My name is Marton, 22 years old and from Holland. Last year, I came to Hanoi for the first time to volunteer for 10 weeks with an NGO. It was my first time in Asia, first time travelling alone and first time away from Holland for more than 2 weeks. This experience had a great impact on my life which I never saw coming. Now, I am back in Hanoi for an internship of 5 months at another NGO.
In Hanoi, I discovered a different way of living, thinking, working and everything else that could be different. Above all, the people made the greatest impact on me. The Vietnamese people on the streets and at work made me feel right at home and their kindness was beyond words. I have met many wonderful people that I still keep in touch with and just the way Vietnamese people are concerned with others keeps inspiring me. Whereas the culture in Holland is more self-centered, Vietnamese people tend to look at the people around them first. Experiencing this was eye-opening for me.

About the food. Hanoi (and Vietnam in general) has an amazing cuisine in my opinion. Not just the food itself, but also the way people enjoy the food. I love going out in the morning to eat a classic Banh Mi (Vietnamese baguette) with the locals, on the side of the road on low chairs. Then, try some bún chả for lunch (a stunning dish with grilled pork and noodle). And how about finishing the day with a delicious xôi xíu (sticky rice) dinner? Honestly, there are too many delicious foods around in Hanoi to taste. So try as much of them as you can! Especially when you see many locals sitting somewhere, it’s gotta be good.

Having lunch or dinner is also much more of a social event in Vietnam. People really take their time to enjoy the food, talk about their day and share anything. I really enjoy this way of people coming together!

Besides the people and food, there are many wonderful places and locations to visit in Hanoi and Vietnam. Temples, parks, mountains, islands, beaches, caves and much more. I have been in Hanoi, Ba Vi, Sapa, Ninh Binh and Halong bay, but there is still a lot for me to explore!

Of course, I could go on and on about my experiences, but nothing beats experience itself. Come and explore what Hanoi and Vietnam have to offer for yourself! I am having an incredible time here and I hope you will do so too.
Let me know if you have any questions and I am happy to help you!

Hẹn gặp lại!

The post Marton’s Vietnam travel story appeared first on Maze Vietnam.