As the world continues to open up, traveling is a way of reconnecting us: with the people, the culture, the food and ourselves, and I certainly found them all in Vietnam.
Kathryn Romeyn is a travel and design writer based in Los Angeles and Bali. We would like to introduce the translation of her article in Travel Leisure magazine about her trip to Vietnam after the pandemic.
As the pandemic slowly subsides, many parts of the world are inundated with tourists. Throughout Vietnam, as I experienced this June with my husband and 15-month-old daughter, the sense of peace and sweetness was still ubiquitous.
Western tourists are slowly returning to a place known for its flavorful cuisine, diverse vegetables and spices, quaint towns, dynamic cities, beautiful beaches and distinctive culture.
We go from north to south and love Vietnam more and more every day. You can imagine that the capital of a country of more than 97 million people will be bustling, but in Hanoi the opposite is the case. To me, Hanoi is the setting of a romantic period movie with colonial architecture covered in lush, towering trees.
Photo: KATHRYN ROMEYN.
I couldn’t help but admire the orange sunset in Hanoi. Meanwhile, at 7am in Hanoi, it’s a spectacle of its own, humming with calm energy as locals gather around the square, play badminton on the sidewalks, dance at Hoan Kiem Lake, meditate and pray in the temple. Seeing this scene gives them a sense of optimism.
Photo: KATHRYN ROMEYN
Not to mention the “thrilling journey” on an old Vespa and lunch with bun cha at Dong Xuan market. I wish I had more days to explore Hanoi as I feel like I just skimmed through the city’s history, vibrant beauty and food.
At our next stop – Hoi An – I also wish I had more time.
Hoi An itself is a beautiful old town with charming pedestrian streets richly decorated with handmade silk lanterns.
Photo: KATHRYN ROMEYN
We arrived in Hoi An on a full moon Sunday evening and the town came alive with the sight of boats glistening with rainbow lanterns gliding along the river making me feel special, like pagodas and temples glowing under the night sky.
Incidentally, the dishes we selected represent the dominant flavors of the regions: the bold north, the spicy middle, the sweet south and the simple Mekong Delta.
The locals were very friendly when sharing stories about Vietnam’s food culture. The heavenly flowers, crispy pork belly and duck, rolled with fresh vegetables.
Our 10 days were spent with precious moments and filled my heart with warm people. A 10-day tour of Vietnam is the best way to rediscover not only yourself, but also a different culture through food, beautiful landscapes and warm, generous people.
@ cafefu
