My daily Vietnam
- From eyes of a Japanese “3-year traveller”
Contributed by Mr Shunsuke Mitani, Administration & Planning Dept, SCVN
There was a great scholar in Japanese literature, Professor Donald Keene, a pure US born American who has spent nearly half of his life in Japan and have been greatly influential in the establishment of Japanese studies overseas. Living until the last day in his own home in Tokyo, Donald Keene – an “American in the heart of Japan” had delivered the country he was passionate about to readers through over 50 books, comprising studies of Japanese literature and culture as well as translations of classical and modern works, half of which he also wrote in Japanese. I guess this man knew Japan even more than a Japanese native speaker like myself.
Well, I am totally not into literature like Donald Keene but some how I could comprehend the same feeling with this great scholar when I started making friend with Vietnam since I was assigned to SC Vietnam in June 2018, as a trainee, and then as an expat.
So new, so original.
Allow me to use the title of a Donald Keene’s non-fiction work, “Travellers of A Hundred Ages – The Japanese as Revealed Through 1,000 Years of Diaries” to introduce to you, my daily Vietnam, as parts of a personal diary by a “3-year traveller” in this S-shaped country.
Currency
The first thing in preparation! Money is essential as usual and yet quite confusing to any traveller at first. The numbers on each individual note is so large (too many zeros) in comparison to Yen – Japanese currency. While I was still trying to figure out what is printed on the currency notes, I was led to one of a must-see location and must-know person in Vietnam. This was quite an interesting experience for such a rookie foreigner like me.
Printed on Vietnamese currency: Ha Long Bay and Former Prime Minister of Vietnam Mr Ho Chi Minh
Street food
It seems that Vietnamese are fond of street food immensely. There are many street food zones in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city – central cities in Vietnam. Many people sell street food and daily meals for a living. And all my Vietnamese acquaintances said they would rather eat Vietnamese food at home or at authentic street food stalls than at those expensive restaurants. I think it would be different if you visit Japan, where people usually go to sushi restaurants or ramen shops. For Vietnamese, having street food or street beer out on the street is one of the most relaxing activities to do with friends and families.
And that is why street food style was, of course chosen for my welcome party. People get to know each other just by having some beer.
Hanoi Friday night @ Ta Hien Street, having street food with my new “drunken” colleagues in Sep 2018
Ta Hien Street Beer Corner in Hanoi, Vietnam
Friends and Colleagues
They are with me everyday.
A marathon sponsored by some Japanese enterprises was held for the first time in Hanoi on 18 November 2018. This was also the first time I wrote an article about it under Potpourri topic – “Staying Healthy at Work” for Horizon December 2018 Issue.
Kizuna Ekiden 絆駅伝 (Marathon)
During 2019 SCVN Year-End-Party on 20 December, while we were changing into Vietnamese traditional clothing, suddenly someone caught us on a camera. Although we did not look in our best shapes but our facial expression told the opposite.
With my funny comrade in Vietnamese traditional costume
I sometimes play soccer with other male colleagues but they are too shy to let me have some photos with them. I may try to convince them the next time.
Travelling
Vietnam is a home to many stunning scenery and endless natural wonders to admire. It is known for its diverse cultures, rich heritage and inexpensive tourism services and many other good points to make it a favourite destination for nature-lovers.
The following is a small collection of my travel around Vietnam.
Somewhere in Ninh Binh Province, 90km from Hanoi to the South on 30 June 2018. The location was used as the filming location for a Hollywood movie named “King Kong”
True nature wonder in Phong Nha Ke Bang
SCVN company trip on 6 July 2019
The most memorable trip to me was a recent one in June 2020. It was a 14-day isolation “trip” in a hotel at Ha Long Bay, under government safe measures against COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, I had to spend my special day alone with a big cake prepared by hotel…
But at least the view from my room was enough to heal me.
End to my little exploration in Vietnam. There are still abundant of wonders out there to discover. But hope this would not be an end to my unforgettable journey in Vietnam.