diff --git a/litellm/llms/vertex_ai.py b/litellm/llms/vertex_ai.py
index 7cfc91701..e25a0b925 100644
--- a/litellm/llms/vertex_ai.py
+++ b/litellm/llms/vertex_ai.py
@@ -244,21 +244,19 @@ def completion(
             return async_completion(llm_model=llm_model, mode=mode, prompt=prompt, logging_obj=logging_obj, request_str=request_str, model=model, model_response=model_response, encoding=encoding, messages=messages,print_verbose=print_verbose,**optional_params)
 
         if mode == "":
-            chat = llm_model.start_chat() 
-            request_str+= f"chat = llm_model.start_chat()\n"
 
             if "stream" in optional_params and optional_params["stream"] == True:
                 stream = optional_params.pop("stream")
-                request_str += f"chat.send_message({prompt}, generation_config=GenerationConfig(**{optional_params}), safety_settings={safety_settings}, stream={stream})\n"
+                request_str += f"llm_model.generate_content({prompt}, generation_config=GenerationConfig(**{optional_params}), safety_settings={safety_settings}, stream={stream})\n"
                 ## LOGGING
                 logging_obj.pre_call(input=prompt, api_key=None, additional_args={"complete_input_dict": optional_params, "request_str": request_str})
-                model_response = chat.send_message(prompt, generation_config=GenerationConfig(**optional_params), safety_settings=safety_settings, stream=stream)
+                model_response = llm_model.generate_content(prompt, generation_config=GenerationConfig(**optional_params), safety_settings=safety_settings, stream=stream)
                 optional_params["stream"] = True
                 return model_response
-            request_str += f"chat.send_message({prompt}, generation_config=GenerationConfig(**{optional_params}), safety_settings={safety_settings}).text\n"
+            request_str += f"llm_model.generate_content({prompt}, generation_config=GenerationConfig(**{optional_params}), safety_settings={safety_settings}).text\n"
             ## LOGGING
             logging_obj.pre_call(input=prompt, api_key=None, additional_args={"complete_input_dict": optional_params, "request_str": request_str})
-            response_obj = chat.send_message(prompt, generation_config=GenerationConfig(**optional_params), safety_settings=safety_settings)
+            response_obj = llm_model.generate_content(prompt, generation_config=GenerationConfig(**optional_params), safety_settings=safety_settings)
             completion_response = response_obj.text
             response_obj = response_obj._raw_response
         elif mode == "vision":