Hanoi, Vietnam

As a solo diner the custom in Vietnamese culture is to be sat alongside any one else that's on their own. It seemed odd at first, an uncomfortable infringement on my Western expectation of personal space, but I came to appreciate it. Sharing a meal in silence with strangers, the occasional smile or knowing nod as the spice kicks in and your breaths intensify. This kindly gentleman educated me through miming on the proper assortment of condiments to add to my Pho this morning and applauded when I went for a second large squirt of chilli sauce.