Vietnam - A True Sense of Happiness.
Vietnam was in every part fulfilling as I could have possibly dreamed it
to be. I fell in love with a continent so warm and healing before, I knew
Vietnam would be just up my street. Arriving in Hanoi to bustling streets, full
of not only colour – but a swarm of overwhelming authenticity was a true sense of happiness.
Overlooking Perfume River |
You know when you imagine a world so different to your own, shut your
eyes and wish you were there – this was my exact feeling upon arriving in
Hanoi. But, I didn’t once look back. Because, my time in Vietnam was precious,
I knew that every minute was valuable. I wanted to see every corner possible.
The streets of Hanoi |
No amount of colour or pattern could paint a better picture than the
quaint little streets, sea of scooters, and stunning quirks of the city. Every
corner of Hanoi told a different story, from Ho Chi Minh’s presidential palace,
to the abundance of fruit sellers – mangosteen to Dorian fruit. It was tropical
paradise. I was in every way my element.
Everlasting beauty: Ha Long Bay |
A trip to Hay Long Bay a few days later, gave me the Lonely Planet
feeling I crave most. The one I stalked on Instagram for months, and played out
in my mind so many times. I felt and lived it. It was
entirely beautiful and awe inspiring, but I couldn’t help but feel I had already
seen it. Like when you accidently find a Christmas present that’s meant to be a
surprise. I wish Ha Long Bay had been a complete surprise for me.
Dragon Fruit heaven |
A 10 hour overnight train to Hue taught me that not every journey is
cushioned – sometimes the bumps along the way make all the difference. I slept
for just a few hours, but felt a sense of overwhelming happiness to have
arrived by train at the next part of my journey.
Ga Ha Noi, Hanoi Railway Station |
Hue was a quick 24-hour stopover, but a motorbike ride out into the
countryside, made my heart beam. The rice fields were poignant, as were the
buffalos. It was the truest reflection of working life in Vietnam.
Beautiful Hoi An by day. |
Arriving in Hoi An was a complete surprise. I had unwrapped a present so
invaluable and precious, that my imagination was blown. I think anyone would
find it impossible to not fall in love with such a beautiful old town. No
amount of heat, or sweat could stop me professing my love for Hoi An.
Hoi An was very much two different worlds, day time and night time were
so different. Every street was lit by row after row of beautifully coloured
lanterns. The food was a necessity as always in Asia – spoilt by incredible
choice.
The streets were alive and everybody was sharing genuine joy, love and
happiness. I closed my eyes and it was a like stepping into my very own
fairy-tale. The shopping at the night markets was obscene, in the sense that I
absolutely wanted to buy almost everything, yet window shopping never felt so
good. Not to mention the dress making. Hoi An was quite simply my happy
ever after.
Lantern love. |
If Vietnam taught me one thing, it is to just live – and enjoy the
surroundings around you. Don’t spend forever looking for the picture perfect,
don’t let anything override the moment and quit glossing over what’s right in
front of you because it’s more than likely you have already found
it.
♥
Beautiful, Alice! I was so happy to see Dragon fruit- I love them!
ReplyDeleteIt looks so amazing there. How beautiful!
ReplyDeletehttp://lizziedailyblog.blogspot.co.uk/
I love that analogy about finding a Christmas present! Unfortunately in this day and age, if we research somewhere before going, it's unlikely that anything will ever be a true surprise anymore. Lovely post and pictures :)
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