As a South American, football (soccer) is part of our lives from the moment we start breathing. I clearly remember my father shouting and screaming at the TV while watching national or international matches. During the World Cup, everyone became our friends, even those we never talked to, or those who liked another team. Football is like a religion for many Spanish speakers and for millions around the world.
Traveling has taught us the importance of not only observing other people’s cultures but also trying to find common ground. Although I am not a great football player, it has served as a tool to meet new people. Football has a particular magic to connect people no matter their nationality, religion, gender, or even their political interests.
At arriving in Ho Chi Minh City at the end of July 2020, I felt an urge to play football. Almost in every city and town, we had visited throughout Vietnam, we had noticed locals playing in fields. It was common to see groups playing football at the beach and even in some remote areas. One day while browsing Facebook, I noticed a post on the group called Expats in Ho Chi Minh City. Members from a group called HCM Futsal, invited anyone to play each Wednesday in the evenings. It was the perfect opportunity to mingle with the locals and other Expats in the city.
Once I had joined the HCM Futsal on their WhatsApp group, signed up on their weekly list, Wednesday had arrived. Finding the location was tricky, but after a while, we had found the field. Once there, a few Vietnamese players approached and greeted me. They had quickly introduced themselves and made me feel welcomed. On that occasion, I remember being one of only a few foreigners among a group of about 20 players. I had felt welcomed to a group accustomed to sharing the pitch with foreign players. After observing other groups in other fields, ours was the most diverse. Our group had players from Vietnam, Malaysia, Italy, England, Poland, Greece, Honduras, and Chile.
The HCM Futsal group formed in 2016, and to this day some of its original members play each week. Since then, the group has had players from many countries around the world. South Korea, Japan, South Africa, India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, United States, France, Norway, Singapore, and Belgium to name a few.
Joining HCM Futsal has been a great experience. Meeting many other players from different countries and cultures, it’s a group that is open to all levels of skills. Being part of this group has given me the opportunity as well to stay active, and relief some stress.
Due to external circumstances, our time in Vietnam came to an end in mid-January 2021. Being able to learn about its rich culture, history, mingle with its friendly people, and taste their delicious food made our stay very pleasant. Playing football with Vietnamese and ex-pats once a week made my stay in Ho Chi Minh City even better. Our memories from this beautiful Asian country will definitely stay with us forever. We will for sure return in the future.
Keep traveling, keep learning
