Mixtape Hanoi #3: Handwritten Memoirs

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Handwritten letters have become strange and a bit “weird” in this era. It seems that we only find them in the keepsakes that our grandparents and parents kept.

Do we young people ever write letters by hand, I wonder, in an age where digital technology is so fast that it can be counted in seconds? With that question in mind, I visited the Hanoi Post Office on a chilly autumn afternoon.

The moment we stood in front of the Post Office, we felt a bit confused and hesitant. Partly because I was worried about not knowing how to ask, partly because I thought the Post Office was a serious administrative place, not a place where we could easily chat.

That shyness led us to the cafe of Uncle Minh – who lived and grew up next to the Post Office for decades. He considers the Post Office to be his home, a place of business, and “a memory of the couple when they first met each other.” The two of us ordered a cup of iced tea with a few peanut candy bars, and so the journey to the memory of handwritten letters, to an ancient Post Office, began.

Even if its name is changed, or it is put on a more modern outfit, to Uncle Minh, “The Post Office has been the same for decades, just like that. If there is any difference, the difference is that in the past it was more crowded and fun, but now it’s sad because people don’t send letters much anymore.”

For me, when sitting in front of a blank sheet of paper and only having a pen for company, people become more honest.

“If you text me, I’ll save you time. When I write a letter, it has memories, when I’m sad, I take it out and read it. The letters were discreet, quiet, sincere, and only the two of them knew each other.”

“But now, no one is too old-fashioned to send letters anymore. In modern civilization, even yearly text messages can still be reviewed, so why is it wrong to send letters? Uncle Minh’s younger sister spoke loudly while making bread. Although Uncle Minh and his aunt both grew up in the same era, the “argument” seemed to represent two generations separated by decades.

What made Uncle Minh believe that writing letters is still something profound that should be preserved, while we are in a digital age where it only takes 3 seconds to send a message? We wondered when we saw the mailbox opposite was covered in dust with scribbled graffiti.

“Each thing has its own advantages, my dear. As society develops, it is normal to communicate more quickly. But if you want people to see your heart, you can only write a handwritten letter. If we didn’t write letters, how would there be stories like Dang Thuy Tram and Trinh Cong Son?

All the most beautiful wishes and dreams are always wrapped up in a letter that no one can violate, you understand” – Uncle Minh said while smiling, as if he did not want to be misunderstood that he was teaching young people.

So in your opinion, when did you still write letters by hand? As for us, it is the time of love, entanglements and some honest words that are afraid to say.

We walked around Le Thach, Dinh Tien Hoang, Trang Tien streets to see the Post Office longer. It turns out that in every corner, every facility, the Post Office has such unique charms. Perhaps Hanoi Post Office is more than just a landmark. This is also a spiritual and cultural symbol of the people of the capital, carrying within it many traces of ups and downs of history.

As Uncle Minh said, as society develops more modernly, it is understandable that people do not write letters anymore. Even so, we still can’t help but feel nostalgic when thinking about a magical method of communication that is gradually disappearing, not only transmitting information, but also our deep soul to the recipient.

If you ever feel confused, or want to express your feelings to the person you love, try sending your thoughts through handwritten letters. Even if the words are a bit clumsy or neat, they have the ability to make you feel nostalgic, moved and empathized right from the moment you put pen to paper.

“Just write. I hope you will have beautiful letters” – Uncle Minh said goodbye to us like that 👋