Traveling In Vietnam

The international flight with Missy Fleur went without a hitch. The staff were fabulous when we checked in, they were even more amazing when we got on board and through the flight. 

Entree

Getting through customs and immigration was so easy it was almost funny. No-one even looked at the dog or her papers. I went to the naughty person queue, you now the one, the one you have to go to when you have things to declare. Actually that is the best one to go to as you get through really fast when you use that queue, but this time I really did have something, being the dog. It was just a breeze. Then came the hiccup, I tried to book an internal flight with Fleur.

Beware Vietnam Airlines and what they say, even on their web site, it seems is the best advice that can be offered! 

I tried to book an internal flight, a one hour flight from Hanoi to Da Nang, and it seems the rules change for domestic travel. The hotel was going to book the flight for me, and I was fine with that, but then they said there was a problem and that I needed to go to the Vietnam Airlines office. So off I trotted thinking they just wanted to see the relevant Vet Certificates, although I would have thought they would still have them on record from the international flight a mere 4 days previously. Three and a half hours later I finally excited the office, actually I had to go from the main office to the ‘Help Desk’ office which was across the road, but that’s an incidental! It seems that even though the web site has a price for taking a pet in the cabin, only on Business Class ticket, they do not actually offer that service domestically. I pushed a little at that as I had been told by a local that ‘NO’ is the default position and just to keep pushing, so I did, politely of course, its not the fault of the girl that was sitting across from me, she is just following orders, and I did hasten to reassure her that I understood that, but I stood my ground. I thought it would be resolved and that I was just going through the same rigmarole that I did in South Korea of having to submit all the Vet Certificates again.

A wee aside. While I was going through all this a lovely older (I’m picking they were the same age as me!) German couple were waging their own little war. They had booked to come to Vietnam back in January (remember that it is now April) and they had spent 6 weeks cycling through the country. They had traveled here and bought their own bikes. The had transported the bikes to Vietnam for free but when they had gone to confirm their return travel tickets they had been told that to take the bikes back to Germany they were going t have to pay US$500. Imagine their surprise. They were told that the rules had changed, the travel policy had changed, as of April 1, and that bikes no longer traveled for free. That the tickets had been booked and paid for back in January made no difference it seems, they had to pay or they couldn't take their bikes! Needless to say they were just a tad grumpy over this. I couldn't resist, I just had to talk to them.. I had my laptop with me so we logged in and checked the rules. Nowhere did it say that they were going to have to pay, and a contract is a contract after all. We exchanged stories and that really upset the poor old staff that were trying to deal with us all now, and a bunch of foreigners is far scarier that just one. . Oh my God, bloody foreigners I kept hearing them say in my head I gave them the same advice that I had been given, just don't back down, but be nice about it. Sadly I was hustled out of the office before I found out what had happened for them,but I am hoping it all goes well for them and that Vietnam Airlines sees the error of their ways. You just can't change the rules mid way through a travel booking and expect the customer to be happy about it.

Thuyta Cafe view

OK, so I had to wait for the outcome of my request to take Missy Fleur with me in the cabin. I found a lovely cafe/restaurant, Thuyta Cafe, Hanoi, right at the edge of the lake and bought myself a Royal Cafe (cognac, Kahlua, Vietnamese coffee and cream) I felt I deserved it after the mornings little war. For a while all felt right with the world – funny that!

Coffee consumed and waiting for food...

After an hour or so I ordered some food, the coffee was actual breakfast and needless to say it went straight to my head, but hey, I was on holiday. I ordered a toasted spicy chicken sandwich and Missy and I enjoyed that.

The view in the other direction

I met a lovely Australian couple while I was there. They were just ending a six week trip through Vietnam. Their youngest daughter is in Hue doing a six month volunteer job and they had taken the opportunity to see some of the country and call in to see how she was fairing. We chatted for an hour or so and I finally headed back tot he hotel. It was 4.30 by the time I got back and still no call from the airlines. Now I was worried. I was due to fly out at noonish the next day so it was starting to get a little pressing. At 5 I went back down to reception and they suggested that I go back to the office. They offered to take me there on the back of the bike, not something I really wanted to do but there was no way to really get out of it as they were quite insistent! It was a hair raising trip and the young fellow driving got lost and we went round the same block a number of times. After about half an hour and numerous stops to ask directions we finally arrived and there were still some staff there.

The answer was no, she had to travel in the hold! I was very grumpy. It had taken them all day to decide this and there was no explanation other than there was a mistake on their web site and the staff I had spoken to previously had also made a mistake...Sorry! End of story. It was also now too late to book anything else and it seemed that I was going to be stuck in Hanoi for at least another day. I demanded a meeting with the local manager and was granted this the next morning at 9, but the answer remained no and I still have no idea why she cannot travel.

So to plan B – the train!

Traveling with a Dog

Traveling, both internationally and domestically, with a dog can prove troublesome at times.  There are a lot of hoops to jump through in order to ensure both you and the dog are happy with the outcome as I mentioned in my Moving Time post. You certainly need to allow yourself plenty of time to do it all.  I finally have Missy Fleur's Pet Passport sorted out. All the vet visits have been completed and the documents, and photos of the dog and her carry bag, were sent to Vietnam Airlines to get their final approval.  It took a couple of days to get a reply from them and this is what I received;

Vietnam Airlines headquarters has confirmed pet in cabin service already.

Please note that Vietnam Airlines apply PETC regulation as below.

1.     Passenger must be in possession of valid health papers for the pet. Please bring all document to the airport.

2.     Pet and container is not included in free baggage allowance, therefore passenger should pay PETC charge at the airport.

3.     The pet must not have an offensive smell or otherwise cause annoyance to other passengers.

4.     Final acceptance is always subject to Captain’s approval and removal to cargo compartment may be Order at any time.

So it looks all OK on the surface and we should be able to travel without any problems - but I'll update that aspect of the trip once I arrive in Vietnam!  This service is NOT free, even after purchasing a Business Class ticket there is still an additional cost and you have to hunt very hard to find it on the web site.  I actually confirmed this with Vietnam Airlines just to be on the safe side.  Their charge is low compared to some airline that just have a flat fee. You pay US$15 per kilo with Vietnam Airline, so its the weight of the dog and the carrier.  My little girl is very small and her bag is very light so I am expecting somewhere between US$60-75.

We still need a quick visit to the Korean Quarantine Office before we fly, but I have been assured that I can see a vet at 7 am by just calling the phone number they provide when I get to the airport  (032 740 2660).  A quick call to their office was helpful, and my lovely Vet, Joanna, also confirmed this for me as she deals with US citizens taking their dogs home regularly.

Having finally got all the international travel things sorted out it was time to start looking at what I was going to do once I was in Vietnam.  As I mentioned before, hotels don't seem to be an issue with many of them happily pet friendly.  But I want a vacation and to see something of Vietnam before I settle in one spot for a bit and to do that I have to undertake some domestic travel, three to four weeks of it I hope!

I have spent a good number of hours on the internet planning my vacation and doing the research and asking questions seems to be the answer.  I knew I could fly between destinations, but I always have to book a business class ticket in order to take the dog and that would limit the number of places I could go both cost wise and because some of the destinations are not served by aircraft.  So that left me with buses and trains. I had read on a number of sites (mostly blog based and I think most of the information was from a couple of years ago) that pets could not travel on trains and buses. I'm still not sure about the buses but after a brief email to Vietnam Railways it seems that I can take Missy Fleur with me on the train!

Dear Sir/Madam,

Oh yes, You can take it with you to get in train. If you can keep her not noisy and clean J

Many Thanks and Best Regard,

Vietnam Railway System

Email: sales@vietnam-railway.com

Cell: +84 904 619 926

Website: Vietnam-railway.com

Thank goodness for puppy nappies!  Although based on many of the reviews I have read it is amusing that they make the comment about her being clean.  I've read very mixed reviews about the trains in Vietnam but having discovered that I can book a two berth cabin on the Orient Express to Sapa so I think I might just try it.  I can't take a 2 berth to Hue from Hanoi so I will just have to fly that leg.

Hmmmm.. better get the final packing done or I wont be going anywhere!

Moving Time

Having spent two years in Korea I have decided that it's time for a move.

I spent many months looking at the options . I seriously considered Russia as I have always wanted to spend some time there, but having survived the last winter in Korea, the coldest one since they started record keeping, the thought of another long, cold, and dark, winter just didn't appeal. Russia will need to be a holiday destination rather than an extended stay I think.

I also thought about Saudi, but for lifestyle reasons I elected to delay that option. I haven't ruled it out, although they may rule me out,  they have age restrictions and Menopausal Misses may not get a look in!

So I decided that the next move needed to be somewhere just a little warmer and Vietnam quickly became a short-listed candidate.  After having done a lot of research it then rose to the number 1 spot.  I leave Korea in April to begin the next adventure.

Of course the days of being able to pack a small suitcase with the bikini, sarong and shampoo, and just go,  are well gone. Actually, I'm not sure I was ever able to do that but why spoil a good story with fact!  It's now a logistical nightmare and takes weeks, if not months, to organise myself.  So after endless emails to shipping companies, most of whom never replied I might add, I have finally managed to find a way to ship all the things I don't think I can live without to Vietnam.  Yes, its costing me an arm and a leg to ship all those pairs of shoes but what can I do - I just might need them.  The shippers will be here at 8 am on the 29th of March!

Then there is the little dog to consider - little Lady Fleur.  Fortunately she can travel with me in the cabin because she is so little.  I am taking a Vietnam Airlines flight as they allow pets in the cabin as long as you book a business class ticket, and there is not extra cost involved to take her. You do have to talk to the airlines and register the fact that you are taking a dog with you, for some reason this cannot be done when you booking via the internet.  They have special requirements sections, but pets are not included in this and so you have to call the airline.  In South Korea that can always prove to be a challenges as the level of English is usually so poor that it is hard to get the information across and ask questions.  I made four calls initially to the Seoul office and then ended up calling the Head Office in Vietnam.  After a further half dozen or so calls I eventually managed to get some assistance and ensure she was register on the flight, but that is always an issue if you choose to live in a non-English speaking country and you get very used to finding other ways to get things done once you've lived within it for a few years.

There are, of course, additional costs in regards to paperwork to relocate her.  I need her vet to fill out, and sign, all sorts of forms to get her Puppy Passport.  Her vaccinations have always been kept up to date and that certainly eases the process as you have to supply a full list of all vaccination including the date and dosage.  Rabies is the big one, the last vaccination has to be within 12 months of the leaving date and no more recently than 30 days prior to travel.  If your vaccinations are up to date the cost is not huge, and there is no quarantine period to go into Vietnam.  The whole process is a little onerous and time consuming, but worth it to be able to take my little girl with me.

Interestingly I have to jump through some local hoops to take her out of Korea and this information is not well publicized.  I spent a number of hours researching this on the net and have yet to find a place that actually says you have to do this!  She has to be seen by a vet at the Korean Quarantine Office with 48 hours of travel and this can only be done at the airport or a shipping port. Their offices are only open from 9 am until 5 pm and the process must be completed at least three hours prior to travel.  As my flight leaves at 10 am I am going to have to do it the day before I travel. Its not expensive, about 10,000 won, for her to see the vet and have the paperwork signed off.  Its about a four hour round trip to the airport for me so its a bit of a drag to have to do this, but I'm not leaving my girl behind so we will hop on a bus and do the trek.

There are restrictions on the type of bag that she must travel in but I already have a suitable one and its a very short flight so I am hoping she copes well with it all.

Hotel booking was the next challenge to be faced as I need a place that's pet friendly.  I thought I had better book in advance, I just couldn't face the thought of being in Hanoi with nowhere to sleep, at least the first night!  Surprisingly it was actually very easy.  I contacted a few places that looked OK over the internet and asked the question.  Relying on the Pet Friendly filter on hotel booking sites is never a good idea.  I got a positive response from tall the hotels I contacted, so the first weeks accommodation is booked.

Hmmm, better get on to thinking about packing ....

A Korean Public Holiday

Its's a public holiday in Korea today commemoration the Samil Independence Movement, or the Manse Demonstrations, which is a very important part of Korea's history.  The March First Movement, or Samil Movement, was one of the first displays of Korean independence movements during the Japanese occupation of Korea.

7,000 Koreans were killed by Japanese police and soldiers during the fight for independence from the Japanese.

 I found a great summary of the events on the Korean Way and thought it was really worth sharing;

... It’s the observance of March 1 Movement Day (삼일절), commemorating a day in which Koreans openly resisted the occupation by the Japanese and fought for their independence. It is also sometimes called the Samil Independence Movement.

On March 1, 1919,  a series of demonstrations took place across Korea rallying for independence from Japanese occupation. Japan proclaimed its annexation of Korea in 1910, fully occupying the country, after having had a presence on the peninsula for years before that.

It began at 2 p.m. on March 1, 1919, with thirty-three nationalists who made up the core of the Samil Movement coming together at the Taehwagwan Restaurant in Seoul to read the Korean Declaration of Independence. The declaration had been drawn up by the historian Choe Nam-seon and the poet Manhae (also known as Han Yongun). At the same time, movement delegates read the independence proclamation at previous appointed locations throughout the country. The proclamation read:

“We herewith proclaim the independence of Korea and the liberty of the Korean people. We tell it to the world in witness of the equality of all nations and we pass it on to our posterity as their inherent right.We make this proclamation, having 5,000 years of history, and 20,000,000 united loyal people. We take this step to insure to our children for all time to come, personal liberty in accord with the awakening consciousness of this new era. This is the clear leading of God, the moving principle of the present age, the whole human race’s just claim. It is something that cannot be stamped out, stifled, gagged, or suppressed by any means.”

Koreans took to the streets, marching and shouting “Mansei!”, which means “long live Korea” or “may Korea live 10,000 years.” The Japanese worked to suppress the movement, which 12 months later was fully contained. But before it was put down, approximately 2 million Koreans had participated in the more than 1,500 demonstrations.

The fight was not without cost. During the movement, about 7,000 people were killed by the Japanese police and soldiers, and 16,000 were wounded. Many lost property as well, with more than 700 private houses, 40-plus churches, and a couple of school buildings being destroyed by fire.

More than 45,000 people were arrested, of whom some 10,000 were tried and convicted. Many fighters who were arrested were kept in Seodaemun Prison, without trial, where they were tortured and some were executed. The prison still stands today as a reminder of Korea’s past.

Missy Fleur 2013

January to February 2013

A sad little Fleur after the 'I don't want Puppies' op in February!

My Little Guard Dog!

Missy Fleur 2012

Lady Fleur 2012

Fleur 2011

Lady Fleur at 10 weeks;

2011

Winter Time 2011