Elise Zhang receives help from residents after being injured in a traffic accident in Ha Giang in Tuyen Quang Province.
Elise Zhang, who is American, said she was travelling in Vietnam with a friend from New Zealand. They were close to completing the Ha Giang loop when the accident occurred.
She said it was raining heavily and they had been riding for a long stretch. The road was slippery, steep and scattered with rocks. She lost control, fell and became frightened. Her motorbike slid to the roadside and she suffered bruising to her leg. Fortunately, the accident was not serious.
Several local residents rushed over to help lift the motorbike and asked, through gestures, whether she needed an ambulance or the police. She declined, but said she felt genuinely cared for.
After checking the motorbike, Elise and her friend stopped at a nearby shop to buy water. The motorbike soon developed further problems. A woman living next to the shop noticed their trouble and invited them to sleep under the covered floor area of her family home. Elise said she felt relieved not to have to search for a camping spot in the rain.
She trusted the woman’s kindness, partly because the area was remote and partly because she was travelling with a friend. They pitched their tent on the veranda for the night.
The residents that host the US traveller in Ha Giang.
They had planned to cook eggs using their small gas stove, but the family invited them to join dinner. Elise said they were grateful for the hospitality. The simple meal of rice, pork, spinach and spicy sauce left a lasting impression.
Although slightly injured, Elise did not require bandaging or medication. She slept comfortably on the family’s veranda and left early the next morning. Before leaving, they returned to thank the family for offering them shelter from the rain.
She later posted a short video of the moments after the accident on social media, receiving many positive comments praising the kindness of people in Vietnam.
Before the incident, Elise had spent nearly 45 days travelling across Vietnam, visiting Hanoi, Ha Giang, Sapa, Phong Nha, Danang, Hoi An, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City.
During her stay in Sapa, she lived with an ethnic minority family who taught her how to plant rice, grow vegetables and even weave fabric. She tried both popular dishes and unusual specialities such as grilled rat, but said she remained especially fond of pho and beef noodle.
A photo of Elise during her tour in Vietnam
“I met many hospitable, knowledgeable and kind people in Vietnam. This experience has only made me love the country more,” she said.
