Hello everyone,

I’m writing to you today with a deep sense of humility, asking for help during a very difficult time.

As many of you know, it has always been my dream to live in Vietnam. Unfortunately, a stamping error during my last entry resulted in my visa being overstayed by two months. Since I wasn’t able to immediately pay the resulting fines, I’ve been stuck in Ho Chi Minh City ever since—without a passport and without any legal means of working.

I’ve now been living in this precarious situation for six months, trying to get by each day. Without a passport, it’s impossible to rent a room, move around, or find work in Vietnam. I’ve reached out to every possible authority—the consulate, immigration services—but the options are extremely limited. One of them would be to serve three months in prison to clear the debt. However, this is a highly risky path, as there’s no guarantee of release. I meet people in similar situations every day—apparently, a Vietnamese decree allows the indefinite detention of foreigners who are unable to pay their fines. A legal grey area makes release nearly impossible without paying the debt or receiving consular help.

That’s why I’m reaching out to ask for your support in raising €1100—an amount that would allow me to pay the fines, recover my passport, and finally return to Germany to reunite with my family and loved ones.

Every gesture, no matter how small, would help me get out of this seemingly hopeless situation.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart—for your support, your attention, or simply for taking the time to read my message.

With gratitude, Steffen