Texas Diary - Part 2

Article and photos:Phan Quoc Vinh

Part 2:A drive around Dallas

While driving at a maximum speed of about 130 km/h on a 4-lane highway, I suddenly entered the inner city with 12 lanes, all kinds of large and small vehicles running close together. I had to look at the rearview mirror, glance through the side windows, watch the car behind me, and glance at the GPS to see where I was going. Above me was an oversized crane with flashing lights that I didn't see in time, so I had to drive parallel, feeling like I was being swallowed by it. Before the trip, I didn't think that the city of Dallas would welcome a visitor from afar by creating such a tense, nerve-wracking feeling!

Dallas is the third largest city in the state of Texas and the ninth largest in the United States. The city covers 400 square miles (1036 km²), and is the county seat of Dallas County. Dallas is one of 11 world-class cities ranked by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group & Network. Dallas was founded in 1841 and officially recognized as a city on February 2, 1856. Dallas is known worldwide as a center for telecommunications, computer technology, banking and transportation, although the city is not directly connected to shipping. Spread along many railway lines, the city has many strong industrial and financial corporations, and has Dallas-Forth Worth International Airport, a gateway to the world where many Vietnamese people coming to the US also enter at this airport.

We stayed at the Magnolia Hotel, whose English name means “Magnolia” in the heart of Dallas. The hotel was built in 1922 and is located in a prime location, so the price is also “sky-high”, fortunately we got sponsorship during the trip. From here, it is just a few steps to Commerce Street - the main street, a few more steps to the memorial of President John F. Kennedy. To commemorate an extraordinary man, the John F. Kennedy Memorial Square was dedicated to him on June 24, 1970. Since then, this place has become a part of the city’s urban landscape and a cultural heritage visited by many visitors.

Right next door is the old Dallas County Courthouse, built in 1892 with red sandstone and marble and designed in the Romantic architectural style by architect Max A. Orlopp. In 1966, the courthouse was replaced by a new building nearby and converted into a local history museum. In the distance, the sound of the tram entering the station to pick up passengers made us feel like we were back in the 80s and 90s of the last century in the capital Hanoi. The tram, subway and bus systems here are also quite complex to reduce the load on the main roads running into the inner city, so it would take a whole week to get used to the public transport guidebook!

Strolling down Main Street, we dined at a chain of Vietnamese restaurants, Pho Colonial and Banh Mi. Ordering Vietnamese food and looking at the pictures of our homeland was an effort to find a sense of home in a foreign land. Unfortunately, the waiters were Mexican, so we couldn’t talk to anyone, so we had to enjoy a huge bowl of pho that could be eaten by three people, along with a bottle of Hue beer.

Dallas at night is also quiet, unlike the bustling atmosphere during the day. After 8 pm, the downtown area seems to count the footsteps of people. In the distance, the red fireball keeps blinking but still can not pull me away from the drowsiness that has come after a tiring day of challenges on the freeway...

The next day, we visited the city’s convention and exhibition center. This place often holds large international conferences every year, sometimes attracting tens of thousands of attendees at the same time. Even though we didn’t spend much time, we still had time to take souvenir photos with the statues of cowboys herding bulls or pose with the brilliant cherry blossoms of faraway Japan blooming in America.

For those who love shopping, Galleria Dallas is a place not to be missed. This shopping paradise is located about 10 miles from downtown Dallas and every "god" wants to come here once, with a lot of famous brands from all over the world spread across 4 floors, and of course the prices are also very international! There is also a free play area for children in Galleria Dallas so that mothers have the opportunity to give their children to their husbands and have more time to shop. What is special is that on the ground floor at the entrance there is an entire ice skating rink for shoppers. For just 10 USD, you can rent a pair of ice skates and practice "frog jumping" on the ice for 30 minutes.

For those who love to explore nature, the animal world “Dallas World Aquarium” will satisfy you. Opened in 1992, “Dallas World Aquarium” is a large aquarium and zoo located in the old town west of the city center. The zoo supports education and is also a sanctuary for many endangered animals, as part of a cooperative breeding program with other zoos around the world. “Dallas World Aquarium” was recognized as a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 1997.

Here, visitors will see with their own eyes all kinds of freshwater and saltwater fish, rare birds such as pelicans, star pheasants, red-crowned cranes, phoenixes, eagles, etc.; aquatic animals such as otters, water snakes, long-clawed crabs, lobsters, etc. But the best thing is standing in the middle of the glass tunnel, watching fat sharks, sharp swordfish, or stingrays swimming right above their heads, as if holding them in their arms.

One thing we appreciate about Dallas - even though this is a bustling economic city with heavy traffic, the government still maintains a free electric trolley route around the main streets exclusively for tourists. Sitting on the trolley winding through the small and large alleys, Dallas feels more intimate and friendly. Even though it is only a short route, the driver still diligently serves passengers, opening the door to see off passengers at each station and welcoming new ones. The trolley can be driven from both sides, so when reaching the end, the driver carries the iron steering wheel to the opposite side and sits in the seat to start a new round. The stroll is really interesting, which is not easy to find in other industrial cities for tourists. And that is enough for us to remember Dallas with its bustling rhythm of hardworking, hospitable people.

More information:

Dallas is a city with a high density of cars, so visitors should avoid going during rush hours, there will be traffic jams and need to study the roads carefully in advance to avoid getting lost. You should have a GPS to get directions, if you accidentally go the wrong way, just calmly follow the new instructions to find the right way. Some roads have automatic toll collection, so you should also consult in advance to decide on the itinerary.

When going to public parking lots, you must pay close attention to the parking time, fees, and regulations, such as parking lots are only for Dallas residents who go to work, pay monthly tickets, and do not allow visitors to park.

If you want to visit many Vietnamese shops, restaurants and supermarkets, you can drive to Arlington city, about 1 hour from Dallas. This place has a large Vietnamese community, especially the "Ben Thanh market" area with all the shops hanging Vietnamese signs and Hiep Thai food supermarket selling everything, very diverse.

The Thanh