One great moment in traveling
June 20th, 2011 by John MorrisThe 2004 flight to Vietnam was long and tiring. I watched movies and stayed slightly buzzed thanks to Chilean red wine.
As the plane approached Ho Chi Minh airport, the attendants handed out customs paperwork. This information would be needed when we hit the final security line separating us from Saigon. I realized I didn’t know the address of my son’s apartment. I guess they need to know this stuff in case they need to find me. Scary thought followed. I decided to put down what I remembered and hope for a forgiving agent.
We deplaned and entered the baggage area like so many lemmings. With baggage in hand, I proceeded toward customs. As I turn a corner, I saw the most welcomed sight. There was a young Vietnamese man holding a sign reading, “Mr. John Morris”. Seeing my name on a placard at the airport is an experience I have long coveted. At this moment, I was somebody; I was Mr. John Morris, important traveler.
The man is Tran Hieu Thuan and sent by my daughter in law, Yuri to navigate me through the maze that is the airport. He took over immediately and steered me and my bags to a special counter apparently saved for travelers important enough to have a guy holding their names up on small signs.
Tran Hieu Thuan and I breezed through the part where I didn’t know where I was staying thanks to a judicious wink and nod at the agent. Without such help, I was probably destined to spend time in the no man’s land of the holding area.
He stayed with me as we tried to clear the reception area which seemed to be having a pep rally. A women’s professional basketball team had arrived on my plane, and they were being greeted by fans ten deep around the entry way.
At one point, I saw my son, Adam’s head bobbing up and down in the crowd. my Vietnamese Man-Friday steered me swiftly through the crowd and to his side. My vacation with my son and his wife had begun. I said good-bye to my new friend, Tran Hieu Thuan.
Later, Adam, Yuri and I had a dinner party, and we invited Tran Hieu Thuan to be there as my thanks to him for his invaluable help this day.
Tran Hieu Thuan now follows me on this blog. I want him to know he’s a good man. One day I hope to see him again.
If he comes to America, I’ll meet him at the Philadelphia airport.
I’ll be sporting a sign with his name on it.