Day 1

Our flight to Hong Kong began at about 2am, so we spent a good amount of time sleeping in the beginning. About 10 hours later my mom and I woke up and we were surprised that we had already made it two-thirds of the way there. I spent the rest of my time watching Inside Llewyn Davis, Her, and the first one and a half episodes of Twin Peaks. Inside Llewyn Davis was good but I didn’t like it as nearly as much as Her. I also really liked Twin Peaks—I think I’ll take it up again when I come back.

We drove from Hanoi to Hai Phong, making use of the highway winding through each city’s peripheries, which are scattered with industrial factories, farms, gas stations, and narrow pastel-tinted houses stacked at least three times high as they are wide. 

In between are billboards for chemical suppliers and trendy drinks. Practically any product or company has to have the prefix “Viet” or “Vina”. Closer to the city are stands selling nuoc mam and pho bo and com rang—souvenirs and food and beer for anyone who needs a break from their long commutes. 

The roads are shared by cars and trucks and even cyclists—students on their way to and from school (you can spot them by their white shirts, navy-blue slacks, and signature red scarves) and farmers transporting their livestock.

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My uncle's hands

A farmer picking roses

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I got to the door first, and my aunt was already there. My grandma yelled out, “It’s Linh!” and I went in and sat down beside her. My mom came soon after and sat on the other side, and my grandma looked like she was about to cry. My mom asked her if she had missed us and if she was happy to see us but she could barely say anything. I found it so hot and humid and I ended up sleeping from around 3pm to 12am.

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My mom really wanted me to take this photo; she thought it was really funny that the driver put a bunch of leaves on top of the crate to give the piglets some shade.