 Reflection by He Shiying

EQ1: How is innovation a key feature to survival

Innovation is very important and an example would be how the people of the Guchi Village had adapted to survive the war. The people dug tunnels 3 or more meters deep as shelter and even added rooms to fit their daily needs in order to survive. An example would be the people cooking only in the mornings and make use an underground kitchen with a unique system for steam or smoke to escape, disguising it as fog in the morning. Another example would be making use of used bomb shells and unattended American uniform capes allowed the soliders to camouflage themselves and protect themselves against the Americans. 

EQ2: How is cultural integration reflected in design?

Based on the visit to the temple, many of the pillars are based on the 3 cultures itself. An example would be the inscription of dragons on the pillars. 

Kenneth Han Day 1 Reflections

My Reflections:
Today we visited Cu Chi Tunnel and the main highlights was going through the tunnel itself.It was made during the American occupation to protect themselves from the bombs and allow them to be protected under the hard dirt.As the tunnels were relatively small this allowed the vietnam people that lived in these tunnels to move around undetected by all the american soldiers for them.They also created many traps to kill unsuspecting American Soldiers they happened to walk on them,they also were very smart and wore the American uniforms so that they will not be fired on immediately when seen.

We managed to go through one of those short tunnels and it was very small and hard to navigate through when we were told that it had actually already been widened for foreigners I was surprised as it was already very squeasy.

Day 1 Reflection Tan Yu Tao

Q1 How is innovation a key feature of survival

Innovation help the Vietnamese prevent the lost of life. From the usage of the americans clothes to mask the scent of their air holes to creating traps that protected them and their tunnels.











 Without innovation, the lose of vietnam lives would be much higher. The vietnamese also used the bombs from the Americans to create their own mines and bombs that they hid well and managed to destroy many of the american tanks

Q2 How is cultural integration reflected in design?

The culture is affected from three culture that is put together that makes a mix of three religion that creates and interesting architecture The three religion has one base that is the eye that over watches all everyone and is also part of different religions.

The building also has steps that represent the many years of the person has been in service of the religion. The building also has a large orb in the building that represents the universe and also has the eye on it and is what the people pray to.

Day 1 Reflection By Jonathan

EQ1: Using whatever remaining leftovers and items, be it from nature or man-made, innovation plays a huge roles in providing oneself some equipments and tools that enable a higher chance of survival. Like how the Northern Vietnamese or the Communist party of Vietnam had made use of the bamboos and soil available in the natural surroundings and the bomb shells and the uniforms of the US army to build their base and equipments. Also, they made use of the usual ergonomics to fool the Americans into believing that they were walking in the other way around.



EQ2: Different cultures have different thoughts and views about visuals. This results in when merging religious places, the area might seem abnormal as there visuals might not match sometimes. However, if the visuals actually match, they give viewers a really nice impression. Therefore when designing cultural influential places, it is important to place the well fit visual together and give a better viewing experience in the design.

Day 1 Reflections by Koh Jia En

How is innovation a key feature of survival?

Learning to make use of the environment and recycling almost everything possible is a form of innovation. These adaptations and innovations were well-shown in the tour of the Cu Chi Tunnel. The methods they adopted to solve problems and how they strategically chosen the place to build the tunnel was the key to their survival. Underground structures used were extremely innovative, so were the ways they made up for the loopholes that would have gotten their tunnel discovered. It is amazing, their survival methods.

How is cultural integration reflected in design?

Cultural integration is a culture gaining characteristics of another, like that of what we saw at the Cai Dai Temple. They have integrated Buddhism, Catholicism and Confucianism in the temple. The walls are designed in a way to show the integration, carved with the symbol of the integrated culture, the symbol meaning that the integrated culture has enabled the eye, part of the symbol, to see everything and protect everything. Instead of making all 3 religions well-defined and separated, they have gained different ideas, being more open-minded.