Stranded in Saigon

First evening in Saigon. It was raining, I still went out to dinner in the alley of Pham Ngu Lao where I live. The hotel kindly lent me an umbrella. And, nice surprise, I met a Vietnamese woman. We had dinner together in front of her shop…

Well the festive atmosphere of Pham Ngu Lao was welcome but, during the day, I was very busy.
This additional ten days in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) had consequences.
On the one hand, I found myself in illegality vis-à-vis the immigration services with the visa overstay.
On the other hand, I took the opportunity to solve a health problem. Indeed, in terms of care Vietnam, in the big cities (Hanoi and Saigon), is at the forefront. The treatments are obviously paying, but the quality is there. While India, to my knowledge, is under-equipped in terms of hospitals. I tried when I was in Delhi. When I arrive at the hospital, there are queues of 150 people at each counter and, even if I queue, there is no guarantee that the employee will speak English. It’s even unlikely.

The visa problem

I returned to Vietnam for 14 days with a visa waiver.
The positive test prevented me from taking my return flight. I am therefore overstaying my visa, my situation is illegal.

I will go twice to the Vietnamese immigration services. Standing in line and laboriously explaining what is happening to me. The answer was evasive each time. No need for visa extension negative covid tests justify the visa time overrun.
Of course, on the day of departure, things were not so simple.
For the immigration services, I had prepared the supporting documents and the following document:

About Visa and Immigration services

I arrive Vietnam The 18 of July  with Visa exemption 2 weeks
I had flight ticket back on 1st august.
But at airport, Vietjet ask me PCR test. I didn’t have.
So i report flight on 3 of august and I made a PCR Test the 2 of august (DIAG HCMC).
The test was positive so I cancelled the flight. And I wait in Saigon.
The 4 august, I went to HCMC Immigration Department 337 Nguyen Trai.
I queue 3  hours and the officer told me that I don’t need visa. I just have to show PCR test positive to immigration officer when I flight back.
On Monday 8 august I came back to HCMC Immigration Department, 337 Nguyen Trai, to make sure I don’t need visa. The officer confirm me but refuse when I ask a receipt.
So no choice, I have to trust the word of the officer.
Diag laboratory told me make new test 7-8 days later and I heard about 10 days.
I wait 8 days and, the 10 august, I made a new test : Negative
As soon as  knew I am PCR test negative, i bought a new ticket flight back to India.

I have all the supporting documents so I am normally in good standing.
But now they have all the powers. They can therefore:
1- make me wait until I miss the plane.
2- refuse my explanations and apply the law in the event of an overstay: $15/day late or $150.
The agent asks me to pay, I ask how much… fleeting moment and he tells me 2 million Dong (= 80€). I take out my wallet and tell them that I don’t have 2 million. They will take all that I have left (about 1 million) and the money will disappear in a drawer. They sign me the paper meaning that I am in good standing. So I can get on the plane…
I made it a rule never to give in to corruption, but given the circumstances, if I resisted, I was going to face a much more serious problem… no choice this time. It’s like that

Cares

For several months, I had problems with bloating and the symptoms worsened over time. So I had to do something.
This extension to Vietnam was therefore an opportunity.

I was treated in the Quan 5 military hospital that my friend Kim had recommended to me. There is indeed a Franco-Vietnamese hospital in Saigon but their prices are prohibitive. Everything happened in Vietnamese but I was prepared. For the symptoms I had written a document in three languages: French / English / Vietnamese. Google translation is very handy for that. They did a blood test, stomach ultrasound, colonoscopy. Efficient and very professional.

I was extremely well cared for. I recommend this hospital. Address :
7 A Military Hospital
466 Đ. Nguyễn Trãi, Phường 8, Quận 5, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Viêt Nam

Financial costs

Obviously all this at a cost but these are the vagaries of life, it is the price to pay for freedom

Covid-related costs :
3 PCR tests 500 vnd + 800 vnd + 500 vnd = 1,800,000 vnd or 75 €
Plane 225 € + Immigration 60 €
Total Covid. 360 €

Costs related to hospital care :
2 consultations: 1,000 k vnd
3 exams: 300 K vnd + 250 K vnd + 3,000 k vnd
Medicines: 300 k vnd + 1,800 k vnd
Total Treatments: € 290

Total overrun of my budget 650 €