I wasn’t prepared for how much I loved Vietnam and it it’s people. The main purpose of the trip was to visit Cambodia and Vietnam was tacked on as an afterthought. The Vietnam War sites moved me to tears, the generosity and friendliness of the people was inspiring and the food was heavenly. The trip was in 2017 so as my memory fades, so do my recollections of my journey through the country. What I do remember are more feelings, and not the details of a town or city. Bear with me…
The War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh will forever be imprinted in my mind. It’s a shocking reminder of the long and brutal Vietnam War. The graphic photographs shot by the journalists on assignment pushed me over the edge. The images were, in a word, horrific. How do we, as humans, do these unimaginable things to each other? I made it through half the images before I had to leave the museum. I felt physically ill and was overwrought with emotion. I’ve never had an experience like it while traveling. The Vietnamese people have been through so much and yet have persevered with grace.
“How can you be so welcoming to North Americans after what happened to your country and your family during the war?” I asked our guide Cong.
Cong smiled and said, “I have no room in my heart for hate.”
This was the attitude that most of the Vietnamese seemed to have adopted and everyone I met had a smile for me. They wanted visitors to experience the beauty of their country but also to be aware of their war torn past in the hopes of preventing it from occurring again.
When I think of Vietnam, the word that comes to mind is resilient. It’s a hard life on the farms and along the Mekong River. The constant struggle to survive is embedded in everyday life. Houses built on stilts along the Mekong appear to be hanging by a thread and the fishing boats seem as though they may sink at any moment. As a North American, my instinct is to tear down and rebuild, or invest in a new boat. This isn’t an option for them. Until the house collapses or the boat sinks, every last bit of usefulness is squeezed out.
My favourite town was Hoi An. The shops and homes were built up on either side of the Thu Bon River and it had a small town vibe to it that I appreciated. At dawn I walked down to the market area along the river to see if I could find some interesting shots. Despite the early hour, it was all hustle and bustle as the stalls were being filled with produce, seafood and livestock. I could hear women calling to each other in shrill staccato voices, stabbing chopsticks in the air to get their point across. The sound of the chickens and barking dogs was mixed in, making for a cacophony of noise. I bought some fresh sliced pineapple and continued on my way to find a quiet spot to enjoy my breakfast.
And the food!! I have never eaten so well as when I was in Vietnam. It’s the one trip where I actually gained weight because I couldn’t stop eating. Fresh sautéed vegetables, noodles mixed with mouthwatering sauces, noodles filled with seafood and meat, and sweet custards to name a few delicacies. Every meal I would take my initial bite, let out a loud groan and close my eyes in pure bliss. I have yet to find a Vietnamese restaurant in Vancouver that can even come close. If anyone has any recommendations, please let me know. I would love some authentic Vietnamese food!
I’ll be back Vietnam! I need to explore you more.
