Why do you travel, and what kind of places and experiences excite you the most when traveling? I've been inspired to create a reel and write a blog by Jordan Peterson's advice in one of his speeches, saying "Go to the unknown..." quoting what is written in the Bible. In this blog, I'm sharing you the reel I made and my experiences traveling in Northern Vietnam.
Northern Vietnam
One of my most recent international travels was to Northern Vietnam, where I visited eight places in two weeks: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Ha Giang, Meo Vac, Lung Cu, Du Gia, Yen Minh, and Sa Pa.
It took me three months to plan that two-week trip to a country I had never seen before and whose language I didn't understand. All I had were the bits of information I gathered from reading blogs and watching YouTube vlogs from people who had been there, and an eagerness to experience the deepest aspects of culture in Northern Vietnam.
Traveling to the Unknown
At Lung Cu Flagpoint: A Vietnamese officer taking a photo of the flag and a local tourist smoking a cigarette while holding a mobile phone.
My way of traveling is to dive into the deep culture of a place and engage with the locals, without worrying about being uncomfortable. I like to go beyond the superficial layer of the country and the popular opinions about it.
It gives me a sense of being educated about things outside my comfort zone and cultures that are completely different from what I grew up with.
Public Markets
Going to public markets, you can see how people from different families, religions, and tribes in a community interact with each other and observe the variety of products they produce and consume, including foods and raw materials.
In Meo Vac, I had the chance to visit their public market. It felt like being in a place where people from different cultures gather to exchange products and make a living.
I saw different kinds of products that I had never seen before, and I also experienced eating the food that everyone there was eating.
Family Orientation
I've learnt that family if a very important Vietnamese culture. Vietnamese families typically have strong bonds and place a lot of emphasis on respect for elders, filial piety, and the well-being of the family unit.
They work hard and diligently to provide for their families and contribute to their well-being.
Tribes
In Sa Pa, I engaged with the Black Hmong tribe. Tribes in any country are deeply rooted in their ancient cultures and strive to protect and preserve them. In this era of technological advancement, it's a challenge for the tribes in Vietnam to preserve their culture while preparing their children for the modern world.
Religion
Religions in Vietnam are closely tied to its history. While Buddhism is widely practiced in Vietnam, it's important to note that Buddhism was an influence acquired from China.
Landscapes
Vietnam boasts a diverse and stunning landscape. I particularly explored a part of Vietnam that is surrounded by mountains simply because I love such environments, and to witness their beautiful rice terraces.
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