The Vietnamese use a specific verb to identify the action of going to Vietnam. They use "to return". Actually, more specifically, it holds the connotation of "returning home" to Vietnam. This is not only used by the Vietnamese diaspora, but also by the natives.
I had always wondered what it would feel like to return to Vietnam for the first time. I've always had strong inclinations towards my cultural roots, and always felt a tug in the direction of my home country. When I first got out of the airport, I didn't feel much of anything. It was when we started driving through the city that I realized: I'm home. Granted, it was night time and I couldn't see much, but it felt right and it felt like home, strangely.
I came home for the first time.
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