Finding Happiness in an Unexpected Corner of Hai Phong






 

A Weekend Walk in Hai Phong, Vietnam

It has been about four years since I came to Vietnam.

Currently, I work at our Ho Chi Minh branch office, where I manage the pattern team and oversee three sample rooms. I also work closely with the TD team, supporting everything from sample development to production.

Last week, I received an SOS call from one of the sample rooms I manage in Hai Phong. A high-difficulty brand suddenly sent a large number of styles, and the team needed immediate support.

I traveled to Hai Phong to help organize the workflow, improve the process, redistribute the workload among team members, review patterns, and strengthen quality control in the sample room. It was a very busy week.

During business trips, I usually stay in the company dormitory. Today, however, was my day off.

About 45 minutes from the factory by Grab, there is a busy area called Van Cao. Normally, I would have a meal, buy a few necessities, and return to the dormitory. But today, I wanted to do something different.

I got off a little farther away, put on my backpack, and decided to explore Hai Phong on foot. I had no destination in mind. I simply wanted to walk wherever my feet would take me.

As I walked, I came across a beautiful lakeside view. The evening sky reflected gently on the calm water, and a cool breeze filled the air. It was a peaceful moment that I had not experienced for quite some time.

Walking a little farther, I found myself in a small alley that felt surprisingly foreign. The Japanese-style signs and the quiet atmosphere made me feel as if I had stepped into another country.

Naturally, I decided to stop at a Japanese restaurant for dinner.

I ordered a fresh salad, udon, and sushi. Although Japanese food is familiar to me, enjoying it in a quiet corner of Hai Phong gave the experience a unique charm.

After dinner, I checked into a Japanese-style hotel called Agumaya.

What surprised me most was the open-air bath on the rooftop. I never expected to find something like this in the middle of Hai Phong.

As I soaked in the warm water and looked out over the city lights, a simple thought came to mind:

"This is happiness."

The night view was beautiful, and the fatigue from the past week slowly faded away. For a moment, there were no deadlines, no meetings, and no urgent problems to solve.

Today, I gave myself the gift of a new experience.

Stepping away from my daily routine, walking through unfamiliar streets, discovering unexpected places, and spending time alone reminded me how important these small moments can be.

After forty years in the garment industry, I am still learning. But experiences like this remind me that life is not only about work. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is slow down, explore, and enjoy the world around us.

Vietnam has far more hidden gems than many people realize.

In my next post, I will introduce some of my favorite restaurants and places in Thao Dien, Ho Chi Minh City, where I currently live.


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