Ms Azran participated in a protest movement against the US during the war in Vietnam. She arrived in Vietnam in the 90s to witness the country after the war. This is also the period she began to devote her love to Vietnam, especially Hanoi, and over the past 18 years, unforgettable memories have nurtured her love for the capital each and every day.

Her swanky and noble look will be the first impression of anybody who meets Ms Azran for the first time. With a smiling face, Raquelle says that she considers Hanoi to be one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Ms Azran loves Hanoi for its simplicity, intimacy and antique feel. Especially, Vietnamese people in general and Hanoians in particular play an important factor in nurturing her soft spot for the city.

Asked why she has become closely associated with Hanoi over the past 18 years, and Vietnam considers as her second homeland, she says, it is firstly important to become familiar with the language, daily dishes and people around you. Every time setting foot in Vietnam, she feels like returning home.

For Raquelle, Hanoi is part of her life. The landscape and sounds of the city have run through her veins. She is proud to say that she knows Hanoi like the back of her hand. Without hesitation, she talks about Hanoi like a tourist guide. “I love all different kinds of Vietnamese food. Spring rolls are wonderful. I like eating sticky rice for breakfast. I also adore Cha ca (grilled fish), Bun cha (noodles and grilled meat) and seafood”. She explains that although Vietnamese people eat a lot, they still stay fit and healthy. The reason is Vietnamese food is very good for your body.

The woman of American and Israeli nationality has spent a lot of her time exploring the beauty of Vietnam. Over the past 18 years, she stays in Vietnam three times a year to discover the scenic beauty of the country which she considers as her second homeland. It is simply by chance that Ms Azran has a passion for Vietnamese paintings. During her time in Vietnam she has collected many masterpieces from Vietnamese painters.

“For me, when I look at Vietnamese paintings, I feel very attracted to them”, Ms Azran says. “While international paintings with a modern style have not lured me so much, Vietnam’s fine arts are very appealing, direct and warm. Vietnamese fine arts are both traditional and modern as they feature popular themes in Asia and both eastern and western worlds.”

Therefore, for several years, Ms Azran has devoted most of her time to introducing Vietnamese painters’ masterpieces at international exhibitions around the globe, in places like the US, the UK, Singapore, Israel and the Netherlands. She said that a special masterpiece means that the more people look at it, the more interesting they find it. The longer she lives in Hanoi, the more she loves the capital city and Hanoian people. Raquelle has many fond memories of Vietnam.

She can never forget the legend of Hoan Kiem Lake (Sword Lake) - home to a big tortoise, which represented a Vietnamese symbol of luck as it granted the sword to King Le Loi in the feudal time. At first, she thought this was an imaginary story. But one day, when walking near Hoan Kiem Lake, she saw many people gathering around the lake. She followed them and saw a big tortoise poking its head out of the water. “When I told the story to everyone, they said that I must be lucky. This is one of my fondest memories of Hanoi, she says. 

Each time Raquelle stays go away from Hanoi, she misses every street corner, every face and every smile of local Hanoians. It’s nice to see women selling fresh flowers, and fruits and hear people talking in Vietnamese. “Hanoi may not be an ideal place but it is always filled with warm feelings of hospitality. Vietnam, especially Hanoi, is forever my second homeland”.