08/11/2024
A Small World: Encounters in Vietnam That Led Me Back to Goa.
Traveling reveals the world’s many layers of connection, and sometimes, even the most far-flung destinations can offer unexpected glimpses of home. On a recent journey through Vietnam, I experienced three unique encounters that reminded me just how small the world can feel, especially when traces of Goa appear in surprising ways.
My first encounter came one evening in Sapa, a charming mountain town in northern Vietnam. I was at a restaurant enjoying dinner when I overheard a couple speaking what sounded like Portuguese. Curious, I asked if they were from Portugal, but they replied they were from Spain. Our conversation continued, and when I mentioned I was from Goa, one of them immediately shared that he’d been to Goa just a year before. He had volunteered with an NGO in North Goa headed by Felly Gomes, a well-known local figure. Suddenly, we shared a common thread, and the world felt that much closer.
A week later, my journey took me to Ha Giang, where I checked into a hotel popular for its access to stunning trekking and motorcycling routes. As I asked the receptionist for dinner recommendations, a young man nearby chimed in with directions to a nearby restaurant. After returning from dinner, I struck up a conversation with him. He looked Indian, so I asked if he was from India, only to discover he was actually from Saligao, a village in Goa just 45 kilometers from my home! Faisal had come to Ha Giang for trekking six years ago, fallen in love with the place, and decided to stay, now working at the hotel. Though he left early the next morning for Hanoi, our brief interaction left a lasting impression—a Goan spirit thriving halfway around the world.
But the surprises didn’t end there. After cycling nearly 100 kilometers in blistering heat, I found myself in Ke Anh, where I checked into a hotel. The receptionist didn’t speak English, so I resorted to Google Translate to book a room. As I was gathering my bags, another staff member approached me and, to my surprise, asked, “Fala português?” or “Do you speak Portuguese?” The next morning, as I was leaving, she came by to say goodbye and told me her name was Maria. She shared that she had worked in Angola for ten years, where she learned the language, and had recently returned to Vietnam after having a baby while her husband remained in Angola. Coincidentally, even the hotel’s watchman had worked in Angola and could speak a bit of Portuguese too.
These encounters made me realize just how connected we all are, even when far from home. For a traveler from Goa, meeting people with ties to my home state in the heart of Vietnam was more than just chance—it was a reminder of the shared experiences that unite us, transcending borders, languages, and cultures. So, what are the odds of meeting people with ties to Goa in unexpected places? Higher than I ever imagined.
