Slow down a bit, let the rush continue its relentless forward momentum; you have the right to slow your arrow-like dash. You have the right because you've been rushing like this for so long. Now you're allowed to slow down. It's that simple! It's not difficult to spot the lights that have been lit up on the flower fields of Lien Mac, Tay Tuu... in Bac Tu Liem, Hanoi .
The strings of lights sagged slightly, the long strands stretching far into the distance. Hundreds of such strings and strips of lights, with milky white and warm yellow bulbs, shone brilliantly in the dark night.
Walking through the flower fields on the outskirts of the city, which have now been part of a ward for over a decade, during the day you'll see the yellows, purples, reds, greens, and whites of hundreds of flowers. But at night, you'll only see lights, illuminating a strange, slightly mesmerizing, dreamlike feeling, yet also elegant and civilized amidst the countryside.
It's strange, but slowing down a bit allows us to experience a more nuanced aspect of life that we usually miss, unable to perceive, given our constant rush of work. Like driving along the Xuan Quan dike in Van Giang, Hung Yen , preoccupied with thoughts of rapidly fluctuating land prices, we fail to notice the small roads that gently lead down to the fields and meadows, winding into green orchards.
Accordingly, venturing right to the water's edge, we "discover" a ferry terminal: Hong Van Port! Taking the ferry across the Red River to the other side, Thuong Tin district, Hanoi, we can then wander along the riverside roads, experiencing the vast open spaces on both sides, sometimes catching glimpses of expansive waters in the distance, and other times glimpsing lush, fertile gardens enriched by the alluvial deposits. It's a feeling of serenity and almost a sense of cleanliness, a stark contrast to the dusty, suffocating stretches of highway.
So, if we return to the city center, wouldn't we be afraid of the crowds, the pollution, and the constant feeling of busyness and pressure? If we're so afraid, wouldn't this place become a place for people to be wary and cautious about? Just take a moment to observe, and you'll find many sparkling things worth appreciating and contemplating! After a long stretch of traffic jam in Kham Thien, we follow the small, already crowded Nguyen Thuong Hien street straight to the gate of Quan Hoa Pagoda.
Why not come in here for a moment, to let the small, quiet space suddenly envelop you, revealing a small lake with gently rippling water? The sound of cars driving like drilling machines from the roads surrounding Thien Quang Lake echoes here as if filtered by the air, becoming soft and clear.
And then, if on a weekend evening on the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian street you feel like there's nowhere to hide because you see people everywhere, then head to… the Hoan Kiem District Library Park near the end of Nha Chung Street. From the edge of the sidewalk, just confidently walk closer to the old French-era building with its wide path leading up along the sturdy, winding railings, the silent glass windows seemingly watching you. You'll feel like you've wandered into a fantastical, somewhat mystical realm, surrounded by strangely winding trees.
Sitting on a wooden chair with an ornate iron frame in the soft yellow light, I think about the city where I live, the streets, the turns, the corners where someone has just opened a door, waiting for something, a call, a wave.
Go ahead and go, but remember that in your haste, take a few moments to find, to turn into, and to listen to the shimmering, tranquil, and illuminating echoes from the city's corners.
A patch of trees between the Grand Theatre and the National History Museum, the wind-swept path past Ham Long Church at night, the Cua Bac gate, Hoang Dieu street with its lush and majestic foliage, or simply a strip of sidewalk at the foot of a stone wall overlooking Hang Cot street, Cua Dong street and the iron railway tracks overhead against the green backdrop of large mahogany trees… Occasionally, stop, pause for a moment, to see how much more enchanting everyday life can be.
NGUYEN QUANG HUNG
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/ha-noi-lung-linh-ngay-thuong-post760104.html
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