Speaking
Practice

An occasion when I wore formal clothes was my university graduation ceremony. It took place last year in the main hall of my university, and graduates were asked to arrive early for registration and photographs.

I wore a white shirt, smart trousers, black shoes and a dark tailored jacket under my graduation gown. I chose that outfit because the ceremony was important and I knew there would be many family photos afterwards. I wanted to look neat without wearing anything too flashy.

On the morning of the ceremony, I ironed the shirt, checked that the jacket fit properly and cleaned my shoes. At the venue, I met classmates who were also dressed formally, so the atmosphere immediately felt more serious than an ordinary day on campus. During the ceremony, I felt comfortable in the outfit, and after receiving my certificate, I took photos with my family and lecturers. My parents said the formal clothes suited the occasion and looked good in pictures.

I wore formal clothes because graduation was a major milestone. Dressing properly helped me feel prepared, respectful and well-dressed for an event I will probably remember for a long time.

A time I wore a special type of clothes was at my best friend's engagement party. The event was held at a hotel restaurant last year, and the invitation said the dress code was smart-casual.

A week before the party, I went to a department store and tried on several outfits. I finally bought a navy blazer and paired it with a light shirt, dark trousers and clean leather shoes. I chose those clothes because they looked polished but were still comfortable enough for a long evening.

When I arrived, most guests were dressed neatly but not too formally, so my outfit fitted the atmosphere well. A few friends said the navy blazer looked good on me, and one person asked where I had bought it. I received several compliments, which made me feel confident without feeling over-dressed. We spent the evening eating, talking and taking photos, and the clothes remained comfortable throughout.

I was happy with the outfit because it stood out in a good way while still looking natural. The positive comments helped me feel at ease, and I realised that the best special-occasion clothes are often simple pieces that fit well and suit the event.

A car journey that took much longer than expected was a trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau with my family last year. We planned to leave early and arrive before lunchtime.

There were four of us in the car, and according to the map, the journey should have taken a little over two hours. We left around seven in the morning because we wanted to avoid heavy traffic and have most of the day at the beach.

For the first hour, everything went smoothly. Then we got stuck in traffic near a section of roadworks. Cars barely moved for almost forty minutes, and later we had to take a detour because one lane was closed. The new route was longer and also quite busy. We passed the time by listening to music, talking and stopping once for coffee. In total, the journey took nearly four hours instead of just over two.

At first, I felt impatient because we were arriving much later than planned. However, nobody was in a serious hurry, so the mood stayed fairly relaxed. The experience reminded me that estimated travel times can change quickly, especially on busy roads during weekends.

A journey I remember well was an overnight train trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang. I took it with a close friend during a holiday a few years ago.

We chose the train because neither of us had travelled such a long distance by rail before. We booked soft seats near the window instead of flying, even though the train took much longer. We wanted to enjoy the journey itself rather than simply reach the destination quickly.

In the evening, we watched the scenery change from busy city areas to quieter countryside. We bought simple food on the train and struck up a conversation with another passenger who was returning home to central Vietnam. Later, we tried to sleep, although the movement and station announcements made that difficult. The best moment came early the next morning when I woke up to green hills and a view of the sea from the window. The light was soft and the carriage was unusually quiet.

The journey stays with me because it felt completely different from flying. It was slower and less comfortable, but I saw more of the country and had time to notice the distance we were travelling. That made the trip itself part of the holiday.

An enjoyable journey by public transport was a coach trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat. I made the trip with one of my cousins during a short holiday last year.

We chose an intercity bus because it was much cheaper than flying and the schedule was convenient. We booked two seats together and left early in the morning. The coach was clean, air-conditioned and more comfortable than I expected.

During the first part of the journey, we talked, listened to music and watched the countryside through the window. As the road started climbing into the hills, the scenery became greener and the air outside looked cooler. The driver stopped once at a rest area, where we bought coffee and stretched our legs. After that, I spent some time taking photos through the window while my cousin slept. The whole trip took around six hours, but it did not feel especially long because the ride was smooth.

I enjoyed the journey because it was relaxed and gave us time to talk before the holiday really began. Travelling by public transport can sometimes feel tiring, but this was a pleasant ride with a comfortable seat, good scenery and a travel companion I knew well.