All good things must come to an end...

It's with a heavy heart that I write this final entry for this blog. Yes, I have had to leave Vietnam, and no, I cannot return.

As I've said before on here, it was my intention to stay longer in Vietnam after my initial internship was over. Sadly, due to circumstances beyond my control, this has not been possible. The company who set up my internship seem to have had a few issues with procuring new visas for me - and others who wished to stay on - as well as securing the visas for those due to start an internship in February.

I was originally told that I had to leave the country and re-apply for my visa upon re-entry, so I booked a holiday home to the UK. Sadly, the night before my flight from Tân Sơn Nhất Airport, I was informed by TTV about the visa issues. I had to leave the country in a completely chaotic hurry, leaving things behind that I could not fit in my bag and only taking important things with me in case I couldn't return. I managed to pack some things my students had given me, and most of my clothes, but I had to leave things like books and lesson plans behind. I simply didn't have the room.

As the plane took off, it flew over the area of Ho Chi Minh City where I lived. I could see the distinctive Ruby Garden Apartments neon sign, and followed the path of the roads with my finger on the window until I landed on the spot where my school was. I have to admit I cried a bit as I realised this could be the last time I see it.

Upon my arrival back in the UK, I immediately set about trying to organise myself a new visa. Unfortunately, communication with my contact at the school was non-existant, and I did not manage to recieve the vital letter to confrim my employment that I needed to apply for a new visa. My return flight left without me.

As the weeks have gone by, it seems I'm not the only one unable to return; others who have applied for visas to go back have been denied entry by immigration, we think due to our association with the company that organised the internship. It's broken our hearts that we can't go back, and it hurts me so much to think of my students without a teacher.

I will always have nothing but fond memories of Vietnam, and I hope that one day I can return. However, I know that I will not be teaching there again.

I did have one bit of fantastic news when I got back home, though. I have been given an unconditional offer to do a degree in Japanese Studies at SOAS in London, starting this September. So although one door has closed, another has opened, and now I can focus on my future. I will eventually live in Japan or Korea, teaching English. Onto the next adventure.

Click here if you're interested to read my new blog.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Hello! So, I made it here to HCMC. Arrived at 8pm local time on Saturday evening, with a lovely group of people on the same internship. Getting our landing visa was stressful and hot and sweaty, but we got there in the end, clutching our US$25 and frantically filling out paperwork. We were greeted at the airport by the people running the internship (Teach & Travel Vietnam), and were all piled onto a coach to take us to the university, where we are staying for the week. By 10, we were split into pairs (I was lucky enough to be put with Kellie, whom I met via Facebook, and was on the same flight with her too) and shown to our basic accommodation - two beds, two chairs, a kettle, a TV, and a wetroom w/ toilet.

That evening, the new arrivals (and a few who got here before us) sat out in the humid night air, drinking a few local beers and chatting. We were absolutely buzzing with excitement.

The next morning, we awoke painfully early and went to the canteen, where we were served phở, a noodle soup. As a vegetarian, mine had some deliciously spiced tofu in it, as well as plenty of vegetables and herbs. It will take me a while to get used to noodles for breakfast though!

Vietnamese iced coffee is fantastic, and I can't get enough of it, with sweetened milk too. Yum yum! An orientation in one of the university classrooms was one of our first chances to meet the other interns. There are 55 of us altogether! After a tour of District 1, and a visit to a Chinese temple in District 5 - with the wonderful 'Missy Kim', who serenaded us on the coach, and was a ball of energy - we were able to get showered and freshen up, ready for a coach ride to a buffet restaurant. It was beautiful, eating all this delicious Vietnamese food, outside, with fresh, cold beers and a lot of laughs. We hit the backpackers' area, near Bui Vien, and had too much to drink at a bar called Lily's and a club called Crazy Buffalo.

Today was a terrible hangover, and a orientation into Vietnamese education, as well as a chance to chat to some Vietnamese English students, who were just lovely! THey took a few of us for coffee, and for a trip to the supermarket. We were sure to take their numbers, so we can hang out again.

Some information about Visas

Hey there, I thought that seeing as I'm writing this to help other people out, I might explain what I know of the Visa process for entering Vietnam (to work, at least). I'm getting a Landing Visa, which means I don't have to go to the Vietnamese consulate in London. I receive an Invitation Letter from the Vietnamese school I'll be teaching at, organised through TTV (Teach & Travel Vietnam - who run the internship). Once I land in Vietnam, I go to the Landing Visa desk before immigration, and produce my Invitation Letter, passport, and 2 passport pictures, as well as the fee (for me it's US$25 at the desk, and then US$175 dollars paid to TTV, as they will have paid that amount towards it beforehand). This will get me a 3-month Visa, that will be extended once I'm in the country. You can only get this type of Landing Visa if you are flying into the country. If you are planning on getting there through Cambodia or Laos, on foot or by bus/train, you will have to obtain a Visa from the consulate in your home country. And here, for your perusal, is a list of the Top 5 Vegetarian Vietnamese Dishes, courtesy of TTV =) Veggie Food Millie