What I will miss

Today I am leaving Vietnam.

What I will miss

• The sound of the waves which I can sometimes hear in my house, late at night when silence reclaims the city
• The security which allows me to walk and cycle late at night
• The proximity of the sea
• The cosiness of coffeeshops
• The impressive flavours of streetfood
• The smell of the blossoms in the greem valleys of the central highlands
• The colours of tet
• The sizzling sound of the banh xeo batter in a hot frying pan
• The wind playing through the wooden pagoda shutters on a hot day
• The taste of the abundance of tropical fruit
• The access and easiness of travelling in this beautiful country
• The temperature that allows me to swim almost the whole year
• The breeze making music in my wind chime
• The fluorescent green of the rice paddies
• The cheap and fast internet
• The finding-nemo-fish playing hide and seek in the waving soft corals
• The pristine beauty of the north
• The subtle flavours in a bowl of pho
• The fresh coconut on a thirsty day
• The texture of mi quang
• The abundant growth of the jungle
• The kitsch neon decoration, that somehow creates an attractive skyline
• The resilience of Vietnamese people
• That all is always getting sorted out, even if it seems impossible
• The magic of early morning exercise in public spaces
• The little plastic chairs that can turn any place into a celebration of food and drinks
• The pleasant crowd of the evening, when Vietnamese convert from di lam to di choi
• The view I have when cycling over Tien Son Bridge: the veils of clouds, the mountains, the silver river
• The giggling and chatting in the office kitchen during lunch time
• The smile of the people I work with, always bridging my language barrier
• My colleagues and friends, funny and warm, curious and challenging, critical, committed and eager

Suggested read: What I will not miss