In 2022, Alina Izinger (33), from Moscow, Russia, moved to Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa Province with her husband and their three-month-old daughter to begin a new chapter of their lives.

After four years of experiencing the local climate, culture, and people, she reached one conclusion: "I have never felt like a stranger in Vietnam."

Alina first visited Vietnam 10 years ago on a vacation with her husband. From the moment she arrived in the S-shaped country, she fell in love with its natural beauty, cuisine, and the warmth of its people.

After that trip, the couple dreamed of moving to Vietnam permanently. That dream became reality in 2022, when her husband received a job opportunity in Nha Trang. They decided to relocate with their daughter and start a new life.

Alina admitted that the early days were far from easy. She was learning how to be a mother while trying to adapt to life in a completely unfamiliar country.

She did not know which hospital to take her daughter to when needed, struggled with the language barrier, and even buying food became a challenge because everything was so different from what she had known in Russia.

Those difficulties, however, were quickly eased thanks to the help of friends and neighbors.

"Whenever I ran into a problem, my neighbors were always willing to help. They never hesitated to answer my questions or lend a hand. Their kindness made me feel safe living in Vietnam," Alina recalled.

One memory that has stayed with her happened while the family was living in a house with a garden.

One day, a neighbor spotted a snake slithering into their yard. Without hesitation, he climbed over the fence and dealt with the snake before it could enter the house.

When Alina learned what had happened, she was both surprised and deeply moved. Terrified of snakes, she was immensely grateful for her neighbor's quick action.

Another time, a similar situation occurred again. A snake crawled straight into the house, causing Alina and her husband to panic, jump onto chairs to evade it, and not know how to handle it.

"I texted my neighbor to ask for advice; unexpectedly, he immediately ran over to help handle it. Entering the house and seeing my husband and me standing on chairs, clutching a mop in our hands, he burst out laughing and then calmly caught the snake to take it outside within a few minutes," Alina recalled.

Alina said that those might be very normal stories for Vietnamese people but were unforgettable memories for a foreign family.

The memory that moved Alina the most was last year, when Nha Trang suffered a massive flood.

During that time, the area where she lived was deeply flooded, losing electricity, running water, and even phone signals. Many families were virtually isolated for many days.

Amidst the difficult and struggling times, Alina and her husband felt the "neighborly love" more clearly as everyone tried to help each other with whatever they could.

She was especially moved when volunteers later arrived with food, drinking water, and other essential supplies. Thanks to that timely assistance, her family was able to get through the devastating flood.

"I was deeply touched by the solidarity and compassion of the Vietnamese people. Their genuine kindness is what has made Vietnam such a special place in our hearts," Alina said.

Vietnamese food

Over the last four years in Vietnam, Alina has collected many wonderful experiences.

She especially loves Vietnam's coffee culture. Coffee shops are not just places to enjoy a drink, they are spaces where people work, relax, and meet friends.

Over time, visiting cafés has become a weekend habit for her family.

Vietnamese cuisine has also won her over. At first, she struggled because the flavors were very different from Russian food. But after four years, she has come to appreciate the unique character of each dish, and now her family eats Vietnamese food every day.

"The first time I tried bun bo Hue, the flavor felt unusual, especially the fermented shrimp paste. But after trying it a few more times, I understood why Vietnamese people love it so much. Now I'm genuinely addicted to bun bo Hue and have it at least once a week.

"I also love pho, bun cha, banh mi, and Vietnamese iced milk coffee. I've become a true fan of Vietnamese cuisine," Alina said with a smile.

Thanh Minh