A year ago, on this very day, I was enjoying my solo trip across Vietnam.

When I reminisce about that journey, a very specific memory floods my mind.

It was my last day at Hoi An, a former trading centre and melting-pot town located on Vietnam’s central coast. It was my penultimate day in Vietnam before heading to the chaotic Guangzhou, in Southern China.

I was in my homestay, recovering from a long cycling exploration of the countryside under the midday sun, when I heard a soft knock on my door. The young lady, who was working at the homestay, had come to invite me to a family party and taken by surprise, I accepted her invitation.

As the fine mist of the night came along, I joined my hosts in the courtyard. Colorful Chinese lanterns, hanging from trees, lit up the night. The dining table was strewn with mouth-watering dishes featuring chicken, crab and mussels, the ever-present morning glory, all waiting to be washed down with some cold beers. After shyly introducing myself to the family members gathered there, I sat down at the table alongside Linh, my chaperone, and a family member named Quang.

Very soon, I found myself indulging in tangy sea food and sour beers while sharing life stories with Linh and learning how to efficiently eat small crabs from Quang. The food, conversations and jokes kept flowing along with the beers, impromptu toasts and culinary insights. Then, as in any good Vietnamese party, microphone and speakers were rolled in for karaoke. For the rest of the night, we sang our hearts out over a playlist of Vietnamese and Italian favorites, before a thunder storm put a stop to our show.

Their warmth, kindness and thoughtfulness in welcoming me in their private gathering made me feel part of the family. Even though I barely knew them, I felt very much at home. At that table, there was a place for me. A place where I was fully embraced for who I was and in return I embraced them for who they were.

And just like that, I found myself in a place where we truly realized and shared our “humanity”, a place where we all belonged.

Along my way through Vietnam, I re-discovered and cherished my "humanity" by....

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