My Vietnam travelogue series is fondly named WTP, Rosh. You can read the first part here, the second part here, the third part here.
I started planning my Vietnam trip about five months prior to the actual trip but went through it at the pace of a drip coffee.
I wanted to run on my birthday to celebrate another decade around the sun. So I decided to run the Trail marathon amidst Vietnam’s mountains.
I had the itinerary planned, Airbnbs booked, travel mostly booked and forex sorted. But for some inexplicable reason, I decided to apply for the visa just one week prior to the date of travel.
I am grateful it arrived two days prior to my date of flight, but I do not recommend this last-minute anxiety.
M was going to join me a few days after. She was going to run the trails along with me and then spend a few days in the city. Unlike me, she had applied for, and received, her visa well in advance - like a responsible international traveller.
On the day of her travel, I was sitting in a scenic cafe in Hanoi, enjoying the views of old architecture and dragons on rooftops.
I called M to check if she had everything sorted for travel and ended up having a fun conversation instead. With the whole “missing wallet” case sorted, we were both excited to spend a few days in nature. I ended the call with a smile on my face and a glowing warmth that that dragons would have smelled if they were alive.
True to this series’ name, all that lasted for exactly 42 minutes. I took a break from my focus mode and unlocked my phone.
18 MISSED CALLS.
〰️
10 MISSED VIDEO CALLS.
〰️
18 MISSED CALLS. 〰️ 10 MISSED VIDEO CALLS. 〰️
The hell? I mean, the Pho?
Turns out M realised her name was misspelled on her visa… on the day of her flight.
I opened Whatsapp to read all her panic texts reading “I WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO BOARD THE FLIGHT!” And she was not wrong - if her name on her passport and visa don’t match, she would not be joining me here and all our plans….
Deep breaths
“Okay, what are our options?” I asked her on call.
“Not much, I might have to pay $250 to get the visa!”
WHAT
“No, there must be some other way…” I insisted.
She said she’d spoken to a friend who suggested reaching out to the Vietnam Embassy in India, explaining the situation honestly and requesting them to modify the visa. “But that’s a long shot. They’re in Delhi and not picking up calls.”
“What, why not? It’s not a holiday there!”
“HOW WOULD I KNOW??”
Yes, that was a stupid question on my end. I admit.
This was a big problem, because time was really not on our side - not for the flight, not for extra vacation days, and.. Not for the run. If she delayed her flight by even one day, she would not be able to join me for the trail run and that was a three-day run-cation package. I did not want to do a birthday run all alone with a bunch of strangers.
Deep breaths
“Okay, would it help if I go to the Embassy here in Hanoi?” I asked helpfully.
“OH.. YEAH, Maybe..?” I sensed the confusion and sadness in her voice, and sprung to action.
Cynical Inner Voice: Isn’t all this a bit filmy?
Anxiety: Also, can we revisit the definition of “last-minute-anxiety” that you said you experienced for your visa? I would not like my name dragged for every minor inconvenience you experience.
ME: Can you all shut up?
Anxiety: Actually I am programmed to last till the caffeine from that coffee does…
DEEP BREATHS
More like jagged breaths at this point, but I needed the reminder…
