Getting to Vietnam During the Pandemic

In May 2020, right about the time the Covid-19 global pandemic started picking up steam, I left my job at Google in the US. I had been separated from my fiancée, Van, for nearly two years, and wanted desperately to reunite. Little did I know at the time how difficult it would be to travel to Vietnam. I knew the borders were currently closed. However, I had no idea that I would eventually have to fake a business visa, purchase an unlisted flight indirectly, and photoshop a Covid test.¹

Paperwork

The 13 pieces of paper required for my entry into Vietnam included my flight itinerary, a covid test, international health insurance card, a second covid test, international health insurance contract, a third covid test, my international health insurance declaration form, the Vietnamese immigration’s medical declaration, my quarantine hotel confirmation and receipt, my “employer” sponsor letter, a government approval letter, and finally the immigration approval letter. Going into all the effort required for obtaining each of those documents would take ages. So just know that it was difficult and stressful knowing whether or not we did everything correctly.

Taking Off

After spending what seemed like an eternity talking with the Korean Airlines staff in Chicago, who seemed to think there was no way I could possibly be flying to Vietnam at that time, I finally received my boarding pass. They checked and double-checked every single piece of paperwork and cross-referenced them with each other for legitimacy. What an enormous relief it was to finally be done with that. But the journey, and all of its complications, had only just begun.

Landing

Upon landing in Ho Chi Minh City and going through immigration, I was asked only to show my hotel reservation and my Covid-19 test. The staff did not even look at any details; they only waved passively, wanting to be done with work I assume. Korean Airlines in Chicago was thorough, but only so they wouldn’t be liable. Having all of our preparations dismissed so easily back in Vietnam was a little aggravating, but again, only the beginning. One of the most notable moments after immigrating, was witnessing over 50 people in protective hazmat suits. Not a single one of these people had the slightest idea that we (the only people in the airport at the time) were coming. After three hours of people running back-and-fourth trying to figure out what to do, I arrived at my quarantine hotel.

Quarantine

As a foreigner, I was required to stay at a “government approved” hotel instead of the quarantine complex Vietnamese citizens used. The hotels seemed to be “approved” based on their relationship with the government or how much they bribed. As a foreigner, we pay nearly $1500 for two weeks of quarantine, while the complex is free. Staying at the quarantine hotel was pretty normal, for the first two days. I had a daily routine of eating, studying Vietnamese, working on editing a video, and working out. After the second day, there was a power surge that fried my laptop. I didn’t bring any books or anything else to do for the next 12 days. So I had to be a bit creative to not lose my mind.

But to be honest, none of that mattered because Van was able to come visit me :) What an incredible feeling it was to finally be so close to Van. After seven unexpected, additional months of being apart, we were finally able to stay at least two meters apart from each other. The security staff didn’t always like us seeing each other, but eventually they became accustomed to it. Each day, Van secretly brought me snacks, and I gave her gifts.

Felix and Leo, our stuffed animal pets who traveled all the way from the US to see Van, enjoyed people watching out the window almost as much as I did. Watching folks deliver packages or pick up laundry made up most of my down time. At 05:00AM every morning on the dot, a group of retired people get up to exercise, which to them means dancing to really loud electronic music. I got in the habit of exercising at the same time.

Ending In Fire, Literally

After falling asleep peacefully on the last night of quarantine, I awoke abruptly to shouting and the smell of smoke in the air. The restful eve of my release was thwarted by another electrical surge, this time resulting in a full-blown fire. At first, the security was not so inclined to let us quarantinees out of a burning building. But after a few of us insisted, they warmed up to the idea eventually. We were escorted across the street to another venue, where we waited for transport to another hotel.

Here We Go Again

After a very long night, I made it to my second, and final, quarantine hotel. This time I was on the seventh floor, so I couldn’t see Van except by telescope (a.k.a my 200mm lens). But Felix and Leo seemed to enjoy their new view. Calling Van on my phone and watching each other from a distance helped pass the time until I could escape.

Reunited

After all of the time, effort, and money involved in getting over to Vietnam, I finally made it. Reuniting felt all the better after waiting for so long. Everything we went through was worth it :)