I loved the narrow three story house tucked away at the end of the alley where we lived in Ho Chi Minh city,Vietnam. Three of my co-teachers and I shared this house, in one of the Northern Suburbs, far away from the touristy areas of the city. This was the perfect place to experience the culture as I did my shopping at the local fruit and veggie market, spent afternoons at the local coffee shops with my book and tried out all the local dishes sold in the area. Doing this forced me to learn Vietnamese as there weren’t a lot of people in the area who could speak or understand English.
The house where we lived was huge as each one of us had a massive on suite room and if you were lucky a small balcony. Downstairs we had a kitchen slash TV room and even a small living room which we used as a garage during the rainy season so that our bikes could stay dry. Going up the winding staircase my room was on the first floor with a small balcony, the ideal place to sit and chill on a hot summers night.
At the end of the alley there was a small Cau Dai pagoda so most evenings and even at 4am in the morning we would be greeted by gongs and the ohm-ming of the worshipers. The first night this happened I jumped up and thought someone was attacking us. It took a few weeks for me to got used to these gongs and ohms at 4am and before I could sleep through them.
During the summer months Ho Chi Minh city is hot, humid and even sticky, making having an air-conditioning unit in ones bedroom a necessity. Unfortunately mine broke down and they could only come and fix it later that week, so I had to find other ways of cooling down for the next couple of nights. That first night I had a cold shower and lay down on my bed with balcony doors open to cool down in the breeze. I had every intention of getting dressed and closing the doors before going to sleep, but unfortunately that didn’t happen.
Something woke me up in the early morning hours and as I sat up there was a small Vietnamese guy crouched next to my bed. As soon as he realized that I was awake he stood up holding my handbag and camera in one hand and my mobile phone in the other.
“You Ba&!?*d” I shouted as I got up and jumped onto this little unwanted night visitor. This caught him totally of guard and he didn’t know what to do.
I started hitting the guy, screaming at him to get out of my room and leave my stuff alone. I was definitely not going to let him get away with my things without putting up a fight. This little guy must have been just as scared as I was as he looked like he was trying to run for his life from this crazy, half naked woman attacking him.
I got him to drop my handbag and camera but he was stronger than me so pushed me off of him. Not one to give up, I jumped back up and continued to hit and scratch at this little Vietnamese visitor as he fought to get to the balcony. Pushing me away one last time, he made his getaway by jumping down from the balcony onto the street. He must have hurt himself in the landing and I was not one bit sorry about that.
He was hobbling down the alleyway as I stood on my balcony shouting some last departing remarks at him.
I did then realize that this must look quite a sight having this half naked foreigner standing on her balcony shouting in a strange language. So I calmly turned around, closed the balcony doors and got dressed before going down to make myself a cup of tea.
What scary travel story do you have to share?
Well that was an unwelcome adventure and no mistake! Don’t worry – it could happen just as easily in London except the weather tends to make us close our windows 😉 We slept in open lodges on a nature reserve in Zimbabwe and the only visitors we had were bats (very welcome as they were chomping the biting insects) – although the guides did suggest staying upstairs as animals visiting the nearby waterhole sometimes wandered through!
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He must have been so confused. On one hand, he’s being attacked by a really attractive woman who is hair dressed and he’d have probably thought it was one of his lucky days if it wasn’t for the fact you were whacking and swearing at him. I’m glad he didn’t get away with anything. How did he get in ?
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I don’t know how he climbed up to my balcony but he came in through my balcony door which I had left open as it was very hot and my aircon had broken earlier that week!
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Crazy! I know it isn’t much a relief but thank God he just after your property and nothing more sinister.
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Good short film material in this one. Pitty you didn’t have a surveillance camera or so while this happened. But who keeps ome in his/her bedroom, right? 🙂
I clicked on this post cause it seemed intriguing, not knowing it is from Vietnam. But I happen to be in Ho Chi Minh as we speak, just taking notes form my first day here. Thanks for the funny story.
Have a good life!
(this is my sexind attempt at a comment. Hope it doesn’t double up).
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Hahaha! Authentic. Pitty he snatched the phone as otherwise some shots of him hopping away would have been a bonus addition to this. Some of these experiences are worthy of a sketch :-).
I happen to be in Ho Chi Minh as we speak. Straded in a shop till the rain stops, taling journal notes of the day. But I won’t post them now, some other time. Still have lod of notes fromCuba to sift through till then and publish.
But thank you for the glimpse of Vietnam here.
Have a good life!
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Ha ha! What a great story. Is your cover photo from mountains in Germany by any chance?
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Thank you so much. That was a photo taken in the Yellow mountain in China.
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Wow…you are one tough woman…I think I would have….well I really do not know, as it has never happened to me. Hope it won’t either…Stay safe.
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Thanks Leya. Yes, this is something I don’t wish on other people!
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Whoa! Good for you, must have felt good..afterwards!
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I was a bit shaky but did feel quite proud that I defended myself and my things instead of just running away.
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Oh gosh, how scary. Well done for forcing him out! So glad nothing more happened… Hope you’re ok
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Thank you! I learnt my lesson and never fell asleep with the balcony door open again.
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That is a frightening tale!
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What made it scarier was the fact that I was all alone in a strange country…but now its part of my travel tales.
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Glad that you’re alright and you forced him out. Your description of him as a “little unwanted night visitor” is hilarious.
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Thank you!
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Yikes Janaline – good for you for putting up a fight! I’m sure I’d have freaked out and the guy would have made off with my stuff in a nanosecond!! Bet you didn’t leave your door open at night again after that!
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I grew up with brothers so I am quite used to having to defend myself. And no, I never left the balcony door open again!
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Oh, that is one scary experience. Glad to know you’re all right; you should have kicked him in the ding! Your homestay looks really nice!
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Thank you! If I was more than just half awake I might have done, but I was still waking up and trying to figure out what the hell was going on. But glad that survival kicked in and I was able to fight back!
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Moer hom stukkend niggie!! Good for you… clobbering the unwanted visitor!! I hope you weren’t hurt!! 😉
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Thank you!! I think he was the one hurt….I was in a bit of a shock but I wasnt going to let that get me down.
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Oh my, I was shocked when reading this! You were indeed very brave..I am not sure what I would do if I were in your position. Glad that you took over the situation bravely and showing your strength! And happy that you were safe and sound after the incident!
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Thank you so much!! This is one of those adventures that afterwards I am quite amazed that I was avble to react that quickly….And a lesson hard learned. Will not let my guard down that easily again
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You are very brave!
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Thanks Graham!
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Scary stuff but thankfully you escaped unharmed, unlike your intruder.
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Thanks Livonne. I do hope he thought twice before breaking into someone elses home.
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You’re a bad ass. Glad you’re safe. 👍
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Thanks!?
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Glad you weren’t hurt, Janaline, and glad you were able to recover your goods. So scary!
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Thank you! I was also quite thankful afterwards that I escaped without a mark. And then it dawned on me that if this was any other country the dude might have been able to over power me and things could have ended quite diferently.
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Terrifying!
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holy crap what a terrifying experience. The gall of the guy! Glad you frightened him too!
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Thank you. I do hope this attack gave hime second though the next time he wanted to break in somewhere.
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That sounds insane! I can’t even begin to imagine how scary/strange it would be to wake up in the middle of the night to a strange man going through my things!
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An experience I dont want to repeat anytime, ever! I am just thankfull that the dude was small and not strong enough to over power me…..
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O-M-G!!!
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It took a couple of days before I could see the “lighter side” of this event. Which is, dont mess with my things or my sleep!
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Gracious, I would have been frightened to death! You’re one tough lady!
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Thank you. I was quite surprised afterwards that I attacked instead of trying to get away. But then again, I dont like losing, so attacking seemed like the only way to win in that situation.
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The things we take for granted. Am sure the locals know the dangers of leaving your doors open especially on the second floor. The third floor would be more a challenge for an intruder. You are lucky he’s a petty thief. I wouldn’t not know what to do myself if I am confronted with the same situation. You’re brave!
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Thank you. I myself didnt know I would actually attack someone instead of trying to get away, but I guess, growing up with brothers installed the whole ” protect yourself” instinct in me.
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I think you just described everyone’s worst travel nightmare! I would hate that to happen to me, but you reacted more calmly than I would have done! :S
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Thanks. At the time I was quite shaken and it was a couple of nights later only that I slept peacefully again.
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A much needed cup of tea I would say! I’m glad this has never happened to me, don’t think I’d have handled it as good as you.
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It was a couple of nights and even a couple of glasses of wine later that I only got a good nights sleep without wakking up thinking there is someone in the room with me.
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Holy smokes all the things you have experienced! I have to say you handles this intruder much better than I would have, making a cup of tea after chasing him out..hehe, I had to laugh! This place looks much better than the one you had in Russia by the way:)
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This place was amazing compared to my place in Russia!! Growing up in South Africa and with two very rowdy brothers has prepared me on the unforseen and not to stress too much. You have too see the lighter side of things.
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Oh my goodness. I have travelled a lot and thankfully this has never happened to me. So scary! Were you able to settle down after and relax in the house or were you fearful from then on? Cheryl
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Thankfully I saw it as part of the adventure and comtinued staying in that house for the rest of the year. I never again left my balcony doors open again though, but other than that I always felt quite safe.
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