Thrilled and Dreading whats to come!!!
I landed in Hanoi on New Year’s Eve and chaos welcomed me with open arms and overloaded scooters.
Surprisingly, I met an ex-colleague at the airport, someone I barely knew. He introduced himself with a warm, open energy that felt like the perfect start. We agree to meet up for dinner, as they say no one should be alone on a night full of life.
I took a taxi to my hostel in the Old Quarter, Hanoi’s ultimate tourist hotspot and a buzzing business hub. The staff at the hostel were friendly, giving me a quick rundown of the facilities and some helpful city tips.
I couldn’t shake the feeling of being a little out of place, possibly the only Asian traveller in a room full of Europeans, Americans, and Australians. I am a spirit with no borders, as are many others I meet along the way but the backpacking culture in Southeast Asia often feels Western-centric, and I was hyper-aware of it in that moment.
It made me feel small but knowing it was me, my introvert nature and not the environment or the people. It made me a little more determined to belong on my own terms. Also over time on this journey, I came to understand that not all travellers are extroverted, Some of us feeling a little out of place, always follow the cautionary tales. We tend to seek comfort and safety in familiarity, especially in unknown environment.
Just like how my feeling softened quickly when a Filipina working in Vietnam and a solo traveller from China, both staying at the same hostel, stopped to chat. Their kindness reminded me that the road is never lonely for long.
Outside, the streets were alive. Packed with families, couples, street food vendors, and karaoke echoes on every corner.
My colleague and I could barely move from one street to another without squeezing through the crowd or dodging a motorbike. Somehow, we made it to one of the most recommended Phở restaurants in the area called Phở 10 lý quốc sư.
The steaming bowls of broth, fresh herbs, and that first comforting slurp paired with Bia Saigon. It was everything I needed in that moment. I felt grounded I felt full, not just from the food, but from the moment itself.
After dinner, we wandered back into the chaos, looking for the perfect spot to count down to midnight and watch fireworks bloom over Hanoi. We eventually found our way to St. Joseph’s Cathedral also known as the Notre Dame de Paris of Hanoi and one of the earliest Catholic churches in Vietnam. The area was quiet there, tucked just far enough from the main crowds, but still buzzing with life. Couples, still wearing their adorable helmets, lingered on the sidewalks taking selfies and watching the sky light up.
“It was intimate and beautiful. The city felt electric, and so did this new chapter I was about to begin.”
DISCLAIMER
This story reflects my personal experience as a traveller rediscovering Vietnam. Everyone’s journey through this country is different, shaped by their own background, timing, and encounters and that’s what makes travel so beautifully unpredictable.