Scarborough couple stranded in Vietnam return home after flight chaos leaves them £4,000 out of pocket

Barbara and Kevin Bussey, who are both in their 70s, arrived in Vietnam expecting to have the holiday of a lifetime.

However what followed was expired Visas, cancelled flights, humid temporary hotel rooms, and being unsure of how they would ever get home.

The pair have finally arrived back on home soil after their comedy of errors nightmare, relieved to be back at home in Cayton. The couple’s misfortune is not over yet though, as they now face a battle with Qatar and their insurance company to claim back £4,000 of expenses incurred as a result of their unfortunately extended stay.

Due to the conflict in the Middle East, the couple’s return flight on March 1 was cancelled and their Visas expired as they were supposed to be back in the UK.

This led to suspicion from the hotel and the police and numerous attempts to speak to immigration in order to extend their visas, which was denied multiple times. During the ordeal, the couple even joked that they'd book Primrose Valley next time - but said: “Although frustrated, upset at present, we will be laughing at this in a few months, I’m sure.”

Trapped in a stifling room in Ho Chi Minh (HCM) City, the couple were determined to get home, and after hours of waiting, being passed from pillar to post, the couple finally were given an option to return home.

Eventually, they managed to secure a flight to China on March 12, with two changes in China then to Paris. After this, they are hoping to be able to get a flight home, but it resulted in an even longer temporary stay in HCM City with the background doubt of being kicked out due to their Visa expiry.

Barbara said: “After a long flight to China stage one, we had to collect our luggage and go through immigration, taking a shuttle to another terminal, checking in yet again and going through immigration.

“We arrived at the second stop, repeated the process but in a rush as we only had two hours to do it.

“At last we were on our way to Paris! We managed to get a flight booked to Manchester from Paris but not until the day after we landed, so we had to have an overnight stay in the airport hotel. Had a lovely glass of wine and a good night's sleep and felt we’d got back to civilization!.

“Our flight home was only an hour and quite joyful as it was full of kids that had been to Disney, Mickey Mouse ears all over.

“The village taxi driver was waiting at the airport and we had a good drive home. Heating cranked up, curry supper and cuppa tea!

“After all the palaver we have had, we definitely appreciate living in a free country.

“Now comes the chore of trying to collate all the expenses, just short of £4,000 and see if Qatar and insurance are going to plead exemption due to war.

“We will argue the country we were in wasn’t technically at war. Fingers crossed please, hopefully won’t need to visit the local food bank!

“We are so grateful to be home safe and wish safe passage for all those still in the danger zone.”