Alexandria - where time seems to stand still beside the Potomac River.

Twelve years ago, during a cruise on the Potomac River to Mount Vernon—the birthplace of President George Washington—I was captivated by a steamship anchored in Alexandria harbor. The image of the enormous rudder at the back of the ship immediately reminded me of the television series "All the Rivers Run," which had captivated so many Vietnamese viewers, and at that moment, I could only think that perhaps one day I would set foot on this peaceful land.

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Time flies by in the blink of an eye. After exactly twelve years, what seemed like a random thought became a reality when I stood in the exact spot where I took that photo in 2013 and gazed in awe at the ship, still there, almost unchanged, while I myself had traveled countless miles between the two countries.

Perhaps few places allow one to perceive the difference between human time and the time of a city as clearly as Alexandria.

Bến cảng Alexandria năm 2013 và năm 2025 — Alexandria Harbor in 2013 and 2025

A place where people can rediscover old memories.

Leaving King Street Metro Station quite early, we leisurely waited for the free King Street Trolley to take visitors into the old town. The vehicle, resembling a vintage tram, rolled slowly through shady trees, past charming little shops and houses that have been preserved almost intact for over two centuries. Just a few minutes later, the whole family entered a space where every street corner tells a historical story.

Alexandria is not a place to race against time, but rather a place to spend an entire day simply walking, because by leisurely wandering through the cobblestone streets, visitors will encounter dozens of museums and historical sites nestled close together.

Cầu cảng Alexandria — Alexandria Pier

We chose to visit the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum first because it is a famous, well-preserved old pharmacy from the late 18th century. Colorful glass jars are still stacked on white wooden shelves, and the mortars, brass scales, and other pharmaceutical tools remain in their original positions from over two hundred years ago, giving visitors a clear picture of the pharmaceutical industry in America's early days, when all medicines were prepared entirely by hand from herbs, minerals, and natural ingredients.

Stabler-Leadbeater là hiệu thuốc cổ nổi tiếng được bảo tồn gần như nguyên vẹn từ cuối thế kỷ XVIII — Stabler-Leadbeater is a famous, well-preserved old pharmacy dating back to the late 18th century.

To help my two daughters develop a greater love for American history, I spent extra time walking around famous landmarks such as Gadsby's Tavern Museum, where George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and many of the first presidents dined and rested; the Alexandria Black History Museum, which tells the history of the African American community; and the Lee-Fendall House Museum, with its peaceful old gardens reflecting glimpses of Virginia's aristocracy over the centuries.

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What is special about Alexandria is that history is not behind rigid glass panes, but is present in every house, every window, every brick under the feet of passersby.

Du khách khi đến với Alexandria có thể tận hưởng được sự nhẹ nhàng của cuộc sống bên dòng Potomac — Visitors to Alexandria can enjoy the tranquil life along the Potomac River.

By midday, as hunger began to set in, it was surprising to find a very familiar Vietnamese corner in the heart of an ancient city near the US capital: the "Coffee & Banh Mi" shop on Cameron Street impressed with its rustic wooden sign, red lanterns, and the aroma of freshly baked banh mi wafting through the street.

The space is small but cozy, and has been voted by many local magazines as one of the best food destinations in Old Town, making Vietnamese people far from home like us feel a sense of familiarity the moment we stepped inside.

Amidst the exploration of American history, enjoying a crispy baguette with a rich, creamy Vietnamese coffee becomes a delightful break, as if two cultures separated by half the globe have naturally met right in Alexandria.

Tiệm Cà phê - Bánh mì thuần Việt ở Alexandria — Authentic Vietnamese Coffee and Sandwich Shop in Alexandria

The fascinating story of the old church.

In the afternoon, we visited Christ Church, one of the oldest churches in America, completed in 1773 and famous for being the place where President George Washington regularly prayed for over 25 years. The interior still retains its original white-painted wooden pews, weathered wooden floors, and soft light streaming through the high windows, creating a solemn yet incredibly welcoming atmosphere.

What made the tour special was not only the historical stories but also the fact that our guide was Dr. Harley Thronson, a retired professor who volunteered his time to give free tours of the cathedral to visitors.

He slowly recounted that after George Washington, many US presidents had also come here, including Franklin Roosevelt, who brought British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to attend a prayer service here on New Year's Day 1942, when America had officially entered World War II.

Những câu chuyện thú vị nơi ngôi nhà thờ cổ — Interesting stories from the old church.

The commemorative plaques and photographs of presidents from Eisenhower, Reagan, Carter, and Bush to numerous international leaders who have visited make this place resemble a living chronicle of America more than a mere religious structure.

Mr. Thronson even invited us to sit in the exact seats that George Washington and many other presidents had sat in, and happily helped us take a commemorative group photo. I was curious and asked why such historically significant seats were left untouched for visitors to use instead of being fenced off or placed behind protective glass like many other famous landmarks.

The guide smiled kindly and replied with a statement I will probably remember for a long time: "Before the embrace of God, all people are equal." Just that short sentence, yet it seems to explain why this place has maintained its warmth and vitality for over two centuries.

Pháo hoa chào mừng quốc khánh Hoa Kỳ trên dòng Potomac nhìn từ cầu cảng Alexandria — Fireworks celebrating US Independence Day over the Potomac River, as seen from Alexandria Pier.

Những chiếc thuyền trang trí đèn đủ màu sắc từ cảng Alexandria xuôi dòng Potomac, trong khi quán bar Barca nổi tiếng nhộn nhịp đón khách khi chiều xuống — Boats decorated with colorful lights sail down the Potomac from Alexandria harbor, while the famous Barca bar bustles with customers as evening falls.

Leaving the church, we returned to Alexandria harbor as the sun began to set. Water taxis continued to glide silently up and down the Potomac River, transporting tourists back to Georgetown, National Harbor, or Mount Vernon, while the old steamship remained calmly moored, a testament to the passage of time.

I looked back at the photo taken in 2013 and compared it to the scene before me, realizing that there are places that have remained almost unchanged, waiting for people to return, and it is this very integrity that continues to move me…