love at first sight

After a long day of traveling, I was exhausted, hungry, and desperate for a shower. But after checking into the hostel, dropping my backpack in the room, and taking a breath, I had only one thing on my mind: food. My final mission of the day.

I’ll never forget walking through the neighbourhood for the first time.

The long, wide streets were blanketed by trees, as if shielding the locals from the harsh summer sun. Sidewalks were scattered with coloured plastic chairs and tables like polka dots on stone. Locals and tourists alike huddled together over large, steaming bowls of phở and sweating bottles of cold beer. From nearby Beer Street, music echoed — pop remixes made to lure in the next wave of partygoers.

I sat at the best-looking spot I could find, knees folded awkwardly onto a tiny chair. Within minutes, I had a beer in one hand and a bowl of soup in front of me.

I couldn’t have been happier.

The phở was light but packed with Flavor. Fresh herbs floated through the beef broth while slices of meat tangled with rice noodles, each one fighting for a dance with my chopsticks. We were all sweating together, slurping noodles like our lives depended on it. And in that moment, it didn’t matter where you were from — Vietnamese or foreign — food was our unifier.