A Canadian traveler in Ho Chi Minh City recounts a devastating traffic accident on his first day in Vietnam, suffering a double leg fracture after being hit by two scooters near Ben Thanh Market on New Year's Eve. The incident led to emergency care at FV Hospital (Franco-Vietnamese Hospital) where he underwent surgery costing approximately $10,000 USD, covered by travel insurance. Now wheelchair-bound, he navigates the challenges of life in Saigon with limited accessibility — high curbs, traffic dangers, and lack of ramps. He shares his prolonged bureaucratic struggle to extend his 30-day e-visa, visiting the immigration office, Canadian Embassy, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs multiple times without success. The video also offers a tour of his apartment in District 7, highlighting the day-to-day realities of wheelchair living in Vietnam, from Grab rides to showering. The host, Evan, relates his own experiences with traffic and surgery in Vietnam, framing the accident as a cautionary tale about the importance of travel insurance and the hidden difficulties of traveling with a disability in Southeast Asia.
Key Facts
- Hit by two scooters near Ben Thanh Market on first day in HCMC.
- Surgery cost $10,000 USD at FV Hospital.
- Could not extend 30-day e-visa due to bureaucratic hurdles and policy.
- Full fracture of both lower leg bones; needs another surgery in 1.5 years.
- Poor wheelchair accessibility; uses Grab Car+ for transport.
