Bribes.

[Kevin and 10]

I've gone back to VN twice since I came to the US in '75. The first time I was with my brother in-law who came to the US about 17 years ago. I had no problems getting in or out of VN.

I went back 4 months later to get my Marriage Certificate. The only problem I had was leaving VN. Customs had a bunch of luggage piled up and thought some of it was mine. I have an american name so I think they were looking for cash. He kept asking me if this bag or that bag was mine. None of them were so I wasn't worried. After about 5-10 minutes they just let me go. I even brought extra money back just in case of a hassel at the airport, but didn't use it.

I have no idea what they will do when I bring my wife back to the US.

[chuckandkim 0]

They would do NOTHING! You will do all the talking in to the CO. But that's just me brother Vietnamese tent to be pretty rude when it comes to official business, they talk over you, guess what, you over-talk them. All they want is $10 or $20. What do you do? Pay the bribe and forget about it, get a nice rum-and-coke at the bar afterward?

[sealedkiss 1]

Chuck, I am the American fiance. I couldn't agree with you more. Just teasing you a bit

Bribery is absolutely not tolerable, at least at the airport. Here international travellers come and go, and bribery degrades the nation's image. How sad. I never ever put $5 or $10 in my passport for customs or immigration. Other people are afraid they'd have a hard time without some greens in their passports. But I couldn't care less. What are they going to to me?

Once though, I did have to pay a bribe. Ridejewel, I could relate to your feeling about being robbed in broad daylight. Exactly the same situation. An X-ray screening guy took my backpack and asked me to open it and take out my CD's. He said, "this is media - you didn't have it inspected and stamped yet. Can't take it with you. Now if you pay me a fine (!), I'd have it taken care for you." I was furious. Had these been mine, I would have said "keep it." But these CD's were my sister's. So I popped a $5 bill. He said, "too little." I couldn't take it any more. I said, "I have no more." He handed me the CD's and said "Go." Hmm...

I do tip the guy who uninvitedly collect my bags for me at the airport. And I am not happy about it, either, because he makes a face and reluctantly grabs my money when it was 4x$1 bills and not a $10 bill without every saying thanks. Now $4 for 5 minutes of work. My hourly rate isn't 1/10 of that.

Anyhow, those things are just plain sad...

[chuckandkim 0]

On our trip to return to VN last Christmas 2006 (Entering VN). I got through the Immigrantation desk without any issue. However they questioned Kim:

1. Is this your Passport (VN)? Yes

2. This doesn't look like you (the picture)... Yes that's me (kim)

3. You changed so much for someone who came and return to/from America... Uhhhh Thanks (Kim)

4. Who is your husband? He is right overthere (Kim)

5. Is he Korean? (#######, Kim thought) No, he's American (The flight we took was a KE flight from Incheon, that could be why he thought I was a Korean... but #######, Kim's returned to VN from the US... whatever)

6. What is the reason you're here? Visist my parents (Kim)

Done!