It's Christmas eve, a long way from Vietnam although it feels like only yesterday I was there immersed in the humidity and culture of that wonderful country.
the trip passed far too quickly for my liking, part of the sensation of seeing everything for the first time is that time itself seems to speed up, there's so many sights, sounds, tastes and feelings to absorb. after the first week, I felt almost at home there, the food was giving me renewed energy, the weather was a welcome change from the hugely 'changeable' and nearly always disappointing London greyness... although I could not speak the language and was just starting the learn about the culture, I felt safe and welcome everywhere we went.
if there was one place that resonated more deeply with me it was Hoi An.. the wonderful Chinese guesthouse, the absence of air conditioning (which i can happily live without) and the incredible food and clothes market meant 2 days was far too short.. this is a place I want to return to for 3-4 weeks in the future... to write, take photos and enjoy the delicious, cheap food.
Hoi An is also a place which has seen traders and traveller from every corner of the world pass along the river, stopping off to trade, swap, buy and fix their wares. there is much to be learnt here, about how a place can absorb culture from such diverse places as Spain, China and France.. why do the streets look like Havana? I don't think the Cubans ever made it here.. or did they?
Hanoi also left a deep impression with me, the old quarter is both froxen in time and being pulled along with the relentless pace of change felt everywhere is Vietnam. the beautiful lake, surrounded by locals at all hours... the tiny cafe which serves the best soup to be found in Vietnam (open to debate i guess)... the countless internet cafes, buzzing with teenagers chatting, playing games and seamingly oblivious to our 'real' world... the creamics village outside the city, steeped in history, a link to the crafts of old and the production of the new... the french cafes, an authentic tatste of Paris complete with the slightly arrogant air of the staff...
i will retrun, armed next time with the experience and memories of the first trip.. i will be more prepared and better edcated as to the development of Vietnam.. where the country is going and more importantly where it came from.
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