Hanoi, Jan. 24 -- Vietnam's rich cultural heritage continues to captivate hearts worldwide, with an increasing number of foreign friends embracing, preserving and spreading its timeless allure.

One such enthusiast is Jean Sebastien Grill, a 43-year-old French man known locally as Truong Giang. His recent Zalo post, Viet Nam oi! Truong Giang ve que an Tet (Vietnam, here I come! Truong Giang returns home for Tet), might lead one to believe he is a returning Vietnamese expatriate. However, Grill's story is one of deep cultural immersion and love for Vietnam.

Grill returned to Hanoi just before the Kitchen God Day (23rd day of the lunar December) to partake in the cherished tradition of releasing carps into the water, a ritual that symbolis...