Astonishingly exotic and utterly compelling, Vietnam’s natural beauty is a sight for sore eyes. It is a verdant tapestry of soaring mountains, and their local cuisines may be the best you will ever find. Of course, Vietnam has a history as rich and evocative as anywhere on the planet. It is largely unscathed from the decades of war as its people have suffered a long dark period of colonialism, war, and poverty. Somehow, the war left an indelible imprint on both the land and people, even though the majority of the current population was born after it had ended. Nevertheless, that was the very reason Hanoi is such an extraordinary place to visit.

Upon arrival in Hanoi, our bus ride takes us along the bustling narrow streets that surge with rickshaws amid the din of constantly blaring horns. They looked so miniscule from our vehicle. Every corner we took had small shops selling jewelry, clothes, and finger foods. Despite the zest along the roads, all around we could see tarnished buildings as if covered with a layer of black paint. Cracks on the side of the walls grew deeper at each shop we passed, revealing the violence and damage that occurred decades ago.

As we rode further into the Old Quarter, the atmosphere became somber. Men were sitting quietly polishing black shoes, while the women dressed in stained garments gave us a weary look. While I do know a fair amount of Vietnam history, I never thought I would catch a glimpse of a city so bruised by war. I thought about the people that had to overcome the severe consequences of a 30 year-long war. More importantly, I wondered if underneath the warm smiles of people was an aching feeling of isolation.  

The city was an energy booster, however, clusters of traditional stilt houses beside rice paddy fields and a tranquil lake was just the right place to escape. We had an important mission during our time in the village. A part of our service work was to build a road with the local villagers. Although there was a language barrier, we were able to pay close attention to them and follow along.

Vietnamese village life is not without its challenges. Many of the women were of old age who brought their children to the work site. As we were mixing limestone, a little girl stood on the side watching her mother attentively. Her plump cheeks were covered with brown dots which appeared to be freckles. She wore a windbreaker smeared with dirt and shoes that kept her toes bare. Just watching her patiently waiting for her mother made me feel the need to scoop her up and take her away. We spent two days at the work site using wheelbarrows to carry rocks and dirt for the road. Although we barely spoke two words to the workers, we cherished our time together and spent the last day celebrating our achievement.

The resilience and diligence of Hanoians is one of the many aspects of Vietnam that has me compelled. Hanoi threw me into the deep end of Vietnamese culture as I was immersed in a slower pace of life. Who knew that in the span of a week, I would be able to delve into the past and be present in every moment all at once.