Vietnam - Thoughts and Rants

I've been putting off writing a post about Vietnam because I don't have too many nice things to say. I feel utterly awful that my second and short trip to my home country had reinforce the negative memories of my first trip. This was my second, and probably my last, time to Vietnam (unless I have a specific reason to go).

I'll try to stick to the facts without adding too many emotions...

My arrival from Cathay Pacific was uneventful. I thought that I had all my bases covered on the Visa and immigration end by prepaying for an escort to assist with fast tracking through customs at SGN airport. I prepaid for the Visa through a legitimate Vietnamese governmental website that was highly recommended. My friend used this and it worked. Alas, that was not so. They claimed that they did not accept my Visa, so wanted me to pay $25.

Before leaving the US, I was warned that the customs people expect a tip on Lunar New Year. I didn't tip them, but was put in a position where I had to pay an additional $25 for a visa. My friend who used the website is Caucasian. Maybe that's why he didn't have to tip. *insert thinking bubble*

After customs, I was led to the waiting Taxi by the hired escort (no not that kind of escort but she is female) from the Park Hyatt. Before passing me onto the usher, she told me to switch my backpack from the back to the front and put my arms over my bag so it won't get snatched. Okay, thanks, mental note taken.

The usher asked me about the customs incident, which I believe the escort explained to him, and I confirmed that customs wanted a duplicate $25 for visa. He shook his head and said in Vietnamese, "that is not right." When he loaded me into the taxi, he gave me a warning to hold my bag tight, and they (the local Vietnamese) snatch purses during Lunar New Year.

My impression towards the motherland is not positive by this point....

Fast forward two nights, and nothing serious happened, but I was warned by different people to be careful about my purse. I was so over it by the third night.

Here are my personal thoughts after my three nights in Vietnam:

I was warned by four strangers in three days to hang onto my bag and be careful of taxis, because they like to take the long route, or purposely use a different meter to overcharge. It's like "For real now? This is what my people have reduced to? to rip off their own?" It's really sad, but there are many places I can visit where I wouldn't mind returning. Places that would not go out of their way to rip me off on every corner, store, taxi, etc! Places where I don't have to recount the change to make sure I wasn't shorted, or double check the bank's monetary exchange. Places where I do not have to ask for the price first before they kill a fish and then extort money from me! (the fish incident happened to a friend, so I was warned prior to arrival)

Why should I spend my hard earned money and limited time going to a country that's purposely trying to take advantage of me? A place where I must be extra diligent and on guard to keep my belongings MINE. I don't like always having to worry about my surroundings as I'm walking down the street. I practice mindfulness, and I don't purposely put myself in a bad situation, but the degree of vigilance I must practice in Vietnam is a complete turn off.

It just doesn't make sense to me. Needless to say, I won't voluntarily return to Vietnam for a leisurely trip.