Chewy Bun Bo Hue and IVF treatment plan in Vietnam

Sat, Jan 07, 2022

​It’d been a while since we’d last been to a Vietnamese restaurant, so I was excited to go last weekend. However, upon entering the restaurant named in Vietnamese, I noticed that the decoration was not traditional Vietnamese. The tall statues at the entrance and the burgundy tablecloths gave the impression that​ the​ restaurant’s décor was Thai-inspired. The waitresses were also not Vietnamese. Upon looking at the menu, I realized that the restaurant serves not only Vietnamese dishes from Vietnam but also foods from Laos and Thailand.

We ordered spring rolls and crispy wonton as appetizers. For the entrees, I had a special bowl of Pho, a national dish made with spiced beef broth, thin slices of beef, and herbs, and S had Bun Bo Hue, a spicy noodle soup specialty originated from the ancient royal city of Hue. While Bun Bo Hue’s broth tasted good, the meat was so tough and rubbery that S was unable to eat. It was even tough for me though my Vietnamese mouth is familiar with chewy food. I had to cut the meat into small pieces to be able to chew it. 

It’s hard to find a traditional atmosphere at Vietnamese restaurants in our area, but we’ll try a different one next time, and see if we get lucky

My home-made Pho:

Wed, Jan 11, 2022

​My period is coming if it follows the calendar. But the waiting is exhausting. I half hope for a miracle but remind myself to be practical. Life is never easy and 2023 will be a stressful and challenging year for me.

​S has never agreed with my idea to have IVF treatment in VN. One of his reasons is concern that medical practices might not be as strict as they are in the US. This could cause mistakes, affecting the baby’s health. However, I think the real reason for his disagreement is that he simply doesn’t want me to be away from home for too long. Medical practices shouldn’t be his concern as I believe in the expertise of Vietnamese IVF doctors. Also, with my experiences in doing IVF in the US, I am confident I’ll be able to oversee the treatment process there on my own. 

I had intended to have a heart-to-heart talk with him about this, not long after the New Year’s celebration. But the thought of having this talk was enough to make me overwhelmed as I have never been good at persuading people to agree with me, especially on ideas mainly based on emotions and personalities. I knew I had to be patient, waiting for the appropriate time but it was hard to shake the heavy feeling in my heart whenever that thought came across my mind. At times, when the stress became too much, especially during the time before my period, I couldn’t resist telling him I am going to VN no matter what.

One day, while on the phone with him, I brought my plan up again and surprisingly, he asked, “Will my two-week stay in VN be long enough for the treatment?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. He was on board with my plan without a big talk between us. At that moment, I felt a great sense of relief and gratitude. S has always been with me as a supportive and protective knight, caring for me in my most difficult times. He may not always agree with my ideas or thoughts but he will ultimately support what I want to do. Despite differences between us, his commitment to taking care of me and our marriage through tough times has never wavered.