As an English teacher, I had the privilege of living in Hanoi, Vietnam for close to 2 years. From morning bun cha to cafes after teaching, I found peace in a buzzing city. If you had told me at fifteen that I would eventually live abroad in Denmark and and Vietnam, I would not have believed you.
My time in Hanoi remains some of the fondest moments of my life. The experience shaped me as a person, cultivated oodles of empathy for others, and taught me how to show up authentically for others. Needless to say, I would also learn how to authentically show up for myself in the process. There is something about being a 20-something and being able to prove to yourself that you can thrive somewhere other than your hometown or home country. It is not without a deep awareness of my privilege that I note my ability to afford to go abroad. From long shifts at a grocery store in my university town to finding work quickly to cover rent, my time in Hanoi was not without hard work. Yet, the two years in Hanoi were magical and full of self-growth. As a result, I believe in taking calculated risks even if it feels scary, because had I ‘played it safe’, I would not have been to 52 countries and counting.
When I was living in Hanoi, I spent my time preparing English classes that usually centered around spoken or written English in either daily life or business settings. Between classes which usually start later in the day, I walked in nearby parks, tidy my one-bedroom apartment, or spend time with my then-partner. However, one of my absolute favorite ways to spend a weekend morning or afternoon was to visit one of many architectural wonders around the city after sipping an egg coffee. Often, I would take refuge near Hoan Kiem lake or about Truc Bach. As I was learning the city, we would also sometimes wonder the flower market near Tay Ho. Yet, the energy of the ‘Old Quarter’ was a favorite for small cafes in the morning, shopping in the afternoon, and relaxing in the evenings among the crowds. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend an egg coffee tour, sitting by Hoan Kiem lake, and trying street food.
The far left image is St. Joseph’s cathedral, which is a 19th-century Gothic church. Old tree roots contrast the Gothic architecture in the center image, while the colorful art scene of Hanoi can be seen on the right.
One of the fondest memories I have once I became more comfortable with myself and thus with teaching, I was able to privately teach in a student’s home. The mother had organized a small group of students who all wanted to prepare for next steps like high school exams and college. During most sessions, I reviewed IELTS material. However, one day was different. I heard a ‘mèo’ and a small child, around 5 at the time, was pointing to the whiteboard. I did not know what that meant at the time, but out of instinct, I handed her the marker. She drew a cat. Together, we would spend exams for the other students drawing cats and counting in English and Vietnamese. While I am not sure I formally taught her a lot, I informally learned kindness and intuition as ways of being.
When the pandemic started to spread across countries in Asia, Vietnam went into lock down. Everyone masked up (more than usual), avoided going out, and schools were canceled. Eventually, the teaching work stopped for an undefined amount of time. I made the difficult decision of returning home in March of 2020. As grateful as I am for my life in the United States, I hope to go back to Asia for the long-term.
From morning walks as the early-bird city of Hanoi woke up to lessons I would never forget, I miss Vietnam often and I look forward to planning a return. Some cities stick with you, others embed themselves in your soul. Hanoi was the latter for me in a way words fail to capture.
