Boundless connections in the heart of Hanoi

More than just a destination on the tourist map, Hanoi is transforming into a vibrant, multicultural hub in the context of integration.

Transnational crossroads emerge in the most ordinary spaces: university lecture halls, basketball courts, or a prayer session in a mosque. It is these everyday encounters that quietly connect souls, writing stories of friendship and love that transcend distance.

Erasing distances and differences

At the University of Commerce, Byambajav D., a male student from Mongolia, has spent four years living in the capital city. Unlike most of his compatriots who usually choose Russia or China for their studies, Byambajav chose Vietnam with the desire to seek completely new experiences.

In the early days, university lectures were where he made his first local friends. Although the curriculum was in English, some parts of the material were occasionally explained using Vietnamese terminology or expressions, which often required Byambajav to rely on his friends for help to keep up with the lessons.

Mr. Byambajav D. (second from the left) with his Vietnamese friends at the University of Commerce. (Photo: Quynh Anh)

From discussions about schoolwork to exchanging messages on social media, the distance between the foreign boy and his classmates gradually narrowed. Outside the classroom, they became close friends, playing video games together, hanging out at cafes, or exploring every corner of Hanoi.

The male student confided that the warmth and openness of his peers helped him quickly overcome his feelings of being out of place in a foreign land. Sharing his impressions of his Vietnamese friends, the Mongolian boy summarized them with three adjectives: polite, enthusiastic, and energetic.

Connecting spaces in the heart of the city.

Hailing from Saudi Arabia and currently an English teacher in Hanoi , Mohamed Mahdi Idrissi has spent about eight months experiencing life in Vietnam. In the early days of his arrival in the capital, the language barrier made it almost impossible for him to communicate with anyone. At that time, the Al-Noor Mosque on Hang Luoc Street became a space that connected him with his new friends.

Mohamed Mahdi Idrissi (right) with a friend at the Al-Noor mosque. (Photo: Thu Phuong)

According to Mohamed, despite cultural and linguistic differences, the Muslim community in Hanoi still fosters a natural bond between Vietnamese and foreigners through many shared activities in daily life. They eat Halal food together, pray in a common space, and participate in Ramadan celebrations.

Mohamed was particularly moved when he recalled the atmosphere of Ramadan, a time when Muslims from all over the world gathered after a long day of strict fasting. “Vietnamese, Arabs, Indians, Pakistanis… all sat together, sharing a meal and focusing on good things,” he recounted. These heartwarming experiences helped the young teacher overcome his feelings of alienation, igniting in him a deep love and attachment to the land and people of this place.

Like Mohamed, Nabeel, from Canada, said he had only been in Hanoi for a little over a day but had quickly made friends through the local Muslim community. Nabeel shared that his new friends not only accompanied him during prayer times but also enthusiastically acted as "guides," leading him to experience the Old Quarter's cuisine and introducing him to the lifestyle of Hanoians. The warmth and hospitality of the Vietnamese people, from the iced tea and coffee offered to guests to the directions, left a strong impression on the Canadian man from the very first hours of his journey.

Nabeel (on the right) with his new friends at the Al-Noor mosque. (Photo: Thu Phuong)

Besides religious communities, sports are also becoming a place to connect friends from afar. Dakota Zinser, a professional American basketball player, is now in his third season competing in Vietnam. Having experience playing in many countries around the world, Dakota admits that what brought him back to Vietnam was the connections he made in his daily life.

Dakota Zinser shares about his life and the relationships he has built in Vietnam. (Photo: Quynh Anh)

Dakota's time living in Vietnam has gradually made him love the life and people here. According to him, each team is not just a place to compete, but also like a small community where he has made many new friends. They are not just teammates on the field, but also true friends off the field. After each practice session, Dakota and the team members often go out to eat, chat, and share the joys and sorrows of their personal lives.

From friendship to a loving family home.

Beyond friendships and community bonds, many cross-border relationships have quietly taken root and blossomed into loving families right in the heart of Hanoi.

Nearly ten years ago, Tino, a young man from Denmark, arrived in Vietnam with a short-term plan: to visit friends and intern at a kindergarten. He could never have imagined that this fateful trip would not only change the course of his career but also lead him to meet his life partner.

"We met through a mutual friend and gradually grew closer," Thuy, Tino's wife, recalled.

After nearly a decade together, they chose to build a home and settle in Vietnam. However, the journey of a multinational marriage is not all rosy and romantic; it's a series of days harmonizing differences in lifestyle, language, and way of thinking. Tino shared that what impressed him most about living here was the strong bond of family among Vietnamese people. While young Danes often move out and live independently at a very young age, the family life in Vietnam is much more connected and close-knit.

Tino and Thuy with their son. (Photo: Thu Phuong)

For Thuy, falling in love and marrying a foreigner nearly a decade ago was still quite a new experience. She remembers the early days, when her family and the surrounding community shared many worries and prejudices about the instability of a love with a different cultural background.

However, after many years of living together, their home has found balance thanks to respecting each other's personal space, sharing household chores, and sharing both joys and sorrows. For this couple, openness and patient communication are the golden keys. "Love knows no geographical distance. The most important thing is respect and an effort to understand each other," Tino confided.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nhung-moi-duyen-khong-bien-gioi-giua-long-ha-noi-396673.html