Before I Leave

The closer I get to studying abroad, the more I realize how many things I still want to experience in Vietnam before leaving, especially in Ho Chi Minh City.

Recently, I started creating a personal bucket list of places, restaurants, cafés, and street foods that I want to try before beginning a new chapter overseas. At first, it was just a random note on my phone. But over time, it became something more meaningful: a collection of experiences I do not want to take for granted.

Living in Saigon, it is easy to become used to everything around me: the late-night food stalls, crowded streets, coffee shops hidden in old apartments, and the familiar sounds of the city. I never really thought about how much these small details shaped my everyday life until I began thinking about leaving.

My bucket list includes everything from famous local dishes to places I have always wanted to visit but kept postponing. Some are simple street foods like bánh tráng nướng, cá viên chiên, or milo dầm. Others are cafés, restaurants, and hidden spots around the city that friends have recommended to me for years.

What makes this list special is that it is not really about food itself. It is about memories, conversations, and the feeling of being connected to the city I grew up in. I want to experience these moments more intentionally before I leave, whether that means trying a new restaurant with friends, walking through familiar districts late at night, or revisiting places I used to overlook.

In a way, creating this bucket list has helped me appreciate Saigon more deeply. Preparing to study abroad naturally makes me excited for the future, but it has also reminded me not to rush past the present.

Before I leave to explore somewhere new, I want to fully experience the place that first shaped who I am.