The most memorable image for me when I arrived in Vietnam was when I sat on the bus, looking down at the children on the side of the road raising their hands to form hearts with us. Their eyes and smiles were so pure. I saw in them a future full of hope, not only for Vietnam but also for the world. For me, that moment was a precious gift, a beautiful memory that I will bring back to my homeland.

Ms. Myrna V. Pagán (center) shares her memories and feelings about Vietnam during a meeting with the President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

That also made me think: in a world full of changes, where many children are still afraid of strangers, in Vietnam, children warmly welcome, want to shake hands, want to take pictures with foreigners. I am very happy to have felt that.

When I heard the numbers of sacrifices in the past wars, my heart was squeezed. But you have overcome the loss to nurture a young generation as beautiful as the lotus. I just learned that the lotus is the national flower of Vietnam and it is right, because you are the embodiment of those lotuses: pure, resilient and full of life.

I hope to return to Vietnam one day and bring my grandchildren to meet the little friends here. I am at the end of my life, but the future belongs to the children, the young buds of our two countries.

Life is always more beautiful when we know how to share, when we treat each other with respect and love. That is what I want to bring to you, and that is also what the Vietnamese people are quietly giving to me. I am very happy to be in Vietnam. I wish I could stay longer, learn Vietnamese to communicate. But even if I cannot speak Vietnamese yet, my heart is still talking to you.

At first I thought I would bring back a conical hat, a traditional symbol of Vietnam, as a souvenir. But now I want to buy a motorbike helmet. Because to me, that is the image that truly reflects the spirit of Vietnam today: young, modern and always moving forward.

On April 17, we had an important meeting with the President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and heard updated information about your country. I realized that our two countries are not only geographically distant, but also separated by invisible walls of media and prejudice. Therefore, witnessing and experiencing life here with my own eyes is a valuable experience. From the people I met, I clearly felt the dedication, resilience and hope for the future. That is the strongest message that I will carry with me.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/viet-nam-trong-toi-la-tre-trung-hien-dai-va-luon-tien-ve-phia-truoc-213109.html