My Friend Vu

During my trip to Vietnam, one of the most memorable stops was Ha Giang, where we did the popular Ha Giang Loop. As part of the experience, each of us had a local driver. My driver’s name was Vu.

The first thing Vu said to me was, “You look like that actor from G.I. Joe. I love this film. I watched it twice!”

Over the next few days, I got to know Vu. He was 28, same age as me. He showed me photos of his wife and son. I showed him pictures of my family too. We’d talk about life, Vietnamese culture, North American culture, my travels, etc.

On the bike, I played music through a portable speaker. Since we were on a motorcycle, I felt compelled to play some music from the Fast and Furious vibes. I queued up “Tokyo Drift,” Vu was vibing and bobbing his head to the music and driving a bit too fast. I then played, “See You Again”, which Vu said, “I love this song!”

We shared meals, happy water, and laughs. The whole thing felt like an episode of Anthony Bourdain.

After the trip, Vu sent me and my friend Ethan a heartfelt message on WhatsApp. He said he’d never met anyone like us. Most of the other travelers on the trip would talk amongst each other. But we talked with him, ate with him, answered even his “silly” questions, like we were family. And the next time we visit Vietnam, to hit him up and he’s happy to host us.

Sometimes I forget that this is what it’s all about. The sights, the sounds, the food, make a trip fun. But the people are what make the trips memorable.