Preconceptions and Expectations

What does the world think about Vietnam before setting foot on Vietnamese soil? My opinion about Vietnam, hearing all sorts of strange and dubious things from everyone who already had an issue before arriving in Vietnam, made me wonder. But considering that when you go on vacation or on a trip, you embark on a new adventure, you must be aware that good or bad things can happen. But I like to say that a day without hard difficulties is not a successful day.

Two Types of Travelers

Reading various blogs and forums, I managed to understand that there are two types of people who have been to Vietnam and have told their stories about their time there. These two categories of people are those who had a good opinion and a beautiful experience and wrote about their time in Vietnam, and there is another category of people who had a less pleasant experience and wrote about their experience as it was.

The Problem with Comparisons

Now, with everything I’ve read, I’ve formed an opinion and come to the conclusion that there are also people with their minds set on a standard profile that cannot be changed. The biggest problem some people face when they arrive in Asia is that they start making comparisons. And from here come both beautiful and less beautiful experiences.

The Vietnam Experience

Arriving in Ho Chi Minh City

Arriving with an international flight in China, it was time to board the plane to Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City. Arriving on the plane, being greeted quite well and tired, but with a zest for life because I had arrived on the second plane that would take me to my destination, I said it’s time to live more correctly.

Vietnamese Airline Impressions

This plane being operated by a Vietnamese company, but being a plane with international flights or flights outside the country, had quite good and acceptable conditions, and people were quite respectful, even though many people were traveling home for business purposes.

Unexpected Meal Service

My plane was going to travel approximately 3 hours, being a relatively short journey for me. But still, I was impressed that on the plane, a meal and something to drink were offered. My opinion is that I was treated better than in Europe. My parents told me that in the 1970s-1980s in Europe, a meal was offered without paying for it, and people even smoked in the airplane restroom. Anyway, I was delighted with the meal offered by the airline, and I didn’t expect that at all. It was quite a surprise.

Immigration and SIM Card Purchase

Arriving at Ho Chi Minh Airport, it was time to do what everyone does, go directly to the immigration desk to check the visa. Actually, I don’t know what I was supposed to do there, but I can say that after you finish walking through the airport halls, getting closer to the exit, somewhere on the left is the immigration desk where the immigration counter is, and on the right is a counter where you can buy phone cards. So here you do two necessary things at the same time before passing through the Border Police.

Smooth Immigration Process

Arriving at the immigration desk, I handed over my passport and a sheet with the visa, that’s what I heard from others to have on a sheet, so I did the same and I also had a photo to complete the package. Actually, the lady only took my passport, typed something on the computer. I don’t know what she did, she smiled and wished me a pleasant vacation. Being a foreign citizen, she already knew why I was there. Actually, I don’t even know if I had to go to that counter because I didn’t get anything. I also had 50 dollars with me, because I heard from others to have money to pay for the visa or something like that, but she didn’t take any money from me.

Acquiring a Local SIM Card

Then I went straight to the counter where phone cards were sold. I paid $15 for the phone, and I received a phone card that was already inserted into the phone. But I can tell you that my SIM card was changed in front of me there, so they changed my SIM card. I know I received a $15 card valid for 30 days, which had 6 GB of internet to use every day. So every day I received 6 GB and so on. On the papers there it says Unlimited internet 4G. Actually, it refers to being able to use it as you wish, and it doesn’t mean you have unlimited internet. It’s a way of advertising the SIM card and the telephone company. I won’t give names, but it starts with V/I/T/E/.

Exiting the Airport

Having internet on my phone, I already felt better. Now it was time to go stand in line to go through immigration, through those who check passports. Here the surprises began, as there were 5-6 rows and each row had about 20 people and more were coming because more planes were arriving. After waiting for 1 hour, because that’s the procedure, and entering and exiting, I also arrived there, I handed my passport for them to look at my face, and the gentleman there said: Welcome to Vietnam. I went a little further and looked in my passport, and here I saw that the gentleman stamped it and wrote the date with a pen, so here I had my task.

Finding Transportation to the Hotel

Now it was time to go find something to take me to the hotel. I’m not the type of person who plans months in advance because I like to go directly into the situation that comes in front of me and do it my way. Going down some stairs, I arrived directly at the large door of the airport that took me out of the airport. Passing through this door, there are some offices on the right and a few counters where you can buy SIM cards for the phone, at other counters there are those who have taxis.

Taxi Services at the Airport

But I can say that as soon as you go out the big door and you reach the area where these offices are, someone already comes to you and asks TAXI SIR, SIM CARD SIR! So if you reach this area, don’t be scared, everything is legal and those people work there being authorized by the airport and the government. They are not smart guys to cheat you. I had a phone card, but I needed a taxi. I went to a counter there, paid $10 in Vietnamese currency, and the lady called a taxi to come pick me up. I waited 3 minutes, and the lady gave me the receipt + a gentleman who worked with the lady accompanied me outside and stayed with me until the taxi arrived.

Arriving at the Hotel

Taxis stay in the parking lot somewhere further away, and in front of the airport, they come, stop, you get in, and leave, you’re not allowed to stay there. In front of the airport, there were also some guides with papers on which they wrote the names of those who were coming. Being several dozen people and you don’t know who your driver or guide is, he will write your name on a piece of paper and you will go to the one who has your name or vice versa.

Settling In

Getting into the taxi, I went straight to District 2 where I arrived at the hotel. I paid for the hotel, and in the hotel’s refrigerator there were some cold drinks that I consumed, but even though I was tired, I didn’t really feel like sleeping. I stayed for another 3 hours at the hotel reception and in front of the hotel to rejoice that I arrived safely.

Final Thoughts

That’s how my experiences were until I reached my place in Vietnam. I can say that I liked it and that I was treated very well. I was not in danger for a second, and I consider Vietnam to be a pretty good country for vacations, even for those who have children.