tentseller

If you look at the history of immigration resettlement of refugees from Vietnam post war you will notice that many were settled into QC due to the French influence and assimilation issue with a language that they may already have experience with.
Refugees do not have the same choice in selecting their destinations.

B407

I think it will be the same as Europe assuming everything goes without a hitch. Signs will be in Chinese and English which won't be of much help to OP's mother in law. Also won't be much Vietnamese speaking staff aside from those who work for Vietnam Airlines. If the OP's mother in law wants to connect on AC to YUL on one ticket, they will likely be flying Air China via PEK.

As for the immigration side, I don't think that part will matter much. Border agencies around the world are used to dealing with people who don't speak any English or their local language on a daily basis. Either they will try and find someone who does speak the language or use a telephone interpreter service if absolutely necessary.

EDIT: On second thought, looking at AC's website, looks like they do sell connections from Vietnam Airlines to AC on one ticket. I would assume Vietnam Airlines would have Vietnamese speaking staff in PVG or PEK that could assist in guiding OP's mother in law to the right place.

Nimitz

Thanks for the advice everyone right now here is an option I am considering.

Buy one ticket HUI - SGN about 100$ us since it will be right after Vietnam new years
Use 45K+188$ delta points for a Flight SGN-PVG-YYZ the layover in PVG is 5 hours
Have wife family meet her in YYZ say one night with them
Buy a ticket YYZ-YBG 200$

So total $488 USD and 45K delta miles I can't use living in YBG

I am only worried about the PVG stop.

2nd Option is SGN-BKK-LHR-YUL for 40K united + 80$
BKK Looks easy if I show her a Video i saw on youtube.
LHR has a paid service that is around 200$ since Vietnamese is not one of the free covered languages.
Then Drive round trip to Montreal 6 hours each way with a wife that is 8 months Pregnant

3rd Option and last pay almost 4K to fly HUI to YBG with assistance at needed airports.

Thanks what I would like is 5HR enough for PVG and is there a escort service available at that airport.

Thanks again Nimitz

gglave

I realize every family is different when it comes to frugality, finances, and disposable income - And as a result it's 'easy to talk' - But in this circumstance to me cost / points would be a distant second to convenience

If I was in your situation I would book the routing that is easiest, with the fewest connections, fewest road trips - A one-stop itinerary that ends in YUL.

GUWonder

There are way more Vietnamese speakers around Toronto than around Montreal, but I'm not sure if it's been that way since the late 1970s and early 1980s. But being able to get most directly to YUL makes more sense than trying to pick a Canadian port of entry based on whether or not there is an available Vietnamese-speaking CBSA employee on duty at the airport based on local demographics and then doing another connection. The most direct route possible is what I suggest when arranging travel for those who may face language-related challenges at airports en route and/or at the destination.

Often1

You can help your mother with advance planning:

1. Fewer connections are better than more. Connections in Canada are better than connections elsewhere.
2. Have your mother's PNR notes for each operating carrier, include the language(s) in which she is fluent. Carrier staff, immigration and customs type and others, all have access, if only be phone, to someone who can translate, but the key is knowing what.
3. Arm your mother with a mobile which has your mobile number pre-programmed. If anything goes amiss, she should call you and you can become the interface. This is especially helpful for IRROPS where she may wind up stuck for a night and needs someone who can handle arrangements.
4. She should have a typed out itinerary which also includes your contact information. She can hand that to some relevant person if need be and point to your contact information.

Hoyaheel

Perhaps once you know the itinerary and the languages at the transfer points, you could have a couple of sentences typed up in the itinerary she could show to airport/airline staff? "I don't speak English/French/German, I am looking for flight #123 to Toronto. Can you help/Is there anyone here who speaks Vietnamese".

How does your mom feel about this travel? In addition to any prep work you can do for the travel itself, (and I LOVE her having a phone she can use with your number pre-programmed!) is there anything she needs/wants to feel more comfortable making the trip?

s0ssos

I specifically recall looking up NH and they fly to HAN as well. However, there may be some differences in what they call the airline (like Starflyer, etc).

s0ssos

Don't go to PVG. Chinese airports are horrible, and Shanghai specifically has issues with tremendous delays (though in China delays are just a fact-of-life).

jc94