Sight, Smell, Sound, Soul
Sight
The verdancy of Vietnam immediately captivates you. With its abundance of trees ranging from Banyan to Banana you’re infatuated with the history and beauty these plants hold. With contrast to the nature and peacefulness Da Nang has, it’s a fast paced/chaotic city that you fall completely in love with, dare I say might even replace the city of love. If taking a romantic stroll in the city doesn’t sweep you off your feet, a once in a lifetime ride down the streets of Da Nang will. Yes, taking a car gives you the luxury of AC. But it doesn’t compare to seeing all of the city’s charming features without a thick piece of glass separating you. When riding like a local via motorbike you become fully immersed into the city’s flow of life. This is the first S of Vietnam.
Smell
Where do I even begin with the smells of Vietnam. So much good, so many bad. There’s the delicious smell of street food cooking at every corner you can find. Then you’ll catch a whiff of potent Nuoc Mắm or the delicacy of Durian. If there’s one thing, the South of Vietnam has its food! You can never go hungry with the abundance of food they grow and cook daily. Whatever you’re craving they are bound to have at least one stand within a mile radius of you. But, one of the biggest things I’ll miss most is smelling their fresh herbs. Like the people here, they are small but mighty! Every food, every herb is incredibly potent unlike the US. A small, teen tiny chili can knock you out in an instant and that’s what I love about it here. Everything is so raw and undiluted. This is the second S of Vietnam.
Sound
It’s the first thing you’ll hear when you wake up and the last you’ll hear when you fall asleep. It’s what becomes almost comforting to hear after staying in Vietnam for so long, you miss the sound of it when you return home to the peace and quiet. In any part of Vietnam you travel to you’re bound to encounter little chirps of the many motorbikes passing through. Some chirps are loud and angry, but in many cases the chirps are simply to say, “I’m here, don’t run me over!”. I remember as soon as we got home my Father said to me, “It feels so empty and quiet here”. I guess I felt the same, although the honks can be quite obnoxious at times I felt heartened being in such a lively city. Each honk had a person, and a story behind it. I couldn’t help but feel humbled and gain perspective of my own self.
Soul
Food nourishes the body resulting in a happy soul. Maybe that’s why the people of the South are so unreserved, since they have plenty of food to satiate their soul. Some people that really made their mark on me came from backgrounds very different from mine. They didn’t have vacations, a roof over their heads, or for some of them their family. Yet, the person they are today astonishes me. Even through hardships they live their lives with such joy. Appreciating every moment life has to give them. Thank you Chú Phi, Kim Anh, Tram, Huyen, Vi, Chú Lut, Felicia, and Quynh for teaching me what true contentment looks like. Vietnam has awakened my soul, for this the time it stays in my heart is forever.