Traveling to Your Birth Country: A Journey Back to Your Roots or a Cultural Shock?

Introduction

My name is Léa. Adopted at the age of three from Việt Nam, I grew up in France, nurtured by distant tales of Indochina, the exotic flavors of Vietnamese food, and countless unanswered questions. For years, I dreamed of returning to my roots. In 2025, the time finally came: I boarded a flight to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Cochinchina, with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

Before the Journey: Between Excitement and Apprehension

The night before my departure, sleep was impossible. I pictured bustling streets, markets overflowing with shrimp, crispy spring rolls, caramelized pork, sticky rice, and fragrant soups filled with rice noodles, mung-bean sprouts, and flavorful herbs like mint and coriander. Would I feel at home? Would I reconnect with a missing piece of myself between the flavors of the Mekong Delta and the accents of Northern Việt Nam? I packed a few photos, an empty journal, and a whole lot of hope.

My mindset:

• A heart pounding with anticipation.

• The fear of feeling like a stranger on my own land.

• The eager desire to feel everything deeply.

The First Days: A Flood of Emotions

Stepping out of the airport, the sticky heat of Southern Vietnam enveloped me. The air was filled with the scent of incense, beef broth infused with ginger, onions, cilantro, lemongrass, stir-fried noodles, and ripe fruits like papaya. Everything felt familiar yet foreign. I wandered the streets of Saigon with wide-eyed wonder.

My discoveries:

• The genuine smile of a street vendor selling crispy nems and steamed egg rolls.

• The endless buzz of scooters typical of Southeast Asia.

• The colorful markets along the Red River where I delightedly got lost.

• The aromas of fresh cilantro, stir-fried soybeans, spicy chili, fish sauce, hoisin-sauce, and roasted sesame-oil.

• Stalls offering fresh summer rolls made with rice paper, marinated meats, prawn skewers, and savory veggie platters.

• Crunchy veggies like cabbage and sprouts seasoned with soy-sauce, pickled daikon, and carrots from local Vietnamese dishes.

• Vendors cooking meatballs, broken rice dishes, and noodle salads with dipping sauce under high-heat skillets.

Cultural Shock: A Double-Edged Mirror

I wanted so badly to belong to this Vietnamese world, but every detail reminded me I had grown up elsewhere. The way I spoke, walked, and smiled seemed unfamiliar here. Locals stared with curiosity. Some called me "Việt kiều"—the foreigner of Vietnamese origin.

My reflections:

• I belong both here and elsewhere.

• Accepting that I don't fit into a fixed image.

• Allowing myself to feel without judgment.

Returning to the Roots: Finding Inner Truth

One afternoon, in a small square in Hà Nội, the cradle of Tonkin, an elderly woman handed me a lotus flower with a gentle smile. Without saying a word, she offered me this symbol of rebirth. Tears welled up. In that simple gesture, I realized: I didn't need to speak fluent quốc ngữ (modern Vietnamese) to understand the essential.

My magical moments:

• Sharing a bowl of beef noodle soup garnished with shallots, lime juice, and fresh herbs at a warm Vietnamese restaurant.

• Sailing on a traditional junk boat through the stunning Halong Bay, a jewel of the South China Sea.

• Tasting freshly made spring-rolls dipped in peanut sauce from a local cookbook recipe.

• Enjoying a delicious bo bun noodle salad made of rice vermicelli, grilled pork, mung-bean sprouts, and vegetables, with a side of dipping sauce.

• Lighting incense sticks at a silent pagoda in memory of Annamite dynasties.

• Walking along the Perfume River in Huế, the former imperial capital.

Conclusion

Traveling to your birth country—between Northern Vietnam and the warmth of today's communist Southern Vietnam—means facing your truest reflection. This journey back to your roots doesn't erase the cultural shock, deeply marked by colonial history and the scars of the Vietnam War, but it opens an inner door, a path to oneself. Today, I know my story is woven from multiple worlds—European, Asian, Vietnamese, and Chinese—and it is this richness that defines me. Traveling doesn't answer every question, but it offers something greater: the peace of fully being oneself.

FAQ - Traveling to Your Birth Country

Why can traveling to your birth country cause cultural shock?

Because habits, language, values, and ways of life can be very different from those in your adoptive country, even if biological ties exist.

How can you prepare for a journey back to your roots?

Research the country’s history, learn a few local phrases, plan meetings with locals, and leave space for emotional reflection.

What feelings arise when visiting your birth country for the first time?

A complex mix of emotions: joy, sadness, pride, strangeness, and sometimes disappointment. Every experience is unique.

Is it normal to not fully feel "at home"?

Absolutely. Feeling caught between two worlds is a natural and common experience for many expatriated or adopted travelers.

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