Hanoi inspires Korean student’s lifelong journey

THE HANOI TIMES — "Hanoi has always had a mysterious allure. A walk around Hoan Kiem Lake feels like being drawn into its sacred and beautiful heart,” shared Jeon Hyong Jun, a 1995-born South Korean affectionately known as Tuan Jeon.

In his memory, the Old Quarter glows with a vitality unlike any other. Each step into its winding alleys felt to him like entering a living canvas, where ancient houses leaned close together, street cries blended into a restless chorus, and the very air seemed to breathe with the rhythm of Hanoi itself.

He often thought of this as the purest essence of the city.

During his two years there, that sensation never dimmed. Even when he returned to South Korea or traveled far away, the images of timeworn streets, the fragrance of steaming bowls of pho, the faint trace of incense smoke curling in the morning air, always returned to him, powerful enough to stir his heart.

“Hanoi is the city I had long dreamed of. When I finally arrived, it felt as if I were living inside that very dream,” he recalled with emotion.

From dream to reality

In November 2021, Tuan arrived in Vietnam. Unlike most Koreans who preferred apartment complexes within Korean communities, he chose to rent a small house in the Old Quarter.

“I wanted to live like a Vietnamese, to blend into their daily rhythm. That time was invaluable, because it helped me understand more about this beautiful country and its capital,” he said.

Currently, about 50,000 Koreans live in Hanoi, with the majority concentrated in areas set aside for them, residing in modern, fully equipped apartments in communes such as Yen Hoa, Tu Liem, Dai Mo, and Thanh Xuan. 

For Tuan, Hanoi is more than a destination. It marked the beginning of a lifelong journey intertwined with Vietnam, a connection first forged during Tuan's high school years in Korea as he chose to study Vietnamese in the northern accent.

Hanoi came alive to him through evocative fragments, from the cool sweetness of Trang Tien ice cream to the lively chorus of vendors in the 36 guild streets and the tranquil green waters of Hoan Kiem Lake reflecting the Turtle Tower.

His dream of living in the city inspired him to defer university for a year, and that dream eventually came true.

At the beginning, his biggest challenge was learning to ride a motorbike, a vehicle so deeply woven into Hanoi life.

“When I first started, I fell a lot and was really nervous. But my friends pushed me into the thick traffic during rush hour to practice, and thanks to that, I got used to it quickly,” he laughed.

When he finally owned his own motorbike, he considered it a companion that carried him through every street, pausing at sidewalk cafés on chilly winter days, sipping bac xiu (milk coffee), cracking sunflower seeds, and chatting animatedly with friends.

On those journeys, he developed the habit of smiling at security guards, chatting with vendors at red lights, until he realized he had blended in so much that “no one even thought I was a foreigner anymore.”

That sense of belonging was even clearer in his early mornings in the Old Quarter. He would start the day with a steaming bowl of pho, a fragrant plate of grilled bun cha, or an iced milk coffee favored by the regulars.

On the sidewalks, the sound of shoe polishers’ tools clicked rhythmically into the gradually bustling morning. In these moments, he listened to the stories of motorbike drivers and street vendors, reaching into the deeper concerns and thoughts of Hanoians.

In total, Tuan spent more than three years in Hanoi, including working at the Voice of Vietnam and pursuing a master’s degree in International Relations at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.

Do Khanh Van, a student at the academy, observed that Tuan holds a special passion for Hanoi’s culture.

“He spent much of his time exploring the streets, seeking to understand the beauty of the capital. Whenever he spoke of Hanoi, the passion and deep affection in his eyes were unmistakable,” she said.

Tuan once lived in Cua Nam Ward, next to the Old Quarter, which he proudly regarded as the soul of Hanoi, a place preserving the city’s history, culture, and distinctive way of life.

He recalled his neighbors often telling him that no matter where one goes, they will always return to Hanoi.

“I believe that’s true, because even when I lived in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi was always in my heart,” he confided.

Love for Vietnam, from language to culture

For him, Hanoi is the starting point, while Vietnam is a lifelong journey of discovery and affection. Language became the key that opened the door to that journey.

This love began with a chance decision.

After failing to enter the English Department at a foreign language specialized school in Korea, he took a leap and chose Vietnamese, a language he had never considered before. Yet after only a month, he realized he had a natural affinity for its tones.

"My lips, tongue, and voice just seemed to fit this language. Even my Vietnamese teacher praised me for it," he recalled.

He always believed that if you know the language, you understand the people, and if you understand the people, you see the culture. This belief became the guiding compass for all his experiences.

Over the past 15 years, Vietnamese has become his daily language, helping him fully immerse himself in Vietnamese life. From the beginning, Tuan set the goal of living like a true Vietnamese, dressing, living, and speaking like a local, and understanding the culture deeply.

"Sometimes I drive better, or even speak Vietnamese more fluently than some Vietnamese people. Those moments make me happier than ever,"’ he laughed.

Many only discovered he was Korean after seeing his Facebook profile, and even then, some still did not believe it.

“Maybe I was Vietnamese in my previous life,” he joked.

Tuan has engaged in many cultural, diplomatic, and journalistic activities, while holding on to the same dream of becoming a bridge between Vietnam and South Korea.

He believed the two nations will continue to strengthen their ties, with genuine communication and understanding as the most important foundation.

“To achieve that, you need people who understand both countries, and I believe I am one of them,” he said.

He affirmed that his journey had begun in Hanoi and that Vietnam had become the destination of his heart, adding that the road ahead was his lifelong commitment to a land that welcomed him as family.