- Joined
- Aug 20, 2022
- Messages
- 28,033
- Points
- 113
S'porean Content Creator's Mum Dies On Holiday In Vietnam; SG Embassy, Vietnam Police & Friends Helped Her Through Difficult Time
"I'm thankful to be a Singaporean."
Jiamun Koh
28 Feb 2026 at 14:00
A Singaporean woman was holidaying in Da Nang with her mother last week when the latter suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away.
Singaporean content creator Audrey Yap (better known by her online moniker Audz Your Lobang Sis) revealed the complex process of dealing with the necessary procedures on her own in a foreign land during Vietnam’s Tet holiday period, when government offices were closed.
The pair was due to return to Singapore the day her mother died.
Besides the shock and grief of her mum's passing, Audrey also had to deal with the complex paperwork, government officials and repatriation of the body.
“I just want to go home with mama,” she wrote, admitting it was not easy handling the situation largely on her own since she's an only child. “In times like these, I wish I had a sibling.”
On the ground, she faced administrative hurdles and communication challenges. She described being sent between offices for paperwork, only to discover that the immigration office had closed early on Saturday and would not reopen until Monday.
"There is so much difficulty in communication. Different people telling me to do different things. The guy told me to go to the police station. Police told me to come here," she said.
"It's the feeling of ‘I could have gotten this done if you had told me earlier and not send me on a wild goose chase'."
She added that the Vietnam repatriation services staff told her she should return to Singapore while leaving her mum's passport behind and wait for her to be sent back home.
"Logically, it sounds fine, but emotionally, I could never bear to leave without mum," she explained.
Her church friends had flown to Da Nang upon hearing the news, and Audz expressed deep gratitude that they'd done so, despite having jobs and children to care for.
Audz, however, remained thankful that she wasn't alone when that happened, explaining that she would have even more stressed out if she were by herself and abroad with the language barrier.
"I wish this kind of situation will never happen to anyone, even on my haters. 'Cos this is just a lot to deal with."
Despite the difficulties she faced, she also was grateful for the empathy and professionalism of those who had helped her through the difficult process, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) officials to police officers in Vietnam.
She said a staff member from the Singapore Embassy in Hanoi went into the office on a Saturday, when the government office is closed, to issue a hard copy diplomatic note needed for repatriation documents.
“In times like these, I really appreciate the Singapore government bodies work ethics and culture — excellent and efficient,” she wrote, adding that the "lady in Hanoi embassy was also very empathetic and helpful”.
"I'm thankful to be a Singaporean," she gushed.
She also thanked the Vietnamese police officer handling her case, who came in on a Sunday to help expedite paperwork.
“He Google translated to me that ‘his heart is heavy for my mum to return to Singapore' so he is going out of his way to help me," she explained.
The officer was also the one who sent her back to her hotel in the early hours of the morning.
For several nights, she remained in the same hotel room where her mother had suffered the cardiac arrest, grappling with flashbacks.
“The only way I could survive emotionally in that lonely hotel room staring at the bed where my mum was sleeping, was to share with you guys. And you have held my heart so well-with an emoji or a text.”
Eventually, the Vietnamese repatriation company advised her to return to Singapore first while arrangements were finalised. “Since I can't do anything more here, the Vietnam company suggested I go back first to do the preparation to receive her,” she wrote.
In an Instagram update yesterday (Feb 27), Audrey shared that her mum's body has arrived in Singapore.
"I will only be able to see her tomorrow as they need to check the embalming etc. I am afraid that her body would decompose badly," she said.
She then thanked everyone for journeying with her through this "incredibly and challenging" time.
"We will be having the funeral over the next two days. The funeral arrangements are settled, thanks to my wonderful pastor who is helping me coordinate everything," she wrote.
Though devastated, she repeatedly thanked those who had sent messages and prayers.
“Every message has given me courage and love and support," she wrote.
In one of her posts, Audrey said she had intentionally taken many photos and videos of her mother over the last five years, fearing the day she might lose her.
“Even though I can no longer interact with her in real life, I've so many videos and photos of her now stored that I can always look back at and be reminded by how lovely she was,” she said.
