Earlier this month, the world lost one of its most beloved adventurers, Anthony Bourdain. Bourdain’s passion for the food, people, and places that keep the world wondering was apparent in all his shows. Perhaps one of the most striking episodes of Parts Unknown was when he visited Vietnam. Past US President Obama’s cameo was one of the highlights, not only for his celebrity but for his anecdotes about the United States and Vietnam’s history together. But celebrity aside, the reason this show was particularly striking was that Anthony Bourdain truly loved Vietnam. For the food, the culture, the resilience, and so many things that the deeply thoughtful chef-turned-writer probably never told his television audiences. Of the country, he says, “It grabs you and doesn’t let you go. Once you love it, you love it forever.”
For most, travels start off in Hanoi, the country’s capital. Here, despite the war that raged from 1955 to 1975, multiple cultures evade the traditional foods, dress, and architecture of the country. French colonialism’s ghost is evident in the architecture, though the traditional rickshaw rides, street vendors, and foods that make Vietnamese culture so unique have become the main features of the city. Hanoi is huge, hosting nearly 7.58 million people. But on the outskirts of the city, villages seem distinct from the modern and Western influences of Hanoi. Pagodas, temples, rice paddies, and traditional markets speckle the Duong river. Nearby Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers visitors a chance to see unique land formations, many of which are uninhabited and untouched by humans. Being next to the sea also allows you a taste of locally prepared seafood dishes.
Hanoi is just one part of Vietnam and taking a trip to the city Hue is like visiting a completely different time and place. Hue was once the capital city of Vietnam and shows the reign of the Nguyen dynasty and the culturally rich history of Vietnam through its incredible architecture. This is in part due to the city’s policy against missionaries, which helped stave off the influence of the French on at least part of the country. The population of Hue is much less, averaging at a little over 350,000 residents, so the surrounding natural areas are quiet, isolated, and reflective.
“It grabs you and doesn’t let you go. Once you love it, you love it forever.”
Cultural artifacts are abundant in the region. Aside from the impressive mix of architecture, Hue hosts the imperial citadel, and surrounding villages hold graves, tombs, and other historical markers that give insights to the region. Combined with the beauty of the Perfume river, even just a walk is enough to encapsulate the beauty of the region. For those who are really after a spiritual spot, ending in My Son will leave you in a reign of temples dedicated to Shiva, only 25 of which survived the many bombings by China and the United States.
The people of the area want you to taste their food, to visit the sites that the world has forgotten, and to learn about them. Do this on your own, or do it with the help of a tour of the region, but make sure to take time for the beauty of this region of the world. Now is the time for the rest of the to fall in love with Vietnam for what it is and always has been and listen to its story with open ears.