In the previous post, I stated that having a proper American English oral posture will change your voice immediately, making it sound much more natural and reducing the influence of your native language accent when you speak English. Continuing the series “Unlock your American English Voice”, this post is going to focus on how to form a stable vocal tract by covering three critical components: the tongue position, throat openness and effective breath control. Understanding and mastering these elements can significantly enhance vocal stability and quality.
First, the tongue should be neutral and stand tall inside the mouth without strainingthe root. The relaxation of the tongue’s root is extremely important.Maintaining a tall tongue position without straining the root helps stabilize the oral posture. This standard position should be maintained throughout speaking with necessary adjustments for various phonetic units. Always balance between the height of the tongue and the relaxation of its root. If the tongue is tall but the root is tense, it will hinder the tongue’s movement. Breathing in or slightly moving the lips forward will help naturally raise the tongue.
The second main point is the throat openness. The throat should be open at all times while speaking. Think of the open throat as a gas tank, it contains breath needed for sound production. A “flat” or blocked throat means there’s no breath release, resulting in no sound. Achieving this openness shouldn’t involve excessive use of throat, neck, or surrounding muscles, as this will make the throat hard and rigid. Instead, the throat should be opened by inhaling. The practice should be smooth, gentle, natural, and effortless. The deeper the breath, the more open the throat becomes. However, please note that our goal is to open the throat, and inhaling is a way to achieve that goal. Therefore, do not force yourself to breathe in so deeply that causes the stiffness of your abdomen area and throat. The process of breathing in and out should be constant and flowy.
The third one is breath control. Having enough air is crucial to make sure it’s always available while speaking. However, how to release it properly between sentences is key to maintain a flowy, consistent voice. This breath control is closely related to the vibration of the vocal folds. The vocal folds are two muscular bands, located in the larynx in the throat. When you inhale, the vocal folds open, and then come closer vibrating upon exhalation. The focal folds function like the gate to decide how much air can come through. When the vocal folds aren’t tight enough, too much air will be released, resulting in a hollow, weak and breathy voice. In contrast, when they are too tight, only a very tiny string of air comes through, which causes overuse of surrounding muscles to be able to produce sound clearly. As a result, this will make your voice harsh, rigid and unnatural. Generally, in normal speaking, effective breath control involves using a very small amount of breath to vibrate the vocal folds and slightly tightening them to produce a strong and consistent voice.
Maintaining the standard tongue position, open throat, and breath control are essential to create a stable physical speaking environment in the vocal tract. Holding a drinking straw or a pencil between the teeth while speaking is a great exercise that helps stabilize the overall vocal tract.
In conclusion, achieving a fluent and consistent speech requires maintaining a stable physical speaking environment. This involves positioning the tongue neutrally and upwards, keeping the throat open, and effectively controlling breath. Mastering these principles can be challenging initially, but it’s a common experience when starting something new. Keep patience, regular practice, and attentive awareness of how your articulators, breath, and voice function during speech to make necessary adjustments, you will achieve your goal in speaking English naturally.
In American English, it’s important for your speech to be both smooth and clear. If you either overdo or underdo your enunciation, your voice will loose its smoothness or clarity. Even after balancing these aspects, maintaining a stable voice can be challenging. Having a proper oral posture plays a big role in acquiring characteristics of American English.
Think about a saxophone; it is a wind instrument similar to a flute, a trumpet, or a clarinet. However, one of the things makes its sound distinguished is its unique shape. Similarly, your oral posture will determine how close your English sounds to American English. Please note that sounding American is not the purpose of this writing; rather, the ultimate goal is to speak English naturally and effortlessly. However, I strongly believe that once adopting a proper oral posture, your voice will immediately change, becoming much less influenced by your native language accent.
The proper oral posture I’m mentioning here is not for each individual sound. It is the overall mouth shape that you should consistently maintain throughout speech. While it needs to adjust to accommodate different sounds, it should always return to its overall form between transition of sounds, even the smallest unit. A proper oral posture significantly helps your enunciation sound natural, smooth and clear in a stable way.
Here are three steps to form an overall mouth shape for speaking American English.
First, inhale deeply and slowly through your nose. Avoid being aggressive and straining the muscles of your throat, lips or mouth. This technique is called diaphragmatic breathing (or belly breathing, or abdominal breathing). When you breathe in, your diaphragm, a muscle in your belly, contracts and moves downward, causing an expansion to your stomach. Diaphragmatic breathing is the foundation of your voice. With more air in your lungs, it creates a well-supported, stable, consistent and energetic voice.
Second, hold the breath, gently move your tongue forward and upward by slightly moving your lips forward. Position the upper body of the tongue between the upper molars, with the tip of the tongue behind the bottom teeth. This is a standard tongue position that you should maintain throughout speech after any adjustment. Since the tongue moves a lot, ensure it has plenty of freedom and flexibility. Stay away from any pressure or strain on your tongue, especially its root. If you feel discomfort or notice the tongue pulling back, lifting too much, or moving too far forward, adjust its position.
Third, open your mouth by dropping your jaw slightly without changing the positions of the tongue and the lips. Americans typically don’t open their mouths wide or move them excessively when they speak. No matter how much the lower jaw drops, never slide the temporomandibular joints (TMJ), or the hinge joints beyond the normal range of motion for speaking. To find the right amount of jaw movement, place your fingers on the hinge joints, located in front of the ears, and gently move your jaw as if chewing without opening your mouth. The space between the upper and lower molars created by this movement is the standard degree of mouth openness.
Although these 3 steps are described separately, in practice, they occur rapidly and almost simultaneously.
In summary, achieving natural American English speech hinges on adopting a proper oral posture. This involves inhaling deeply, positioning your tongue forward and upward, and gently lowering your jaw. Believe me, once the overall mouth shape is formed, your voice will experience an immediate transformation, sounding more natural with an instant reduction in the influence of your native language accent.
In the morning, I attended two online classes back-to-back; staying focused for 3 hours straight with just a few minutes of break was challenging. Then, I had a simple breakfast of leftover fried rice made by my mom before taking meds. Was pretty unproductive after that.
In the afternoon, I booked a Grab motorbike to go to the hospital for acupuncture. The gloomy weather made me feel hesitant at first to go out, but still managed the trip. Booked another Grab ride to return home, enjoying some awesome discounts on my trip through the app.
For dinner, we enjoyed a special dish prepared by my dad, who takes great pride in his cooking skills, especially when it comes to traditional Vietnamese cuisine. His specialty tonight is called “Giả cầy”, a kind of stewed pork. The main ingredient is pork, preferably from parts like the feet, legs, or shoulders, which have a good amount of fat alongside lean meat. The fat from these cuts doesn’t taste greasy. The pork is marinated with various minced herbs, including a unique one with a distinct flavor, called galangal root. Additionally, the dish features a sour element called “mẻ”, a fermented product of cooked rice, providing a pleasant acidic flavor. Another key flavor comes from “mắm tôm”, or fermented fish paste. The combination of these three main stuff gives the dish its distinctiveness and makes it stand out from other stewed pork dishes. Oh, I almost forgot to mention that the pork skin is fire- roasted before stew. Traditionally and, still in rural areas, it is roasted with rice straw, giving it a smoky aroma. However, in cities, I guess people use a liquefied gas torch, which still guarantees the dish is cooked to perfection.
We typically pair this dish with a special herb called “lá mơ” (cheese leaves or skunk vine leaves), creating a wonderful mix of flavors. Today, we ate “Giả cầy” with rice noodles instead of rice. My whole family loved the meal and raved about how delicious it was.
After dinner, I went for a walk and encountered a group of preschool kids playing together. They greeted me, and when one little girl addressed me as “bác!”, it hit me: “Uhm..I already look old.” In Vietnam, we rely on age to address each other in social relationships. A female can call herself or be called either “em”, “chị”, “cô”, “bác”, or “bà” in various situations. If she is called “bác”, it means she is only younger than “bà”, but older than the rest. While using age-related terms shows respect, it can accidentally draw attention to age, especially for older women. In contrast, simply using “I” and “You” in communication in the US greatly helps avoid emphasizing age. One reason I still see myself as young there as the majority of people in my neighborhood and my social circles are older. My best American friends are seniors. But most importantly, in American culture, people don’t experience social pressure growing old.
P/S: In friendships, if someone is called “Bà”, it doesn’t mean she is very old; it’s simply a friendly form of address.
My productivity is a bit better than yesterday. In the morning, I attended an online Math class, which was interesting. Then, spent some time searching for information about my upcoming procedure – ovarian PRP (platelet rich plasma) injections. This technique is aimed at hopefully improving overall ovarian health, specifically the quality and quantity of eggs. Given my age and several IVF failures, it’s becoming obvious that I have bad eggs. This truth is so devastating. When I first started this journey, everything seemed so promising and I was so naive to believe that. However, the deeper I go into this journey, the more I realize how perilous it can be like a monster pulling its “victims” into the abyss of fear and distress.
In the afternoon, I went to get acupuncture as usual. I’ve been completing 28 sessions so far. The acupuncturist advised me to continue sessions weekdays. I also receive red light therapy. The treatments are reasonable. However, the Grab taxi expenses add up to the total cost since I don’t want to deal with chaotic traffic in VN for a long transportation. I’d rather spend money to save my peace.
Afterward, I headed home, took pills, and then went for a walk in the park near my parents’ house. Taking walks allow me to reflect deeply on various aspects of my life, including my strengths, weaknesses, and current situations. It uplifts my spirits and brings peace.
Later in the day, I watched a science lecture video. There are many more videos on my watchlist; hopefully I’ll be more productive tomorrow. I couldn’t focus during the lecture because of mosquito bites, which were really annoying. It feels like I am their only target everyday. I always have to keep some cream nearby to soothe the itchiness and stop myself from scratching the bite spots.
I also shared a photo of Tiết canh (raw blood soup) with MK, intending to “scare” her. Surprisingly, she replied enthusiastically, “yum!” Actually, blood soup is a popular dish in Vietnam, made from the blood of goats or ducks. Pig blood soup is very common too but we don’t eat it as it can be deadly due to potential contamination with S.suis. I personally enjoy this specialty a lot. It’s a mixture of ground meat and finely chopped cartilage covered in blood. Not sure of all the ingredients used, but it’s really delicious, with the addition of herbs and peanuts, providing a crunchy texture and flavorful taste.
That’s all for today. It’s bedtime now.
P/S: Sometimes, I just want to throw my phone away.
No shower, no face wash, not even brushing my teeth since I rolled out of bed. Spent all morning glued to my phone screen, trying to dig up info to deal with the anxiety and fear on my IVF journey. How ashamed! Should’ve been doing something productive to lift my spirits, but ended up procrastinating instead. Can’t seem to find energy, motivation, or positivity to keep pushing myself forward. This journey’s been a real drain—emotionally and physically. I’m on the verge of throwing in the towel, but deep down, I know this time is my last chance considering my age. Even though the odds are extremely slim, I’m still hanging in there. Still giving it my all, even though I can feel the toll it’s taking on my body and mind. Set a limit for myself—two more cycles, but right now, it feels like I’m just dragging myself through each day, counting down to the end. I’m doing it without much hope, just trying to avoid future regrets. Feels like it’s sucking the life out of me…
I’m feeling lost, I’m losing the purpose in life. Everything I’ve tried, everything I’m about to do, they just don’t seem to hold any meaning any more. I haven’t given up yet but I know I can’t keep going like this much longer. I’m terribly worn out. My life, my strength, determination, emotions, and hope have all been devastatingly crushed.
I feel powerless in everything…
No idea what’s waiting for me back in the States once this journey’s over. Don’t know if things will stay the same or take a turn for the worse. Probably worse.
Last week has been the worst I’ve ever experienced in my life. I felt utterly powerless and drained; overwhelmed by intense fear and distress about what lies ahead. I finally cried. Oh, I just felt so great when tears flowed freely, flushing away the heavy currents of pent-up emotions. In tears, I thought about my mom, family and friends and felt profoundly thankful for having them with me, giving me generous support, strength, encouragement and wisdom. However, deep down, I was ashamed as I realized I have never been as strong as I thought I had become. I’m still the old version of myself from years ago, plagued by anxiety and vulnerability. I was fully aware that what will happen will happen. Sometimes the best course of action is to accept the situation and focus on what is within our control. And with time, wounds will heal. However, in reality, I did exactly the opposite. I became impatient and restless. I spent hours and hours searching for answers to the possible scenarios I might encounter. I was trapped in the dark hole of despair and fear. But as I said, I am so fortunate to have all the support I need. Right now, I’m with my mom, sharing the bed with her. She is the beacon of light, illuminating the darkness, guiding me peacefully through the turbulent nights.
While waiting for a doctor visit in the evening, we went to a store selling genuine leather products. This place is the flagship store owned by “Leather and Shoes Research Institute” on Hoang Hoa Tham Street.
The store, with two floors, showcases a variety of distinguished leather products – belts, wallets, handbags, shoes, sandals and more. The first floor has items for men, while the second floor features products for women. The materials are sourced from the skin of ostriches, crocodiles to cows, highlighting the craftsmanship behind each piece.
S browsed through wallets, intending to buy some as gifts. The staff showed him some models. Though he liked all of them, he preferred the ones with matte finishes, instead of glossy ones. We ended up buying eight wallets.
A manager came up to us and started a friendly conversation. She was very pleasant, sharing some insights about the products. She mentioned that the company has its own farms for materials and emphasized that all the products are crafted in Vietnam. There was a sense of pride in her voice, and she was really thankful for customers like us who genuinely appreciate the company’s creations. She even surprised us by wishing a Happy Thanksgiving. She said her daughter was currently studying in the US, which explains why she is aware of the event. It was also particularly thoughtful when she reminded the staff to choose nice boxes for our buys because she knew we bought them as gifts.
A small disappointment was that S couldn’t find sandals in hissize because the company doesn’t make them for larger sizes. They were soft, light, and appeared exceptionally comfortable. S wanted them so bad that he even joked about cutting his toes to fit into those.
Next, S looked for belts. Despite having other alternatives, he’s been loyal to the belt I bought him nine years ago, even as it shows signs of wear. This time, since he has a special interest in the company’s leather products, I encouraged him to get new belts, so he got two: one crafted from crocodile skin priced at around $120 and the other from cowhide for $18. With the two new belts, I still doubt if he is going to use them anytime soon, given his strong attachment to his current worn belt.
We left the store without checking the second floor, which houses female products. S encouraged me to get a new purse because he noticed the zipper on my current one isn’t working well. Oh well, I admit I’m like S in that if we like something, we don’t have an intention to change it for a long time. However, the difference between us is that I have more tolerance for small defects as long as something is still beautiful. Like my pretty purse, I just need to be a bit patient to make the zipper work well. But this won’t happen to S; convenience must be his top priority.
Content with our purchases, we left the store and continued walking, hoping to find a taxi. However, it was a mistake as getting a taxi during peak hours on this street wasn’t easy. It was incredibly crowded, jam-packed with vehicles; the sidewalk was filled with various items for sale, making us difficult to find a spot to wait. The noise and dust added the overall discomfort.
Eventually, we managed to secure a taxi, and the driver drove us to Quán An Ngon, a popular spot for both locals and tourists to experience Vietnamese cuisine.
Upon entering through the main gate, the enticing aroma of delicious food captivated me. The arrangement of stalls, resembling a traditional village market showcasing various food in the yard, around the restaurant drew me in. The peaceful and nostalgic atmosphere of such markets remains vivid in my memory, which made me feel automatically connected to the restaurant.
We ordered quite a bunch of food. We had spring rolls, eel soup, sautéed diced beef (Bò lúc lắc) with French fries, clams in tamarind and butter sauce and grilled shrimp. “Bò lúc lắc” is commonly known as “shaking beef” because “lúc lắc” means “shaking”, likely referring to the pan-frying method over flames, involving shaking the pan, making the beef cubes to shake. However, I find its other English name, “sauteed diced beef” more convincing. The word “lúc lắc” resembles the action and sound of shaking dice, and the beef is cut into cubes that look like dice.
For drinks, I ordered guava juice and S opted for salted lemonade. As they didn’t have a typical salted lemonade, they put salt and sugar aside for him to make it himself. I finished the meal with my favorite sweet soup as dessert. It was so delicious with coconut milk, jellies and water chestnut stuffed tapioca pearls. The drink service was a bit slow, and the staff brought us broccoli instead of chayote buds (Ngọn su su) due to his misunderstanding; however, the overall dining experience was still very delightful. The whole cost was reasonable, $46 for both.
The next day, I brought S to Aeon Mall, a Japanese-run shopping destination that many people favor. Since it was Black Friday, there were a lot of items on sale. We eyed suitcases as we had purchased quite a lot, and he was concerned that our current ones might not be big enough.
There were a bunch of plastic suitcases, but we preferred fabric ones. S said plastic holds onto odors longer while fabric absorbs smells better. I found fabric suitcases more appealing for its adjustable space. Another advantage was its lightweight nature. We came across one that caught our interest but I suggested checking out other stores before making a final decision. I didn’t want to miss out on better finds or deals. After a quick tour of suitcase exploration, we circled back to the first store and purchased that one. No discount, but we were both into it, and the black color perfectly matches our existing suitcases.
We left the suitcase there, as we didn’t want to drag it around to other shops, and to the third floor, where the food court was for lunch. On the way, I stopped by a massage chair and inserted around 70 cents for a quick 10 minute massage. So pleasant.
In the food court, we found a diverse selection of food from different local regions and countries. Hot pot seemed to be the most popular dish there. It’s intriguing that Americans aren’t a fan of hot pot because of “too much work”, heat and food sharing nature instead of individual portions. We spotted Alfredo, an Italian restaurant, my favorite and the allure of grilled meat from Korean restaurants appealed to us. But, we finally settled on Nét Huế, a Vietnamese restaurant, serving cuisine from the imperial city of Hue.
When I looked at the menu, I just wanted to order all of them because they all looked delicious. Honestly, Hue cuisine is my favorite due to its spiciness and rich flavors. We ordered grilled pork for S and “Cơm hến”, a bowl with a mix of rice, baby clams, herbs, and pickles for me. Additionally, we tried Ram. I think “Ram”, “Nem rán”, and “Chả giò” are all spring rolls, each known by different names depending on the region – “Ram” in the Central area, “Nem rán” in the North and “Chả giò” in the South.
The grilled pork was so good that S couldn’t stop eating it all though he should have saved room for dinner. My Dad would cook us special grilled pork using his secret recipe, reserved for special occasions. Knowing my Dad’s excitement to introduce this to his son-in-law, I had hoped S would have a light lunch, then he would enthusiastically eat my Dad’s food and make him happy. But that mission was too difficult for him. Not only did he eat a lot but also loaded up on sugary drinks. During the meal, he got one salted lemonade and two “Chanh tuyết” (snow lemonade smoothies). Then, he continued with two fresh bubble teas and one bottled bubble tea after leaving the restaurant. Oh, S, he was both satisfied but guilty at the same time.
Though S overindulged but I was happy I chose the right restaurant. Honestly, I rarely go wrong with my eating-out choices. However, S is the opposite. Whenever I let him decide where to eat, the experience is often just meh. It’s understandable since he’s not the type to pay attention to reviews or care much before selecting a restaurant.
The night before S left Vietnam, our family went to a restaurant for its buffet, called Maison Sen.
Since we went there during the Christmas season, the facade of the restaurant was adorned with numerous Christmas-themed decorations—red balls, silver leaves, and sparkling strings of warm white lights. It looked fancy, and my niece was in awe when she saw the place.
The buffet at this chain has never disappointed me; it was fantastic. Everything there was delightful. There were so many options that I couldn’t possibly try them all, so I had to prioritize. I have a liking for seafood, especially shellfish, sashimi, and sweet soup. Those were my main focus. I indulged in a lot of snails and clams, both steamed and grilled, and they were exquisite—juicy, fresh, and naturally sweet. The flavor was exceptional. As for sashimi, I enjoyed salmon as always but was truly impressed with another type of fish. I can’t recall its name, but what stood out was the very firm texture of the fish.
One of the big attractions for me each time I return to VN is savoring delicious and flavorful food while immersing myself in a carefree atmosphere. When we were in Aeon’s food court, S threw in a funny idea that he would make room in his belly by inducing vomit, so he could stay there all day and try all the food. We can’t find such a vibe and the abundance of fresh, authentic food in where we live.
S and I planned to visit the Old Quarter to look for gifts after dinner. My sister said there wasn’t much too see there on weekdays. She recommended going over the weekend when certain streets are blocked for pedestrians, with various activities like dancing, entertainment shows, and vendors selling toys, savory and sweet snacks and drinks, etc., However, I really didn’t care much about those attractions; I just wanted to experience daily life in the Old Quarter, though it’s already a famous tourist spot. I think any experience has its merits. And I believe I can always find beauty or fun in what I do or where I go.
We parked the car near Phung Hung street, a foodie hotspot. A lot of young locals hang out here. The whole sidewalk is filled with many plastic chairs and tables, and stalls showing off all kinds of foods, including seafood, grilled meat, and veggies. Along the street, it’s very often to see restaurant staff standing and inviting you to try their food. An unpleasant surprise was that I spotted a place selling dog meat, not just one, but a few displaying whole cooked dogs. To shield S from that sight, I covered his eyes with my hand and urged him to pass by quickly.
We turned onto Hang Luoc street where they sell a variety of decorative items. The Christmas is around the corner, so the whole street is full of Christmas-themed decorative items.
My sister took photos of us, but I hesitated, worried sellers might not be happy if we didn’t buy anything. Yet, my sister reassured me, saying we would be good as long as we kept moving without lingering in front of their shops. Plus, it wasn’t crowded, so the sellers would be more easy-going.
For an easy stroll, we simply kept moving straight ahead. Streets in the Old Quarter are very short, so it didn’t take us much time to reach Cha Ca street, then onto the next one, Hang Can.
The next street is all about toys. We found out they had piggy banks, placed on the sidewalk, at cheap prices. You know what, they looked 99% like the ones that we almost spent $45 each at a fancy store a few days ago. At that time, we really wanted to get those because they looked so adorable. But they didn’t have carved stamps, representing Bat Trang village, renowned for crafting ceramics, though the store was a representative of items from this village. Therefore, we held off buying them.
We kept going and then stopped by a small store, selling crafted goods on Luong Van Can Street. S went inside and was attracted immediately to the Vietnamese dolls, skillfully crafted by local artists. The dolls represent Vietnamese ethnic people. The prices for the two he liked were expensive, around $300 for both. After bargaining, we got a 10% discount. S was very happy to have found gifts for his nieces.
Then we turned onto Hang Hanh and Bao Khanh streets, intending to revisit a crafted stone shop, but unfortunately, it had been replaced with a different gift shop.
We strolled around Ho Guom, the Sword Lake, the heart of Hanoi. Then, we crossed the main street to enter Trang Tien street, where we stopped by Trang Tien ice cream shop, a local favorite and a must-visit destination for tourists.
Next, we decided to take a break at Aha Coffee, a near-by coffee shop, before heading home. I ordered “Cà phê phin”, Vietnamese traditional coffee, hoping they would bring out a small cup with a stainless filter on the top, reminiscent of how I used to enjoy it in the past. However, without much surprise, they brought a cup already filled with hot coffee and a thin layer of condensed milk at the bottom. I’ve noticed that the practice of serving coffee with a stainless filter is disappearing. I have tried various well-known coffee shops, but I haven’t successfully found a typtical “Cà phê phin”. It’s understandable that things have changed to align with the fast-paced industrial rhythm. However, the coffee retained its bold and robust flavor, perfect to my taste. Sipping coffee is a retreat to me, a moment of connection with myself, offering peace and equilibrium, precisely what I needed that night (…).
We had a fun and happy evening; we’ve found beautiful gifts for our kids. Though there were small bumps along the way (…), they are all parts of my life’s journey.
I visited Tam Dao ages ago, and to be honest, it didn’t leave a strong impressions on me. What sticks in my memory is battling car sickness on the twisty and turny road. One highlight from that trip was savoring the delicious crunchy sautéed chayote buds. I guess the main reason those memories aren’t as vivid is because I didn’t really know the people I went with; it was organized by a social club I had just joined. However, this recent trip left me immense joy and wonderful memories as I went with S and our family. Growing older and living far from my family has taught me to cherish precious moments spent with loved ones.
Initially, S wasn’t interested in going as he felt tired. But I could tell my sister was really excited about the trip. Not wanting to let her down, I persuaded him to join us. He agreed once he found out there was a waterfall to explore. The drive wasn’t too long, just around 1.5 hours from Hanoi. As we approached the destination, the scenery unfolded with lush mountains, and grand houses and charming hotels nestled on the mountainside. S seemed impressed by the view, snapping photos constantly.
We went through narrow mountain roads and eventually parked in a place near the waterfall. Following a small path, we encountered a stairway (of around 300 steps, though I’m not certain) leading to the waterfall.
Various shops and stalls line the way, selling snacks, drinks, and souvenirs. The sellers were enthusiastic and friendly, constantly asking us to use their products but we didn’t want to stop midway, so we declined. One seller kindly offered a stick, suggesting it could make our walk easier. S responded, “I’m not that old.” His dry humor had everyone bursting into laughter.
Finally, we reached the last step. From there, the waterfall came into view, but we were all taken aback by a foul smell. The water was polluted, with white foam in the bottom. It seemed more like wastewater from nearby houses and hotels than natural water. According to S, most of the ground is rocky, which probably leaves nowhere for the sewage to go, so it ends up at the lower level, contaminating the waterfall. We quickly ran away from the place. It’s so funny that when my sister saw me in boots, she had urged me to bring a pair of sandals because in her imagination, we would have a playful time in the water.
Going up was more challenging than going down. Everyone grew tired. My knees and legs felt a bit tired but that was it. That’s probably because doing household chores and yard work often has somehow given me strength. My sister, on the other hand, felt dizzy, struggled with shallow breath, and had to ask B & H to help her walk up. And S joked that now he needed a stick. LOL!!!
After reaching the final step, we took a break. The kids got ice cream and we went for grilled eggs. The dipping sauce was amazing. I didn’t know how it was made but gosh, a mix of salt, kumquat juice, pepper and a secret ingredient made the grilled eggs up to a whole new level. We also ordered “Nước Sấu”, a macerated fruit juice, representing a traditional drink of Hanoi in the past when beverage choices, especially for students, were quite limited. “Sấu”, or Indochina Dragonplum fruit, is picked when green, and soaked in sugar. Its essence is then mixed with water to create a sweet and sour beverage. The flesh of the macerated fruit was sweet, pleasantly sour, and crispy. Although I used to like it a lot, the experience that day wasn’t as great.
We continued exploring the area and then stopped for some savory snacks. As I said, Vietnamese people are big on food, always eager to try various dishes, especially while traveling. Knowing we would have dinner later, we didn’t want to overeat snacks. My sister ordered small portions of grilled meat and sticky rice. The grilled meat had distinct flavors, each marinated uniquely, and they were wrapped around veggies like mustard greens and “chayote buds”. We also enjoyed them with herbs and some leaves , creating a fantastic combo. The sticky rice was equally special, displaying various colors from different types of rice. It was tender, sweet, and delicious. However, I didn’t eat much to save room for dinner.
Next, we ventured through the area by grabbing an electric vehicle for a short tour. The driver took us through the small roads, passing houses, restaurants, shops, and giving us a top view of the landscape. He also introduced a temple on the way, but none of us felt like going inside; I hesitated too, considering I was wearing shorts, which wasn’t appropriate for entering a religious place. We continued on the road while trying to take some nice photos of the sunset and the mountainous view.
The scenery was undoubtedly beautiful but I found it somewhat boring as it looked the same throughout the place. The driver finally took us to where we parked. Though the car tour didn’t leave a strong impression of the natural view, observing people and experiencing the bustling atmosphere of daily life brought me a lot of joy.
Afterward, we leisurely strolled around the place, and gosh, food was everywhere! All sorts of snacks and savory treats, making it a feast for the eyes and nose. In the central area, hotels and restaurants stood shoulder to shoulder with new buildings under construction. This made me ponder how they could attract enough customers to fill all the rooms, given the relatively small size of the tourist place. There didn’t seem to be enough space for public activities. A small square was brimming with people, sharing limited space for various activities and performances.
Long walking made us feel hungry quickly, so we stopped at the restaurant my sister had previously enjoyed. Our order included Indian wampee stuffed grilled chicken, chayote buds (definitely), and fried rice. That was pretty much all I could recall.
After dinner, we continued wandering around the town. As night fell, the place took on much more enchanting allure, bathed in warm, cozy light. The European-style architecture, especially in the chilly early days of winter, exuded a romantic atmosphere, even for those with lonely hearts.
We paused at a stall for my sister to buy chestnuts. In my memory, whenever I saw this type of nut sold on the street, it reminded me that winter had actually arrived. S got intrigued by dried fruits in various colors. However, my sister told us not to buy them, concerning that these imported fruits might have a lot of additives and preservatives. So, we decided to pass on them.
We then visited the church—a stone structure perched in a high location that offers a stunning view of the whole area at night. The crisp air, gentle breeze, crystal moon light, and especially the sweet fragrance from nearby plants, collectively crafted a truly remarkable experience.
Leaving the church, my mind was still lingering with the pleasant floral scent, very familiar, reminiscent of the calmness, peace, and tranquility associated with a type of plant often seen at temples. But I couldn’t pinpoint exactly which plants the enchanting scent was coming from. As we walked back to the parking lot, I saw a plant full of flowers along the road. I stopped, smelled—oh my goodness, it was that same scent as the one from the church. Reflecting on that specific type of plant at temples and looking at that plant, wow they looked completely different, but it was remarkable how similar they smelled.
We left the church, heading back to Hanoi with a surplus of energy, satisfaction, and joy from the trip. It was already dark, and my sister was so afraid of driving without street lights. It brought back memories of my initial days when I first moved to the US. During those times, when S drove at night, I used to think, “Wow, I would never be able to drive in the darkness like this,” and I truly admired him for it. However, as I became more accustomed to the traffic there, I realized that driving in the darkness has fewer distractions than navigating streets filled with cars and bright lights, especially the white ones.
We returned to Hanoi around 9 p.m. Despite that, my sister still had a lot of energy. We headed to a coffee shop where children could enjoy painting statues as well. The coffee shop showed off cute and lovely decor, perfect for teenagers and kids, not my old soul. Anyway, this place offered the best combination of entertainment and enjoying drinks.
We ordered bubble tea, while my sister and brother-in-law got unsweetened tea. I got salted coffee as well. They typically serve this coffee with ice, but I prefer it hot, so I told them to make it that way.
Then, we chose statues and got tools and colors to get ready for painting. While the kids picked cute and lovely statues, S chose a massive dragon. It looked cocky and aggressive, appearing ready to explode with emotions like “someone”.
That dragon had loads of details to paint, and at first, S was thrilled about it. He didn’t care how the dragon would look, he just went with the colors he liked, which were obviously bold choices. However, his enthusiasm waned quickly, right after finishing the half front of the dragon. He asked me for help, and then my brother-in-law and B also joined. I tried to balance out the colors so that the dragon would appear clearer. The completed dragon turned out really cool with vivid, bold, and colorful hues. Its appearance perfectly matched the traits I envisioned for it.
In general, it was a wonderful trip. We relished our time together, had loads of fun, enjoyed delicious food, and ended the day with vibrant, beautiful statues. We captured special photos of the landscape and of us, carrying beautiful memories for many years to come.
Begin life at forty 