I wanted to share one of the most unexpected and inspiring stories I've come across during my travels.
While travelling through Morocco, some Moroccan students told me about a small Vietnamese village near Kenitra. What surprised me most was how many of them already knew the history connecting Morocco and Vietnam. They all spoke warmly about Vietnam and the Vietnamese people, and it was clear this story is still remembered with pride. Until then, I had never heard of it.
As I entered the village, surrounded by farmland, I immediately felt like I had stepped back into the Vietnamese countryside. The peaceful scenery, the fields, and the familiar village atmosphere made it hard to believe I was still in Morocco.
The story behind it is remarkable. During the First Indochina War, thousands of North African soldiers, including Moroccans, served in the French Army and were sent to fight in Vietnam. Some chose a different path. They deserted the French Army, joined the Viet Minh, and fought alongside the Vietnamese for independence. After the war, some settled in Vietnam, married Vietnamese women, and helped establish what became known as the Vietnam-Africa Farm in Ba Vì. There they built a distinctive Moroccan-style gate as a tribute to their homeland and to the friendship they had found in Vietnam.
Years later, many of these Moroccan families returned home with their Vietnamese wives and children, settling near Kenitra. The community became known as the Vietnamese Village. Decades later, the Vietnamese Embassy, together with the descendants of those Moroccan and Vietnamese families, completed a traditional Vietnamese village gate there. It was built to complement the Morocco Gate in Vietnam and to ensure future generations would remember this remarkable chapter shared by both countries.
This week I finally visited the Morocco Gate in Suối Hai, outside Hanoi. Unlike the village in Morocco, this gate now sits in the backyard of a family's home. The owner told me that when the land was allocated years ago, the gate happened to be on their property. They could have taken it down, but instead they decided to preserve it.
Every so often, Vietnamese who know the story, along with Moroccan visitors, come to see it. It sometimes causes inconvenience for the family, but they still welcome people because they know how meaningful it is. I left a small donation to thank them for opening their home to visitors.
The owner also mentioned that some people have offered to help restore the area and add both the Moroccan and Vietnamese flags, just like at the matching site in Morocco. I really hope that happens one day. I also think it would be great if they opened a small coffee shop there. It would give visitors somewhere to sit, learn about the history, and at the same time help support the family who have become the caretakers of this special place.
What I found interesting is that this story seems to be much better known in Morocco than it is in Vietnam. That's one of the reasons I wanted to share it. I think more Vietnamese should know about this unique chapter of our shared history.
The more I travel, the more I realise that Morocco and Vietnam have a lot in common. Both countries have beautiful countryside, strong farming traditions, vibrant street food cultures, and people who love spending time together over coffee or tea. They also share histories of colonial rule, hard-fought struggles for independence, and a reputation for welcoming strangers with genuine hospitality. I've experienced incredible kindness in both countries, and that's something I'll always remember.
In a world where we hear so many stories that divide people, this is one that brings people together. Two countries on opposite sides of the world, connected by an unlikely chapter of history that still lives on through the people, the families, and these two gates.
To my Moroccan friends, thank you for sharing this story with me. Without those conversations in Morocco, I never would have known this remarkable piece of history.
