This is the first blog in my Bengaluru to Singapore journey series, where I crossed six countries on an epic adventure. You know that feeling when you step off a plane and everything suddenly feels different? That’s exactly what hit me when I landed in Hanoi, Vietnam – my first real foreign country experience.
The Journey Begins
My adventure started in Bangalore with an ambitious plan: cycle to Kolkata, then fly to Vietnam. The night flight from Kolkata to Hanoi was perfect for my budget – nighttime flights are significantly cheaper when you’re planning a six-country journey.
Finding My Host
Before leaving India, I’d spent hours on Couchsurfing reaching out to potential hosts. Then came Jyotiba’s reply – a guy from Belagavi working in Vietnam, willing to host a fellow traveler. Landing in Hanoi at midnight, I followed his instructions to reach an apartment that looked like a five-star hotel. His company had really taken care of their employees.
The Kindness of Strangers
The next morning, Jyotiba had left for office, so I ventured out alone. First mission: recharge my SIM card. The guy who sold us the SIM couldn’t do recharges – different system, different rules.
There I was, confused about mobile recharging, when this local guy just stepped in. No common language, but universal kindness. He took me to the nearest supermarket and arranged the recharge for free. This random act became my first beautiful impression of Vietnam.
Cultural Challenges
After getting a surprisingly good haircut, I decided to tackle Vietnamese cuisine. The restaurant looked inviting, almost Indian-style, which gave me false confidence.
Big mistake.
As a Kannadiga from Karnataka, I thought I could handle different foods. But Vietnamese cuisine challenged every taste bud I had. And then came the chopsticks – picture a hungry traveler struggling with two sticks, trying to eat food that tastes nothing like home. Humbling, frustrating, and hilarious all at once.
This was just day one, and Vietnam had already shown me its challenges and incredible warmth. The language barrier seemed impossible, the food was going to be a struggle, and simple things became mini-adventures.
But isn’t that exactly why we travel? To discover that the world is full of kind strangers willing to help and lessons that no guidebook can teach you.
Stay tuned for the next blog where I’ll share more adventures from my Vietnamese days and the journey towards Singapore!
