Before moving to Vietnam, Travis lived in Hawaii, working as a behavioral analyst supporting children from military families with autism. It was incredibly stressful work, and he knew he would eventually have to find another path because he couldn’t continue forever.
So, he set off on a solo trip . "After visiting the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam for three consecutive years, I really fell in love with Asia. In early 2019, I received a message from a retired military doctor who had just moved to Hanoi. He and his wife had a son who was diagnosed with autism and were looking for someone to help teach and care for him," he shared with the American newspaper Business Insider .
The offer came two months after he had been traveling in Vietnam and he thought he had to return to the country. "Hawaii never really felt like home. The cost of living is high, and as much as I loved the Hawaiian landscape, I always knew it wouldn't be my permanent home."
Travis Carrasquillo says food in Vietnam is affordable and fresh.
PHOTO: NVCC
Six months later, he moved to Hanoi .
He worked with the family for four years, tutoring the boy after school, helping him develop his communication and social skills. "Learning Vietnamese was my top priority from the first day I arrived in Vietnam. I studied for about a year and a half to reach a decent level," he said.
When the job ended, Travis decided to stay in Vietnam, leaving Hanoi and moving to Da Nang - a peaceful coastal city in the Central region.
Hanoi is a beautiful city, rich in history and culture, but polluted. When he moved to Da Nang two years ago, it was still a developing city, with many beautiful beaches and pleasant weather, so he decided to go there. "It's the perfect balance: There are nice cafes, good gyms, good food and everything you want, but not too crowded or stuffy like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City," he shared.
He is currently a social media content creator.
He chose to live in the central area of Da Nang instead of the coast because it was cheaper, and it was only about a 10-minute drive to the beach. Currently, his budget is about 1,500 USD (about 37 million VND) a month. That includes rent, food, gym membership, even weekend trips. It is enough for him to do whatever he wants.
"My acquaintances in the US know that prices in Vietnam are affordable, but they often think that cheap means poor quality. That's not the case at all. Vietnamese food is incredibly fresh, nutritious, and delicious. When I lived in the US, eating out was a rare pleasure. Now, I can have a great meal for only about $1.50, or VND37,000," he said.
He still cooks because he enjoys it, but eating out in Da Nang feels more comfortable and intimate. The people are warm, friendly and have a real sense of community. He has lived in the local neighborhoods for most of his time in Vietnam. No matter which street he is on, most evenings he will see families setting up tables in front of their houses in the alleys and eating together.
Travis says people spend their free time socializing, connecting with people, going to coffee shops and hanging out with friends. There's a strong sense of community and connection that's lacking in most other parts of America.
He emphasized the high community spirit of Vietnamese people and has no intention of returning to the US to live.
"Last summer, when I went to visit my parents in the Chicago suburbs where I grew up, everything was different. The streets were quiet, the houses were boarded up, everyone was driving from place to place, it was like a ghost town. I liked the peace, but I missed seeing people out on the streets. There were little things I missed—mainly Chicago pizza and family. Without them, I probably wouldn't have come back," he said.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/du-khach-my-den-viet-nam-roi-o-lai-6-nam-khong-muon-ve-nuoc-18525103011272951.htm
Comment (0)