I Didn’t Like Vietnam And That’s Okay

I wouldn’t say I liked Vietnam. I tried hard to like it, but I couldn’t.

Firstly, I struggled to like Vietnamese food, starting from the world-famous Pho, the Vietnamese rice noodle soup. I never wanted noodles, to begin with, and I didn’t enjoy eating a hot bowl of noodle soup in such humid weather. I also didn’t particularly enjoy Banh Mi or the rice paper rolls.

It’s safe to say Vietnam failed to enter my heart through my tummy.

Secondly, Ho Chi Min City itself. Navigating the city on foot with my cousins, saying little prayers while crossing the dusty roads between the sea of never stopping motorcycles, sweating profoundly from the minute we stepped outside, I was transplanted back to Jakarta. Not only on the road but also in so many other details, Vietnam reminded me so much of Jakarta that I felt like we could have had the same memories with my cousins back in Indonesia, except for the time we got stuck inside the Chu Chi tunnel — but then again, that particular incident wasn’t a good memory.

On the plane back, I tried to justify that I wouldn’t say I liked Vietnam because it was the wrong time. After all, I didn’t choose a suitable dish, or we only visited Ho Chi Min City instead of the more famous cities such as Hanoi or Da Nang.

, I might have changed my perception of Vietnam if I had explored it more.

After all, not all of my Vietnam experience was horrible, there was a Mekong boat ride and Vietnamese dripped coffee.

But then I stopped my train of thought and turned it around. Maybe it’s okay that I wouldn’t say I liked Vietnam. I can choose not to select it, and it’s okay not to return to prove myself wrong. It’s my personal choice.

It also taught me that I don’t have to visit all the neighbouring countries just because they are right there, which is why I am taking the Philippines and Laos off the list. I am still keeping Myanmar, though. Bagan temple and Inle Lake have been on my cultural travel wish list for the longest time.

A few hours ago, I landed in Singapore with a quieter mind and a valuable life lesson. I am home now; time to visit my favourite chicken rice stall.

Have you been to Vietnam? What’s your perception of it?

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