Today, I checked my blog and nearly fell over when I saw it had racked up close to 5,000 views. It feels like a dream—like I’ve suddenly become some kind of internet celebrity. I know it’s easy to invite guests into your home, but keeping them around is the real challenge. Still, I started this blog to pour out my thoughts, jot down what’s swirling in my head, and pass the time. So, at the end of the day, the most important thing is to write what feels true to me.
A Quick Detour
Before I dive into the main story, let me ramble a bit. I’ve paused my usual posts about love stories from movies and books. The reason? I’m stuck on ideas for an online story I’m hoping to publish. When I browsed the Vietnamese WordPress homepage, it was flooded with translations of Chinese web novels—impressive view counts and all. It made me a little wistful. It also proved that anyone claiming people don’t read anymore is dead wrong.
Another reason for the break is that I’ve spent hours googling for a decent romantic movie to watch, something to ease my overworked brain. Those posts are meant to be light entertainment. So, if you’re commenting on them, please don’t bring in heavy subjective critiques. I’m not here to review films.
The Bus Chronicles
Now, onto the real topic: life on the bus. A friend recently asked me to help write a script for a short video promoting bus etiquette, hoping to encourage more people to ride. I was hesitant because, let’s be honest, the state of our buses isn’t exactly inspiring. If we made a glossy TV ad showing buses as perfect, nobody would buy it. But I’m broke, and when opportunity knocks with a paycheck, I don’t say no. Hunger has a way of sparking creative ideas.
Since I got this assignment before Tết, I’ve been riding the bus more than usual. The little acts of kindness—like giving up seats for the elderly, kids, or pregnant women—are common and heartwarming. But I’ve noticed one thing: no tall, strong guys seem to offer their seats to women. Sure, we’re in an era of gender equality, and if guys can stand, women can too. No one’s saying women are frail. Still, there were days when I saw women lugging huge bags, standing next to guys sitting empty-handed, looking perfectly relaxed. It irked me a bit.
A Small Moment of Magic
City buses are one thing, but a trip back to my grandma’s village brought a gem of a story. I was heading to her place and needed to get off at my stop. I went to the door and pressed the button. The bus assistant called out, “Step down with your right foot first, okay?” I froze, confused, until it hit me. I’m terrible at distinguishing left from right. Thinking he was teasing, I blurted out, “Which one’s the right, anyway?” By the time I said it, I was already safely on the ground.
Later, on the return trip, I hopped on another bus. A few passengers got off before me, and a different assistant said the exact same thing. This time, my brain caught up faster, and I understood. Suddenly, I felt this unexpected fondness for the bus. I mean, on the route from Vân Đồn to Hạ Long, with dozens of stops, that assistant probably repeats himself all day. At quieter stops with just one or two passengers, he gives the reminder. At busier ones, the bus stops completely until everyone’s safely off.
It’s a small gesture of bus “etiquette” that goes unnoticed until you experience it. Life’s simple moments often reveal themselves like that, quietly and by chance.
Back to the Project
As for that video project, it’s still up in the air. The deadline’s next week, but I’m juggling another unfinished task from before Tết. I’ll get there eventually. For now, I’m keeping my eyes open for inspiration from the everyday chaos of the bus.