Do those living far from home remember Hanoi in the autumn?

For those who have had the chance to visit or live in the capital, Hanoi in autumn remains as gently beautiful and full of colors and fragrances as it always has been. However, in the memories of those far from home, that beauty is also imbued with a poignant longing.

From Paris to Hanoi

Speaking about autumn in the capital, Bich Hong, a recent psychology graduate from Paris, shared: "Away from Hanoi, what I miss most is the feeling of riding on the back of a motorbike through the streets in the cool autumn weather. Whenever I feel down or tired, just a ride around West Lake, or around the Phan Dinh Phung - Hoang Dieu area, draws me in the peaceful, tranquil atmosphere of the capital's life, and I feel so much lighter..."

In Hong's memory, autumn also brings back memories of afternoons spent with friends at roadside lemon tea stalls, ordering some fragrant green rice flakes to nibble on while chatting and inhaling the pleasant, fresh "Hanoi scent." The arrival of September in autumn is also associated with memories of her first day of school more than a decade ago; even though so many years have passed, for Hong, it still evokes a feeling of excitement and anticipation as she embarks on a new journey.

"Paris in autumn shares many similarities with Hanoi in autumn, only it's a little cooler. At this time, people here enjoy the pleasant atmosphere by participating in outdoor activities such as sightseeing and traveling. Even so, sometimes I still miss the simple, rustic rhythm of autumn life in Hanoi - where everything just flows by, bustling and hectic yet strangely peaceful," Bích Hồng shared.

From Trento to Hanoi

For Le Thuy, who currently lives in Trento, Italy, autumn means the simple, fragrant aroma of young rice and the intoxicating scent of milk flowers that permeates the streets.

"Every autumn weekend morning, my boyfriend and I wake up early, go to the city, have breakfast at our favorite pho restaurant, and then stroll around the Old Quarter. After that, we go to Dong Xuan Market to buy a fragrant sticky rice with young rice flakes, then return to Mrs. Thin's sticky rice and sweet soup shop in Bat Dan to buy a refreshing cup of black bean and lotus seed dessert. Finally, we take everything to West Lake to sit and enjoy the breeze. Autumn where I live is quite cold and also very beautiful when the trees start to turn yellow. But I still prefer Hanoi's autumn more because there are so many delicious dishes," Thuy shared.

Autumn is also the season of many beautiful flowers: innocent daisies, dreamy purple heather, or pure lotus flowers. The image of colorful flower vendors neatly lined up along streets like Phan Dinh Phung and Thanh Nien has long been a characteristic feature of Hanoi and an unforgettable memory for Thuy whenever she thinks of her hometown.

From Melbourne to Hanoi

"My memories of Hanoi in autumn include afternoon strolls around West Lake taking photos, or participating in the outdoor flea markets held every weekend. I also remember the early days of September with sudden showers, leaving just enough coolness in the air to put on a light jacket." - Tu Anh, currently working in Melbourne, Australia, shared.

According to Tú Anh, unlike Hanoi, Melbourne experiences relatively low temperatures throughout the seasons, with autumn typically dropping below 20 degrees Celsius. Because of this, people don't get to enjoy the transitional feeling of the seasons, when everything gradually changes from the scorching summer sun to welcome the cool, gentle autumn breezes.

From Montpellier to Hanoi

Hoang Yen, currently living in Montpellier, France, shared her memories of Hanoi's autumn as follows: "What I remember most is the autumn of my childhood, when my grandfather would take me for rides on the back of his bicycle along the lake to play and eat ice cream at Thuy Ta. Afterwards, we would stop by Ly Thuong Kiet to buy notebooks to prepare for the first day of school. On the way home, I always got to stop by Hang Chuoi to drink fresh milk and eat fish-shaped jelly. As I grew up, I often wandered around Hanoi's eateries to eat snacks: snail noodles, fried cakes, rice cakes, stuffed rice cakes, clam porridge,... then bought a bouquet of daisies to decorate my room, and life felt so joyful!"

For Yen, Hanoi's autumn has many distinctive features that evoke fond memories for those far from home. It's the pleasant weather, the gentle breeze, the soft sunlight on the streets, and the faint scent of milk flowers. Autumn also brings the Mid-Autumn Festival, with bustling stalls selling mooncakes and sticky rice cakes, everyone eagerly holding in their hands the sweet and rustic traditional flavors.

"In France, autumn passes by very quickly, seemingly just a sudden transition from summer to winter, so as soon as the sun goes down, the temperature drops quite low. Even during the day, just standing in the shade feels cold. Recently, I had the opportunity to stay on La Reunion Island, and the autumn there brought such strong winds that even walking was a challenge. Perhaps that's why I miss the gentle autumn in Hanoi so much," Yen shared.

Each place has its own unique autumn characteristics, reflected in how its people perceive it. According to Yen, in southern France, people don't feel the same excitement for autumn as they do in Hanoi. This is because autumn marks the end of summer, children return to school, and adults return to work after long vacations; consequently, the days become shorter and colder.

Perhaps, autumn everywhere possesses its own unique beauty. Perhaps what makes people yearn for Hanoi's autumn, even from thousands of kilometers away, is the abundance of beautiful memories and overflowing love for their homeland.

Ha Thu