When asked to write about a memorable cultural experience, the first memory that came to my mind was my family holiday to Vietnam in 2017. We were fortunate enough to travel nationwide, taking a total of 7 flights to reach far-away cities. Having the chance to visit not just 1, but 7 cities in Vietnam, gave me an excellent insight into Vietnamese culture.

Our journey began with flights into Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. For me, Hanoi was one of the most memorable cities we visited. Perhaps this is because it was the first stop on our trip, and when you’re thrown into a new culture for the first time, you don’t easily forget it! In my opinion, the best way to describe Hanoi is ‘buzzing’. The city is filled with tightly packed apartment buildings, colourful markets, and, most notably, motorists. Therefore, when you come across a building that is located in its own bubble of greenery and tranquillity, you stop and notice. The buildings that stood alone were often presidential or governmental, but it was the temples and their gardens that truly fascinated me—particularly Ngoc Son Temple. This sacred temple stood out in the best way possible. With a bright red bridge (the Huc Bridge) leading to the entrance, it was hard not to be drawn into the beauty of the temple. Its meticulous and thought-out design was truly magical. This was just one of the many temples and sacred spaces in Hanoi. I believe that visiting these places is one of the best ways to immerse oneself in different cultures.

Our second stop was Halong Bay. If anyone has already visited the bay, they will understand what I mean when I say it is one of the most magical places on Earth. Waking up to a view of traditional boats dotting the towering islets is a sight no one can ever forget. While visiting the bay, my family had the opportunity to explore one of the local caves. As we travelled to the cave by boat, we passed a small, floating village. If I were to search for a new cultural experience, I would definitely choose this one. European cultures don’t differ too greatly from one another. Here, I saw a new way of life—something entirely different from the way of life in the West. The children in the floating village had an entirely different upbringing from mine. This is not to say that one is better or worse than the other…just different. In all honesty, it was incredible. Of course, I only caught a glimpse into their world, but if I had been given the chance to learn more about their way of life, I would have taken it.

If I could write about each city, I would, but I have a specific word allowance…so, I’ll write about just one more stop: Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon). This was our final destination before heading back to the UK, but boy was it a good one to put an end to our vacation. Saigon is modern Vietnam. While all our other stops in Vietnam had been to explore the traditional and historic cities, Saigon was perhaps a glimpse into the country’s future. We were suddenly surrounded by skyscrapers and well-known, often Western, shops. That being said, the more traditional element of Vietnamese cities wasn’t absent in Ho Chi Minh. It was here that we took a moped tour to different food spots in the city, trying and tasting traditional Vietnamese cuisine—very tasty, but I won’t be going back for the fried frog’s legs anytime soon!

I loved getting to know a radically different culture and would urge anyone who has the chance to do the same. I hope to go back and explore more of Asia once I’ve finished my degree!

Charlotte Maxwell