Vietnam! When Covid was exploding in Europe. As tourist we were not really welcome anymore. places were closing, we got a call from the ambassy advising us to leave the country ASAP because there were much more tourist put in closed military quarantine. People and children were afraid of us. We decided to leave to Thailand to get closer to an HUB to come back to Europe.

In rural areas Vietnamese were convinced westerners did brought COVID as they managed to keep 0 cases even neighboring China.

We arrived in an hotel, 1km from the airport. Day before departure.

Along the highway. We are the only customers.

The only person in the hotel is a 12y girl. Speaks no English.

Horror film atmosphere.

It’s 20:00 and we are hungry. No grab food around. We saw some restaurants closer to the airport while arriving by bus.

I decide to go out. It’s full dark. Strange atmosphere as I have to walk along the highway. Literally on the border of the highway, in between the roads and the front yard of houses.

Some cars are driving just next to me at high speed.

The thing is some people were having dinner in their « front yard ». Chilling, bbqs, after their day and not expecting people to walk by as they all use scooters.

At some point, I have to cross trough a bush. I get out of the bush and I end face to face with a family eating bbq.

The father just went CRAZY and freaked out to protect his family, he just « assaulted me » ( I don’t know the right word in English. not hit but pretend he will do, like an elephant does to make you run). He yelled as hard as he could « COVID COVID COVID ». And kept chasing me on 20-25 meters.

A lot of the neighbors came to ensuite and fled when they saw me as if I was Covid man.

I will never forget the feeling of being chased/avoided by a crowd.

Ps: I got my chicken and I had to cross the highway to come back from the other side :D