Croatian Arijana Tkalcec and her Slovenian boyfriend Matej Span (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - When COVID-19 brought the world to its knees those far fromhome found themselves trapped abroad.
Herein Vietnam many of those on holiday made a desperate scramble to catch thatlast flight home before the borders closed for the foreseeable future.
Butwhile many managed to make the journey, one European couple decided to stay andtheir decision has proved to be a blessing in disguise.
CroatianArijana Tkalcec and her Slovenian boyfriend Matej Span are thousands of milesfrom home with no immediate way of getting there.
Butinstead of regrets, the couple says they have no doubt they are in the bestplace to be right now.
“Wewere never really scared when we were here because we knew that Vietnam knowswhat it is doing. Because when we came there were 16 cases that were allrecovered so they already had some experience with this,” said 24-year-oldTkalcec.
“Allthose measures that were put in really fast helped with the situation. So weare lucky to be here.”
Tkalcecand her boyfriend arrived in the country on February 26, the second leg oftheir planned seven-month trip around Southeast Asia. Their initial plan was tostay here for two months.
“Forthe first two weeks, we explored Vietnam normally without any problems. Then wecame to Da Lat in the middle of March and the situation became got worse day byday,” Tkalcec told Vietnam News viavideo call from Da Nang city where the couple is staying now.
March6 marked the second wave of infection in Vietnam after a Vietnamese womancoming back to Hanoi from the UK tested positive for the novel coronavirus.Soon after, many more cases were detected, with many of theinfected people returning from abroad.
Asa European couple, Tkalcec and her boyfriend almost immediately foundthemselves in a strange new world.
Tkalcecsaid: “There was one time when we were in Da Lat. We went to a restaurant andpeople refused our entry, so we left.
“Sometimespeople would put masks on when we passed by. Probably because we are Westernersso they thought we had the virus right away or something.”
Thecouple managed to get to Da Nang from Da Lat on the last day before the socialdistancing took effect, and the first thing they encountered there was nowherenear what they had expected.
Arijana Tkalcec and her boyfriend Matej Span at Hoa Trung Lake near Da Nang city. Photo courtesy of Arijana TkalcecTkalcecadded: “At the train station, I think it was 11pm, a lot of health workers inthose blue suits were waiting for everyone. I have to say that is quite scarybecause we didn’t know what’s happening and what they will do to us.
“Butthey were just checking everyone and measuring temperatures and takinginformation about us to make sure we are healthy and safe.
“Theywere really kind and that was one of the really wonderful experiences here becausethey explained to us everything and helped us with any information we needed.”
Thefollowing days made them more amazed by how Vietnam could put everything inplace to “leave no one behind” in the fight against the virus.
“Wedidn’t have any difficult time during the social distancing period. Because weknew everything that we can and what we can’t do. All the information wasavailable right away.
“Wealso have the health declaration application which is a very good thing becauseif we felt unwell we could just put symptoms there and health care workers canreact very fast.
“Herein our area in Da Nang, there were officials to make sure that everyone isfollowing the rule. They are kind.
"Forexample, when we wanted to go for a walk on the beach, they explained to us whywe cannot do that, instead we can go to the neighbouring street.
"Ithink it was really nice because they make sure that everyone follows the rulesbut they did not force people in a bad way.”
Rightnow there are no immediate flights back to Europe, and no clear date of whenthey will begin again.
A photo of a boat operator on Nga Nam floating market in southern Soc Trang province, taken by Arijana Tkalcec.Despitethe twists and turns in their journey, Tkalcec and Span have tried their bestto enjoy the time here as best they can.
Thecouple just extended their visas for another three months and hope they canexplore every corner of the country. After the south and central regions, theyare now looking forward to discovering the north with its mountainousterrain.
“Vietnamis really beautiful. Every place we have visited so far is beautiful and we arehappy. But we are most excited for the north because of hiking. We love that.
“Alsowe would like to explore more lesser-known places, not just the famous tourismplaces.”
Theremay well be no place like home, but for these two European travellers, Vietnamis the next best thing right now./.
VNA
