Stories from the American Road

In October 2023, I made my first trip to the United States at the invitation of ASEAN journalists, visiting two famous cities: Washington D.C. and New York. It was quite overwhelming and a little… disappointing on that first trip.

The author with US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Nathaniel Tek. Photo: NGOC VAN

Regrettable! My first day in America ended on almost the perfect note before the start of a busy work week. Nearly 20,000 steps were taken through a small corner of Washington DC, visiting world- famous landmarks. The US capital, situated on the Potomac River on the East Coast, is the only city not belonging to any state. The US has a state called Washington, but it's located north of the West Coast. Washington is named in honor of the first US President, and DC stands for District of Columbia – the district named after the explorer Christopher Columbus, who discovered America. Walking from the hotel to the National Mall in the golden autumn sunshine, with the leaves beginning to turn yellow and red, strolling along Independence and Constitution Avenues, visiting the Washington Monument (which my family calls the Pencil Tower), the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial… The peaceful beauty of the wide streets, the lush green parks, and the modernity of the city with its towering skyscrapers created an incredibly impressive and overwhelming scene. The world's most famous and powerful landmarks, such as the U.S. Congress, the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and the United Nations headquarters in New York, are all open to the public, provided reservations are made in advance. The U.S. Congress is located on Capitol Hill, so when we talk about the Capitol, we are referring to the U.S. Capitol building – which attracts millions of visitors every year. A tour of the Capitol usually lasts about 45 minutes and includes areas such as the repose of the remains of U.S. presidents; the display of statues representing the 50 states; and the venues for Senate and House sessions. I was truly overwhelmed by the monumental works of art within the Capitol, such as Constantino Brumidi's painting "The Apotheosis of Washington," which is 40 meters long and 16 meters wide. The painting hanging from the ceiling of the Rotunda, the central area of ​​the Capitol Building, depicts the first President, George Washington, being deified and taken to heaven… The National Museum of Natural History, managed by the Smithsonian Institution, is a great place to visit, although honestly (and somewhat embarrassingly), Vietnamese people don't usually go to museums. I'm not saying this to criticize others, but I wish Vietnam could have a museum like that; I'm sure history would be much more popular. For example, in the section about human ancestors, there's interactive software that lets you see what you would look like if you were a person from a certain era – very interesting… The biggest regret is missing the opportunity to go to the White House. The press team had a scheduled meeting with officials inside the White House, but due to a "technical glitch," our names weren't on the security checklist. So, the team went to a nearby cafe to hold a meeting. The meeting went smoothly, but the reporters were all bitterly disappointed at missing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see how the White House occupant lived. I secretly thought, maybe next time!

Ground Zero and World Trade Center Tower One (the tallest building) in New York. Photo: NGOC VAN

Affection for Vietnam: American officials and ordinary citizens I met during my trip all spoke highly of Vietnam. Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, Nathaniel Tek, affirmed that Vietnam is an extremely important partner and a cherished friend of the United States. Knowing that Mr. Tek – born in the U.S. – has a Korean father, an Ethiopian mother, and married a Filipino woman, I jokingly remarked that he has a “United Nations family.” The Deputy Spokesperson enthusiastically shared that he had visited Hanoi , and with his “United Nations” appearance, many people mistook him for someone from Southeast Asia. He said that Vietnam, and Southeast Asia in general, holds a special place in his heart. And then, putting aside those emotions, he returned to his position as a deputy spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, saying: “Looking at the entire history between the United States and Vietnam, it is truly commendable that we have moved from a painful past to reconciliation and friendship. Now, Vietnam is a truly important partner and a cherished friend of the United States.” Suddenly, I recalled a visit to the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C., where my American friend asked me about my feelings. I told him, “What can I say? A painful past for both sides.” The two 75-meter-long black granite walls, joined in a V-shape – one pointing towards the Washington Monument and the other towards the memorial to President Abraham Lincoln – bear the names of over 58,000 American soldiers who died in Vietnam, seemingly still evoking pain for many families. Every day, people silently walk along the wall, placing fresh flowers, trying to find the names of their deceased loved ones… I told you, fortunately, the war is long over, both sides have put the past behind them, becoming partners and friends…

The wall is inscribed with the names of American soldiers who died in the Vietnam War.

The U.S. Capitol building is located on Capitol Hill.

A night in Times Square, New York, before Halloween.

Souvenir stalls on the Brooklyn Bridge, New York. Photo: NGOC VAN

Two sides of New York

The first impression when the train arrives at Penn Station in New York is like, "Wow, this is New York? It's not very clean." And rightly so, New York's subway system is the busiest in the Western Hemisphere, transporting nearly 1.8 billion passengers in 2022. With such a huge number of passengers, it's understandable that the subway is a little dirty.

There are even street vendors on the subway. I encountered many women carrying small children on their backs, hawking baskets of chewing gum, pens, keys, and other trinkets. It was easy to recognize many of them as immigrants, and their English was often poor. I had to communicate with a street vendor on the Brooklyn Bridge using body language and haggle over souvenirs using my phone's calculator because she didn't speak English.

Visiting the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island on a rainy day, I was lucky to find some vendors who helped me buy a disposable raincoat, familiar from Vietnam, for $5... Then, occasionally encountering homeless people sleeping on the streets, and witnessing people picking up empty bottles from trash cans in Central Park, I saw another side of this city.

Meanwhile, at the opposite extreme is a bustling, vibrant New York, with modern skyscrapers, crowded streets, and lively cultural and entertainment activities.

World Trade Center One is the tallest building in New York City, standing at 541 meters tall. It was built on the site of the former World Trade Center, where the twin towers completely collapsed in the historic terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, killing nearly 3,000 people, including 400 police officers and firefighters. World Trade Center One, inaugurated on November 3, 2014, is a symbol of the rebirth and unity of New York City and the world.

The scars of the 9/11 terrorist attacks are still evident in the public tour of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The tour lasts about an hour and involves walking approximately 3 kilometers. Interestingly, throughout that time and distance, the tour guide always walks in the opposite direction, face-to-face with the visitors. A rather tragic coincidence is that construction of the Pentagon began on September 11, 1941, only for 60 years later, on September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 77 was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon, killing 59 people on board and 125 people working inside.

Having set foot in America and witnessed firsthand the painful remnants of history, I appreciate even more the value of peace, stability, security, and safety…

Ngoc Van - Laodong.vn

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