Summer is a time of adventure, relaxation, and new experiences. In this series, we asked our readers to share their summer stories. From exciting travels to peaceful moments at home, from learning new skills to forging precious memories with loved ones, every tale is a window into the diverse and wonderful ways people spent their summers.
Let’s find out more about 15-year-old Ethan Hu’s family adventure to Vietnam.
Late May, I was caught up in the abrupt decision that our family would visit Vietnam over the summer, just as I was entering my breezy and carefree summer break vibes after a good few months of high school. Despite my conventional aptitude for traveling and wandering through the multidimensional cultures and traditions around the world, my mentality coming off from school with my attributed perceptions of the Southeast Asian country just didn’t move me. However, considering the group’s arrangement and my tendency to unearth exoticness, I packed my bags rather involuntarily, but before I knew it, we were already en route to Hanoi, Vietnam. I cannot stress this enough, but Hanoi utterly shattered what I vaguely perceived of the country, and I have no doubt it will shed some light on you too
Prior to our visit to Hanoi, the natural wonders of Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site sitting on the northeastern gulf of the country, were first on our list of must-visits. Despite the destination’s popularity and my family’s unflappable determination to see this unique geographical site, I was never someone easily moved by the capabilities of Earth. However, I can tell you that I formulated and envisioned all of the hypothetical possibilities Ha Long Bay could take, but none of them scraped the grandeur of the bay of descending dragons.
As our family was aboard on the cruise from the port, we were treated to a mundane but delectable feast of locally caught seafood and other traditional Vietnamese delicacies. Perhaps you could argue that Vietnamese cuisine is not to be compared with fine French gastronomy or fresh Japanese omakase, but it is utter disrespect to denounce the flavorsome and traditional dishes resembling most Asian home cooking. Once our hunger was satiated well, the cruise journeyed down to the core of Ha Long Bay and my eyes were about to be cherished well just as we did with our stomachs.
As I carefully climbed up the ladder to the top deck of the cruise, reflecting into my eyes was indeed none of my hypothetical thoughts but a bed of emerald water embedded with a kaleidoscope of karst limestone sculptures, each majestically unique and introspective of the magical nature. The smooth waves riding the jade sea pulsed rhythmically upon our cruise, harmonizing the series of unfortunate turmoils that once beset the land while subtly recalling the spiritedness of the legendary dragon who guides the way of the people. I nonchalantly leaned onto the fences on the side of the cruise as I rarely find this level of solace and tranquility in school or in the city to fall into.
From the ancient capital of Thang Long (now Hanoi) to the shores of Ha Long Bay, the dragon synonymous with the heritage and identity of the Vietnamese people drops down from heaven and descends into the water of the Tonkin Gulf. His claws sculpt the splendid landscape of the limestone islets and wild caves planted within the water, as his body, bearing the essence of the Vietnamese spirits, assimilates into the emerald water permeating his soul to the people residing on his land.
Despite the country’s resonance with the spirits of the dragon, Vietnam didn’t evade its legacies and turmoils ranging from foreign invasions, and colonization, to internal conflicts. Mythologically, on the polar opposite of Ha Long Bay (Ha Long means descending dragon), the capital city Hanoi, previously named Thang Long (Thang Long means ascending dragon), manifests the past quite blatantly.
Interestingly, the Hỏa Lò Prison relic we visited on the last day of our trip was most deeply ingrained in my memories for its values beyond the superficial layer. Originally a prison utilized by French Indochina colonists to regulate political prisoners, it held 2,000 political inmates under French standards at the height of the Vietnamese Independence Revolution. As I walked meticulously through the gates of the Hỏa Lò Prison, crossed the various chambers now showcasing various artifacts, and steadily scrutinized the various plaques, I felt an unfeigned chilliness and bitterness. It wasn’t for the narrow corridors, the metallic barbed wires, nor was it for anything physically present.
Rather, it was the prison’s intangible manifestation of Vietnamese nationalism and resilience which are entrenched and settled in the heritages of the people through the hundreds of years of foreign invasions and other internal turmoils. The prison illustrated not only the mere act of resisting colonial rule but also the unwavering spirit, unyielding endurance, and encouraging hope exemplified in spite of the situations they are put in. It was exactly the efforts and characters during the French Resistance era that finally bore independence upon the country, which had suffered over the past one thousand years. Hỏa Lò Prison relic, now still standing as a museum, is not only a touristy spot for foreigners like me but also serves to the Vietnamese people as a poignant reminder of their past and how far they’ve come to be where they are. The prison is a physical demonstration of Vietnamese nationalism, the struggle for independence, and its legacy to be passed on to generations to come.
In most travelers’ perceptions, Vietnam doesn’t nearly elicit the same level of enthusiasm as France, Switzerland, or Japan would. However, it was a critical recognition personally to simply appreciate the diversity of culture and heritage across this globe. There are over 200 countries and regions across the place we all call home, and every single one of them is exclusively exceptional and particular in its own way for you to explore. Over the summer, I learned about the interconnectedness between the wilderness and the heritage of Vietnam while educating myself on the nationalism and cultural resistance of the people residing on the luscious land. As you delve deep into the distinctive destinations across the globe, there are always elements individually fascinating for you, and always will there be a worthy travel story for you to tell!
Images: Ethan Hu
