Vietnam was my first ever international trip, back in February 2016. Inspired by Anthony Bourdain’s love of the country’s food and people, I took two weeks to travel solo from Ho Chi Minh City in the south up to Hanoi and Sapa in the north. I vividly remember the instant I stepped foot out of the airport and felt overwhelmed with conflicting senses of unbridled excitement and fear of the unknown. It took me a few days to adjust to the sensory overload of new sights, sounds, and smells, but I quickly fell in love with the place as well. Each morning would begin with a trip to a local bahn mi cart, the baguette still warm from the oven, and each night would end with some cheap street meat skewers on the walk back to my hotel. Throughout the day, I’d meander around the cities, popping into the countless cafes for a quick iced coffee, a cold beer, or a bowl of pho bo. Public transport was an adventure, as I made my way north on an overnight sleeper train, as well as a budget flight that I almost passed out on due to food poisoning. In Sapa, I joined a group for a three day trek, which included home stays with local residents. It was an eye-opening experience, walking through villages nestled into valleys, surrounded by steep, terraced rice paddies on all sides. Along the way, we were joined by women from a local Hmong community, who aided us along the slick, muddy trails, gracefully flitting from person to person to lend a stabilizing hand when we were about to fall. More impressive than their nimble feet was their ability to all speak three or more languages, without ever having had a formal education. These ladies were amazing!

Vietnam was my “gateway drug” to international travel, fueling my desire to see as much of the world as I can. It will always hold a special place in my heart and hope I can make it back some day to see more of what it has to offer.