mrvietnam2001

The Vietnamese government issued a proclamation several years ago, "thou shalt not give one second of grief to an American visitor". I'm paraphrasing obviously.

My second trip, I was negotiating with a Cycle driver on the purchase or sale of a soldiers "bones". He approached me and offered me a photo and "bones" for about 100US. I merely said, "100 US?" No way baby, I'm from New York, the wholesale capital of the US and I can offer them to YOU for 10 bucks!"

Well then came the typically VietNamese response " I not unstand!" It was too funny and I was enjoying the whole thing actually.

A "blue license plate" vehicle screeched up and 4 men got out of the vehicle and grabbed this poor cyclo driver, threw him against the vehicle, then put him inside while I YELLED at them " what is your fking problem! We were talking!" to which they ignored me, and drove off leaving me to only imagine what became of that poor cyclo driver.

I was ( and am when I'm back) as deep in the Viet community as you can go. I have NEVER had a moments worry in Vnam even when I was hussling on the pool tables ( the reverse hussle). NEVER.

On the other hand, I DID have a few near confrontations in Thailand. Actually got physical with someone once ( actually 2 of them). After a slap, the thai's ran behind a car, re-evaluated their position and then took off. I'm a grown man and I really don't have interest, time etc for that kind of crap. The thai's were sometimes extremely " in your face" whereas the Viets were the opposite and certainly we could debate who would come out a winner in a thai-viet confrontation with my bets that the thais would cut tail and run.

Maybe the Thai's need to outsource investigative and then "correctional" activities to the Viets. My bet would be the "thugs" like this would disappear from Thailand in less than a month and you wouldn't read stories like this in Thai or any other language as they wouldn't happen.

They ( the authorities) went too far in Vietnam, and not far enough in Thailand.

Where's the balance.

Mr Vietnam

A spokesman for the Thai Rak Thai party said the commitee felt that imposing such a law would restrict people's freedom.

LOL!

Mr Vietnam

It has nothing to do with "face".

It has everything to do with economics.

Mr Vietnam

Judging by how the Thais have tried to control the evil "drug" problem, perhaps they should just shoot the people crossing the border .

Cheaper, no?

Mr Vietnam

No there is no provision in US Immigration law to post a bond or put up collateral in order to get someone a visa.

Think about that.

Mr Vietnam

Get it before you go. If you decide to stay you can pay the $$ to Ann Tours in Saigon and get just about anything you want ( in terms of a visa)

Mr Vietnam

Are Sling sing and jimbo one and the same?

Or is it "is"? Forgive me, I don't speak English. I speak American.

Ot shall we try VietNamese?

Mr Vietnam

Hmm, not to be commented on since France is a country that is 1. democratic and 2. free?  Wish you'd extend that same courtesy to the USA. 

Jeepz

Absolutely Jeepz. the USA is democratic and free (perhaps I should have used the word independent?)

Although I have read in here a few times that USA is a Republic and not a democracy.

Axel, 90% of Americans couldn't tell you the difference, when it changed, so don't let them kid you.

People here have become just as ignorant as people there.

The biggest difference is the French at least took a few asss kickings before they finally and totally succumbed to their ignorance and socialism.

Mr Vietnam

The French should give Bastiat a read. Maybe refresh the memory a bit would be a good thing.

Mr Vietnam 

Mr Vietnam,

I'm not sure I understand your post. Please could you clarify ?

thanks.

Do you know who Bastiat is?

Mr Vietnam

Claude Frédéric Bastiat ? a French economist (born in 1801, died in 1850) ?

The guy who said that free market is a source of "economic harmony" ?

It was a question. If you don't/can't answer that's fine. I didn't expect to discover anything out of the ordinary here.

Mr Vietnam

The French should give Bastiat a read. Maybe refresh the memory a bit would be a good thing.

Mr Vietnam 

Mr Vietnam,

I'm not sure I understand your post. Please could you clarify ?

thanks.

Do you know who Bastiat is?

Mr Vietnam

The French should give Bastiat a read. Maybe refresh the memory a bit would be a good thing.

Mr Vietnam

....Mr Vietnam 

Do me a favour man, IT IS A SECRETE!

You can compare Thailand wih VietNam by many things, but my bet goes on VietNam. They still work and have sanook in the Cuchi tunnels after dark.

Ooops sorry Axel. Shhhhhhhh!

But you know, the guys who are in Thailand for off color reasons would get eaten alive in Vietnam anyway. So there's nothing to fear and only the ones with good intentions will be accepted.

I saw many guys get their brains beat in while living in Vnam real quick too. As you know it's a lot different than Thailand

Rgrds

Mr Vietnam

P.S. Yeh on the work ethic. Unreal.

My wife (She Who Must Be Obeyed) Is older than me and we have been married for 6 years now, very happily. We spent 4 years in Oman and the last 2 years in our own home in England. I go to work daily for 10 hours with Saturday & Sunday off. My wife (She Who Must Be Obeyed) does not work but in return keeps house and cooks. At the weekend we shop together and she meets with her friends. Sure we have our ups and downs and we look after each other when one of us gets sick. The thing is, we LOVE each other and because of this we will be together till the Grim Reaper calls. My wife (She Who Must Be Obeyed) saw the movie 'SHE' yesterday - blimey she can't half hit hard!!!

Regards,

CC

LOL!

Maybe it's time for a newer model?

Rgrds and good luck

Mr Vietnam

as well as locking up greedy drug smugglers, they should also be locking up pathetically irresponsible apologists like yourself.

Heck, might as well lock up stupid people too. Have at it.

Whose going to determine that one?

Mr Vietnam

Lets be fair, there are other countries with excellents future and although I love Thailand, I can immagine their being better places to invest your money

Yes and Vietnam is one of those alternatives and it's catching up fast. Vietnam is watching Thailand very closely and so is the USA watching Vietnam very closely and is now Vnams biggest ttading partner in just under a year and a half of the free trade agreement.

Let's not forget the US Cruise Missile ship traveling down the Saigon River from Vungtau to Saigon a couple months ago sporting the US AND Vietnam flags simultaneously excorted by 2 Vietnamese Navy Ships sporting the Vietnamese AND USA flag simultaneously. You better believe that was a signal to Beijing and elsewhere.

We can get into political changes on the horizon but even from an ease of long term stays, Vietnam blows Thailand away in that area.

I loved Koh Samui from the time I landed there. The sheer beauty of the island drew me to shipping a container of my things there, getting a house overlooking the gulf, and making a real attempt at setting up retirement there. But wow, what a pain in the rear end the whole place became and I am so glad the foreign owner rejected my all cash offer to buy that place.

Gonna be a lot of changes thruout Asia in the next few years is my bet.

Rgrds

Mr Vietnam

My score is 2747

http://www.hurtwood.demon.co.uk/Fun/copter.swf

See if you dare!

Rgrds

Mr Vietnam

Keep checking http://www.vietventures.com

There's also a small yahoo group listed under "forum" ( make sure you have a profile on your email account or you will not be approved) on the site. There's a couple guys who were also stationed in that part of Vietnam who are regular contributors.

There is no politics, singles ads or war related stuff. It's a friendly group and most of the members are either contemplating going to Vietnam, been there and/or are engaged/married to Vietnamese and are going thru the K-1, k-3 or other visa processes.

Enjoy

Mr Vietnam

Bird Flu Claims More Victims, U.N. Renews Warning

1 hour, 26 minutes ago Add Health - Reuters to My Yahoo!

By Nopporn Wong-Anan

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Asia's human bird flu death toll rose to 22 on Wednesday as Thailand and Vietnam reported more human deaths from the disease ravaging poultry flocks across the region and the WHO pleaded with governments not to rush to declare it under control.

"This virus is still spreading no matter what some authorities are saying about it being under control. It is spreading on a daily basis," World Health Organization (news - web sites) spokesman Peter Cordingley told Reuters in Manila.

The WHO in Geneva renewed its warnings about the H5N1 bird flu virus, sayingwild birds could easily spread it and that people were still at risk.

"Highly pathogenic avian influenza, caused by the H5N1 strain, is currently infecting poultry in eight Asian countries. Full control has not yet been achieved in any of these countries, despite intensive efforts in many," WHO said in its latest statement, posted on its Web site at http://www.who.int.

Thailand and Vietnam, where all the human cases have been reported, are talking about declaring victory over the virulent H5N1 virus in a matter of weeks.

Cordingley said doing that would carry great risks.

"If you re-stock too soon and the virus is still in the environment and you get a second infection in a re-stocked flock, then you have an endemic situation where the virus is embedded in the region and risk a recurrence every flu season," he said.

CARRIED BY WILD BIRDS

In past outbreaks, investigations have shown that infection can be introduced into domestic flocks by wild aquatic birds, including migratory birds capable of flying long distances, the WHO said.

"Once introduced into domestic flocks, the virus, which is highly contagious, can be mechanically carried from farm to farm via contaminated items, such as vehicles, clothing, and equipment."

Thailand, the world's fourth-biggest chicken exporter which had hoped to declare the epidemic under control this month until finding recurrences, still says it expects to do so next month.

Thailand reported 14 new outbreaks, including one province where the disease had not been reported before. "More than 27 million birds have either died or been destroyed. Infections in chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, ostriches, quail, and peacocks have been reported," WHO said.

In Vietnam, outbreaks have been reported in 57 of the country's 64 provinces and 27 million birds have either died or been destroyed.

Vietnamese officials say they are optimistic they can meet Prime Minister Pham Van Khai's goal of bringing it under control this month.

Japan declared an end to its first outbreak of bird flu.

Masako Kurimoto, director of the farm ministry's Animal Health and Animal Product Safety Division, said a ban on eggs and chickens leaving an area within a 20-mile radius of the location of the first infection in Yamaguchi prefecture would be lifted if there were no fresh cases reported in the area.

NO END IN SIGHT

But the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization (news - web sites) said it would be at least a year, perhaps never, before the virus was under control.

The WHO expects more people to catch bird flu, which has killed at least 15 Vietnamese and seven Thais.

The latest deaths were reported on Wednesday -- a four-year-old boy who died on February 3 and was now confirmed to have been infected with the virus, and a Vietnamese man.

"The H5N1 strain is capable of infecting a broad range of hosts, which may help explain recent media reports of infections and deaths in mammalian and avian species not normally considered susceptible to infection and severe disease," WHO said.

It said H5N1 flu looks different in people than normal influenza infection. It spreads through the body and instead of staying in the respiratory tract, it can affect various organs and kill quickly.

"These features are being seen again in the earliest clinical reports from Vietnam and Thailand," WHO said.

"For all these reasons, the present situation in Asia needs to be watched very carefully. Countries need to maintain a high level of vigilance, and must not relax their surveillance and detection efforts."

My Thai wife is awesome, stays home, cooks, cleans, takes out the trash and

could easlly be in Penthouse.  I am the boss, my word is law.

What more could a man want?

  The key here is to get one from the countryside, nothing westernized - ex. from the city or tourist areas.

Rather like training a puppy...and get one from a reasonable pet shop.

Perhaps he would prefer one spayed as well?

I was cautious with investments in Thailand.I only bought a car.And if I have to go elsewhere,I will easely sell it.

Or leave it behind. Isn't a big deal.

You were smart.

Mr Vietnam

Right! But of course the mindless intellectuals will tell you otherwise. So let's keep it simple for simple people.

A "democracy" is majority rules correct?

That said, if 51% determine policy, can the other 49% consider themselves free?

You would think that fact alone should silence the pro-democracy crowd. Ahh but those are the ones hoping to be the 51% so I don't think so.

Mr Vietnam

For far too many middle eastern citizens (and elsewhere) there simply are no means other than violence to effect any change in their welfare. Democracy (with its institutions, checks and balances) of itself is not the solution, but it does give people the ability to mutually agree a least bad alternative to the status quo. Democracy also tends to allow commerce and industry to continue uninterrupted whilst changes are made.

Just ask the Palestinians. Give 'em a Parliament where the can hurl epithets at each other instead of rocks at Israeli soldiers and I'll bet you 20 quid they'll be much happier.

But that's me.

Cheers

Yup, england has really proven that.

Hahahahaha

Mr Vietnam

Now grant it, I am the gatekeeper and get the initial communications and frankly I delete or refuse at least 20% of the inquiries/orders because of the off color nature or obvious attempts at taking advantage.

Motives are quite telling. The ones who have good motives have been sucessful.

20%, I am impressed by your gatekeeper skills, Mr. Vietnam.

By the way, what are good motives?

I think it's pretty self explanatory.

Mr Vietnam

Just to let you in on something. My wifes little business, http://www.loveofasiavietnam.com has matched dozens of sincere foreign men and women from Vietnam since 2000.

Not one has split up.

Now grant it, I am the gatekeeper and get the initial communications and frankly I delete or refuse at least 20% of the inquiries/orders because of the off color nature or obvious attempts at taking advantage.

From that, 90%+ of the fellows who have signed up to the personal matchmaking have been successful in meeting someone who closely matches their profile applications. The other 7% or so either weren't really serious to begin with, or had personal issues arise so they didn't pursue it as completely as they should/could and hence didn't find someone.

And out of the 90+%, there are dozens who have found that special someone, many of which are married and living now in the USA, Holland, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, England, Italy, France, Australia, New Zealand, ( not in that order) or are in the various visa processes now. And of the ones who have gone the distance, not a single break up. Not one in more than 3 years although I'm not really counting year one.

Motives are quite telling. The ones who have good motives have been sucessful. Then there's real effort ( to which my wife really goes the extra mile to help with if the client is sincere) to cross the boundries of communications, culture, food, etc etc that are issues to consider. Interestingly, the "few" Vietkieu ( overseas Vietnamese) men who have been clients have been almost 90%+ UNSUCCESSFUL. I could tell you why and it has nothing to do with money as some of the ones who are/were clients are quite successful ( dentist, lawyer, trader). The Americans, Aussies,, Canadians have been the most successful, followed by Dutch, then German, French,and other Europeans.

We're nowhere near a large player in that business. It's a family thing and one that I started with my wife when I was in Vietnam. But these are some of the statistical facts of what's happened since the services inception.

Rgrds

Mr Vietnam

Sorry for mrvietnam2001, but this is something local, it happened in Chicago back in 1922, too.

LOL! You couldn't pay me enough to live in Chicago in 2004 Axel!

But certainly Chicago in 1922 was a better place to live than Cambodia.

I agree about "visiting" Siem Reap though.

That was funny !

Mr Vietnam