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Hoàn Kiếm, Ha Noi
Vietnam 2015
ULOG Series #005

"Never have I once thought that I'd be spending more than a month in a foreign country like you. But you have become my home away from home. You have welcomed me with so much warmth and comfort yet I can sense your subtle hostility. You have mystified me in so many different ways, humbled me, challenged me. Oh VIETNAM, no wonder my father speaks fondly of you. I will never give up, I will unravel your mystery. "

These were my very words when I first set foot in a country I have never even dreamt of visiting. However, with my flaming urge to wander this beautiful world, I found myself responding to an invitation of a Philippine friend who at that time was working as an ESL teacher in Vietnam.

The cyclo. I rode one and was charged 500,000.00 VND - LOL

Prior to the trip, I did an extensive research and also considered accounts of travel bloggers and vloggers alike. Hanoi can be very overwhelming at first, as they say - make or break, hit or miss! As the trip was approaching, I started reading horrible things about Vietnam, especially the Northern parts. Other travel bloggers were either in love with the country (That Backpacker, Legal Nomads), or listing it as definitely not their favorite destinations (Nomadic Matt, Chasing the Unknown, Alex in Wanderland). According to Anna of Anna Everywhere, she won't be visiting Hanoi, ever again.

Cộng Cà Phê, 101 Vạn Phúc, Liễu Giai, Ba Đình, Hà Nội

Truth behold, my first impression wasn't all that positive, in fact, I became depressed as the days went by. The rocks of reality hit me hard, I was in a foreign country and I had to somehow deal with the culture shock and language barrier. For a while there, I thought it would just be a walk in the park because I am just another Asian in another Asian country. After a 2-month love and hate relationship with Vietnam, I decided to give it another try. But first, I had to go back home to the Philippines and contemplate.

So Why Did I Come Back To Vietnam?

Winter, Hoàn Kiếm Lake

While there is much criticism on this place, still I have had an overall fantastic 2 month-experience nonetheless. Plus, I wanted to experience life in a way most people never will. I know Vietnam's got a lot to offer, so I made a list.

• Awesomely breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• Delectable, mouthwatering & affordable Vietnamese food
• Fresh herbs, lots and lots of herbs at dirt cheap price
• Beautiful city parks
• Fashion and art
• Fairly fast Internet connection, reasonably priced data packages too

But what really piqued my interest and pushed me to move in this remarkably good of a country - COFFEE & PEOPLE. Don't get me started on coffee, just like what I have said on my previous blogs, I smell caffeine, I breathe caffeine! If ever I’d get sick and be confined, I’d tell the nurse to let caffeine run into my intravenous veins. Vietnam is just definitely coffee heaven.

All through the country, one can find modern and traditional quaint cafes serving strongly brewed coffee at rock bottom prices. From a coffee lover to another I highly recommend the following:

• cà phê đá - Vietnamese iced coffee
• cà phê sữa đá - strong dark coffee + condensed sweetened milk + ice
• bạc xỉu - condensed sweetened milk + ice + lit bit of coffee
• cà phê trứng - egg yolks+ sugar + condensed milk + robusta coffee
• sữa chua cà phê - yogurt + a splash of condensed milk + strong Vietnamese coffee + ice

And my all time favourite (drum roll please) - cà phê cốt dừa, rich coffee with condensed milk and coconut milk and ice.

My first cà phê cốt dừa

If you are interested in getting that one of a kind, amazing caffeine jolt, visit Vietnam to get your fix. FYI unlike any other, Vietnam is the second largest producers of coffee in the world! Need I say more?

Moving on, the very reason I stayed in this wonderful country up to this very moment is, its people. I know for a fact that this country that has hosted me for 3 years now (well 3 years this 16th of June) has a very low return rate. Vietnam can be a very challenging country to travel, yet if you take time to really appreciate it, this country will love you back tenfolds! I am lavish in my praises, YES! I have met a lot of amazing humans in this country and I admire them all for their TENACITY, RESILIENCE, and CAMARADERIE.

Dear Steemians, I hope these photos were visually entertaining to you all. In closing, “If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh

This is my photo entry for @juliank’s and @photocontests’ #smartphonephotography challenge.