I have been around the world, and there is no place like the far north of Vietnam.
Deep in the valleys lined by green rice terraces, and high in the mountains in the clouds, life is real. Life is raw, it’s colorful, it’s peaceful in the villages where the silence is only broken by the breeze and the bells on the herds of water buffalo passing by.
No matter the province, or whether you find yourself in a village, or stopped at a random guesthouse miles out from any others, every single person that you meet in this corner of the world will go out of their way to be incredibly generous.
During both of my visits, I was constantly met with the kindest hospitality. Being invited into homes, fed amazing meals, and shown places that I would’ve never found on my own during my time in Vietnam are some of the greatest memories of my life. The majority of the families that have showed me that kindness belong to the over 30 different ethnic groups around the north— with a great amount of those families being apart of the Hmong group.
As you drive along the winding mountain roads from village to village, you can feel the contrasts between each ethnic group, though some feel so similar to each other. Various languages, clothing, homes and traditions all mixed together in one of the most beautiful places on earth. There is little that comes to mind that compares.
One of the greatest gifts that I have been given in this life is the experience of seeing this way of life, and how traditions meet living in the modern day. I will hold these memories and lessons forever.
Madigan Murphy 