The bus ride from Hanoi to Dong Hoi would mean the end of my stay in northern Vietnam, and it was with a heavy heart that I left.
From the ubiquitous, smiling faces, to the copious shots of rice wine; from world-class roads to the breathtaking vistas; from boundless generosity to genuine hospitality, I came away from northern Vietnam feeling that I really had seen the best of the region, while wondering where on earth the northern Vietnamese get their reputation for being staid, closed people.
The majority up there were friendly, warm and only too eager to help in whichever way they could. From my fellow karaoke-goers in Son La, to Ho and his father in Dien Bien Phu; from the petrol pumper in Lai Chau to the passer-by who towed me back to Bac Ha; from the smiling matrons serving extra-large servings of pho to a hungry motorcyclist to the friendliness of Sàu, I'll never forget my time here. They, however, probably will, since treating strangers in this way is so commonplace.
The majority up there were friendly, warm and only too eager to help in whichever way they could. From my fellow karaoke-goers in Son La, to Ho and his father in Dien Bien Phu; from the petrol pumper in Lai Chau to the passer-by who towed me back to Bac Ha; from the smiling matrons serving extra-large servings of pho to a hungry motorcyclist to the friendliness of Sàu, I'll never forget my time here. They, however, probably will, since treating strangers in this way is so commonplace.
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