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Our first few days in Hanoi were not the most peaceful to say the least.
The bus here was not as peaceful as the first bus to Hoi An, and we had about 3 hours sleep between us before arriving at 7am. In the rain. With our heaving bags and suitcase.
The hotel we had booked wasn't far, so we walked and found it easily. They have no record of our booking. Of course, we have booked it for next week by accident. Luckily they had room for us anyway and are lovely, lovely people. And we have all the coffee we can stomach!!
We wandered around town on Sunday, wasting time until the following day when we can hit the embassy. There are loads of warm clothes here as the temperature isn't quite like that of the rest of South-East Asia, and I have been wrapped in by brand new bright green raincoat! Bee's knees describes me well. Even Sean is wearing long sleeves - and that's saying something!!
So Monday morning, after a glorious sleep, Sean is up bright and early (5.30am) to watch the Superbowl. I let him have some time on his own (and wanted more sleep!) so I met him later and we headed to the embassy. They promptly gave us a ticket and told us to come back the next day at 9am. But all we wanted to know was whether they even issue our visa, otherwise we have to make a stop in Bangkok on the way there. But no-one wanted to talk to us, or help us, apart from to tell us to come back at 9am.
So Monday was spent wandering around, wasting time, waiting for our trip to the embassy the following day. Sound familiar?
We visited the lake, and the temple on the lake, and the HUGE 250kg stuffed turtle on display. Apparently this is a sign of good luck. There are still lots of people milling around, burning fake money and visiting temples for good luck for the New Year. We treated ourselves to some overpriced coffee and cake (we deserve it) and went to the cinema to see Sherlock Holmes 2 which we loved! It's nice to have a Western treat once in a while.
So Tuesday morning, up bright and early to get to the embassy again. And we waited for about an hour and a half, all these numbers being called in Korean and Vietnamese, us having no clue what is going on, so we check at the desk, and our number is way past. Stupid falang.
Confusion commences. They want a number from the Ministry of Justice, and we have one, but apparently it's not in the system, and despite us having Appointment certificates and contracts signed by the Busan Education Superintendent, we can't get a working visa.
So back to the hotel (which is a $5 taxi ride away, each way) and we call our agent: No, we don't need the number if we have the documents we have. Okay, back to the embassy again. Another $5. And another conversation with the girl at the desk, who clearly doesn't want anything to do with us, and wants this number. Her colleague (and our angel from above) intervenes and we finally get her to agree to the visa - whoopee! Can we pay in dollars? she asks. But we only have Vietnamese Dong. Nope only dollars are accepted. So out of the embassy and to several banks, none of whom will issue dollars. Dollars are a restricted currency here and banks aren't allowed to issue them. Okay, so where does that leave us?
Thank heavens for our second angel of the day, at another bank, who sees me about to burst into tears, and agrees to change some money off the books for us. Back to the embassy, we pay, and check again which visa she is issuing; please not a tourist visa. We leave our passports in her hopefully capable hands. Now to book the flight. Which of course has now doubled in price, and the direct flights are all fully booked.
Taking a stopover flight means that the extra bag we have with all our tailored goodies, is now charged extra on not one, but two flights, and at around $8-10 per kg we are over the limit. On top of a flight we are paying double what we expected. Resigned and defeated, we have no choice. :( Significantly poorer we pay again for the taxi home, and head straight for the coffee and cake shop! Treats definitely needed and earned today.
- comments
jack poor you two! there's nothing so bullet proof as an unhelpful Asiatic, I've had some! N & G