So Long, Saigon

Three months in Vietnam have nearly come and gone so quickly. It has been an amazing and life-changing experience, and I've grown and learned so much over the past twelve weeks. I'll miss the country, but I'm looking forward to being back in Thailand. I've had a wonderful time, but Bangkok, not Hanoi, Da Nang, or Saigon, is the city that feels like home.

I'll share some random photos of the city here while I tell a little about one experience that we had in Vietnam.

Saigon City Hall

Everything in Vietnam has really gone so smoothly. There have been plenty of chances for things to go wrong, but everything was really great! I've learned a few words of Vietnamese - mostly food words. I've learned how to navigate the streets of the country's three big cities. I've developed a taste for the food and a rich appreciation for the beautiful culture and ancient history.

city hall gardens

There was really only one big problem, but it was one that bothered us on and off for the entire trip.

cool colorful buildings

It was a very tricky problem regarding Pinky's passport and visa.

statue at a Saigon temple

Before leaving Bangkok, we had both applied for and been granted a three-month visa to Vietnam. Upon arrival I had no problem whatsoever, but the immigration officer didn't see the visa affixed into Pinky's passport, and stamped her in for the 30-day visa-free entry guaranteed to Thai passport holders. We didn't realize until it was time to leave Hanoi. On our last day in the capital, when we noticed the error, we hurried to the immigration office where an uninterested government officer lazily glanced at the passport, visa, and stamp, and told us "no problem" before passing the passport back to us. He admitted that the immigration officer had just made a mistake, and that we would be ok for three months.

US aircraft wreckage  - I saw a lot of this in every city

Relieved, we continued on to Hue. It wasn't until our last month that we began to get worried again. Sure, that guy said it was ok, but he didn't change the stamp, issue any kind of paperwork, or anything. All he did was say "no problem", and honestly, he really seemed completely bored by the problem altogether.

Communist statues are a common site

In Saigon, we again visited the Immigration Department. To our great relief. the officer assisting us, a high-ranking (two stars on her uniform) and very kind middle-aged woman again told us that it was no problem, and that the officer at the airport had made a mistake. We could just go ahead and purchase a visa extension for $10 if we were worried. We did just that.

inside a Vietnamese temple

Online, I've read horror stories about the corrupt Communist officials in Vietnam who basically extort bribes at the airport for problems like this. I absolutely did not find this to be the case. The government official that we met with was the most friendly, kind, and helpful type of person that we could hope for. She admitted that there was a mistake, reassured us that everything was ok, and even gave us an avenue to fix the error to reassure ourselves further. Big props to her! Everything went far better than we could have hoped for.

the streets of Saigon

The immigration officer at the airport leaving Saigon was a bit confused at first by the odd dates and stamps that had been added to random pages throughout Pinky's passport, but after a minute or two of conferring with his supervisor, stamped her out of the country, and we continued on our way. It was a very competent and professional experience. I'm really very impressed!

time to say "goodbye"

At the airport, heavy storms blew in, delaying us by a few hours. We arrived back in Bangkok after a 1hr20min flight just before midnight, barely making the last bus out of  the airport. I'm glad to be back, but I'll miss our time in Vietnam.