Fast forward – it’s the 19th of January 2025 and I am standing in an empty apartment. Everything is cancelled, sold, gifted away, tidied out or put in storage. My dear friend Sabrina came over to help me with the last organizational deeds and to give me moral support. For the last weeks there had been a constant back and forth in my head between “Yayy, it is happening!” and “What am I doing here?”. I was exhausted, mentally and physically and I more than thankful for not having to tackle the last few meters on my own. All the organization and preparation of the last twelve month were coming to an end.
One last walk through the beloved apartment I called home for the last three years, one last check if I hadn’t forgotten anything and then it was time to leave the keys on the counter and close the door for good. One last time running down the stairs from the fourth floor. It really was happening.
Sabrina offered to escort me to the airport the next day and we’d be spending my last night in Germany in a hotel, order Pizza, watch Trash TV, take it slow and chill, before my last hours in Germany had begun.
The next day we headed to the airport and I kind of felt being on autopilot, my head hadn’t realized yet that I was really leaving. One last hug and off I went through security check.
The flight went smoothly with a layover in Bangkok, which turned out to be so tight, that I had to run to my next gate to catch my flight to Hà Nội. But it was worth it and two hours later I found myself standing in the immigration area at Nội Bài airport. Even though I had applied for a 90-day Visa in advance, I expected the process to take longer than usual, because the Lunar New Year (Tết) was close. After 2.5 hours I finally made it and was picked up by a taxi I had booked a few days prior to bring me to my hostel.
The first days in Hà Nội I mostly spent sleeping due to the recent lack of sleep and eating all my favorite foods. I sat in Cafés for hours watching the hustle and bustle of the Old Quarter. In a few days I would head off north with a group of motorcycle riders to experience my first Tết celebrations close up. So exciting!
Tết (or Tết Nguyên Đán) is the most important holiday in Vietnam that marks the first day of a new year after the Lunisolar Calendar. The four-day celebration sometimes are extended to two or three weeks and mostly are spent with family, relatives and friends.
A lot of businesses and shops close down in that time, which can make it a bit more challenging to travel. But knowing that I’d join an organized tour over 13 days with Chí (Chi’s Wheels Motorcycle Tour) and a group of Aussie riders, would make things definitely easier. On the 24th of January we’ll set off.
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