I was in Vietnam for 5 years.
It's good to raise awareness in order to get more people to talk about this, these things, to take action. There are a few issues we can talk about from this. First, we can talk about people in general. We can debate on the health, the poverty, the conditions people are generally in.
We can talk about the police officers.
First, we can talk about people. Second, we can talk about cops, specifically government. I remember trying to ask police to find my lost bikes in Saigon a few times. I tried to give them hundreds of dollars and they wouldn't take my money. I've heard a lot of stories over the years. I've seen different things in Vietnam over the years. We can all educate each other on how things are and how things can be in Vietnam and in other countries. Ultimately, Vietnamese need to really want a better Vietnam before it can improve. Yes, in some ways, Vietnam has been improving in some ways. So, I always think about going back to help. There is a lot here. A lot to talk about from just this for example.
I wonder if you can find your bikes :) For our government, foreigners will be given more priority and I can understand the reason they do not take your money. But like so many people, we lost a lot of things but they never searched, but when an official loses a bird, they can find it in half a day. It's ridiculous, is not it? :)
It is great when you plan to return to Vietnam to help, and it's a lot of problems. There are many international volunteer groups in Vietnam, even support projects from international organizations. These help people get better service and living, I am very thankful for that . In my limits, I try to let people know their rights and the truth is concealed. I think this is good for the long future. :)
I was sitting at a table at McDonald's on Nguyen Hue, HCM. Near the HCM Square with that HCM statue. I was eating & was on my laptop. I was not looking at my phone for a few minutes. There were people sitting next to me. Some minutes later, my phone was missing. There was a security camera. I told the staff if that one old guy was sitting near me or not. I just wanted them to quickly look at their video to see. But they refused to help.
My Bikes.
I was not able to find one bike that I lost in front of a hostel on pham Ngu Lao in like May 2013. Then lost my new bike at the 23/9 Park like in December 2013. There was an electric bike that a friend of mine, Kathy, like sold. So, 3 lost bikes. I bought a 4th bike in 2014. It was tough but I still like so many people in Vietnam.
LOL. You're so unlucky :) In cities like Hanoi, Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh, you will easily lose things. Please be careful.
In addition to the theft, robbery and hacking by the price. The Vietnamese are most wonderful. You will like the ordinary Vietnamese. But be careful because there are things that are bad for you, in my country it is very normal. For example: bribes, push up prices in the sky, lie .v.v.v and finally, indifference to the problem of others :)
Yeah, that is why I always try to know how much something should cost before going to a store. Also, it's better not to go shopping when you're hungry. It's great to know how to make a deal, to barter, at markets. I like competition.
I like free markets.
It can be scary when sellers raise prices. That is why the buyers, the customers, must be very smart to demand lower prices. If the sellers refuse, then the customers need to leave and find other stores. The problem is when too many customers are too lazy to even try to demand for lower prices. Then, sellers don't have to worry. And sellers will continue to try to raise the prices more and more. And sellers are trying to make money. Customers should try their best to save money. But it can feel like too much work for customers to fight, to barter. That's too bad for the customers in Vietnam or in other countries as well.