How many expats have had to pay bribes to police?

jimbream wrote:

Never.
Bribing a Vietnamese government official is a punishable offense under law.
It's an illegal act.

Have you alerted the media!? Seems like nobody else in this country has been made aware of this.

Delusions aside, I usually pay VND 200,000. I do know that the Vietnamese pay half of that, but there's no point in getting upset over the foreigner tax.

missmae wrote:

Questions to all Native English Speakers?

Did you try speaking another language than English ( I assume you speak more than 1 language )

Luckily not being stopped yet I'm totally sure I get away with speaking German, Spanish and Chinese

Just wondering whether you tried to pretend not to speak Vietnamese nor English

Why do you ' assume ' ALL native English speakers would speak another language? ( or even need/want to ).

bluenz wrote:

Why do you ' assume ' ALL native English speakers would speak another language? ( or even need/want to ).

Ah typically attitude. We don't need another language because everybody speaks English, right dude?

Kinda sad fact that you only know ONE language when you could have learned 5 or 6 and having no problems traveling around:)

bluenz wrote:

I can actually speak French, ( wasn't my choice, another useless language ), unfortunately, many of us were not born with a silver spoon, and have had to do actual physical work to meek out our existence.  Perhaps you should spend more time getting one language right, then boasting about the other languages you say you can speak,  that you must find ever so useful in VN.  ( I assume you can speak them, because you said you can ).
More assumptions, you assume everyone wants to travel around as well? ( I'm only living here because Immigration rules changed in Aus ).
   P.S , while I was busy not learning 5 -6 languages, I was getting a Degree in Engineering, as well as being able to physically fabricate practically anything from metal, ( any type ), at the time I assumed this would be much more useful for me in the future.

Here Here!
Blue is spot on.
Speaking other languages is something that is an ongoing learning skill.
Speaking Italian well in Thailand won't do you much good.
Bragging about how many languages you speak on an English speaking Expatriate forum won't do you much good either.
I like the common Vietnamese' outlook on speaking different languages.
Ask them if they speak English.If they do they will mostly say quite modestly-"I speak a little but not well".
Even though you can understand and communicate with them well enough,they don't brag about their abilities.
Both my grandparents spoke at least three languages well and they put those languages to use,they didn't simply say-" Oh,I can speak three languages";

bluenz wrote:

I can actually speak French, ( wasn't my choice, another useless language ), unfortunately, many of us were not born with a silver spoon, and have had to do actual physical work to meek out our existence.  Perhaps you should spend more time getting one language right, then boasting about the other languages you say you can speak,  that you must find ever so useful in VN.  ( I assume you can speak them, because you said you can ).
More assumptions, you assume everyone wants to travel around as well? ( I'm only living here because Immigration rules changed in Aus ).
   P.S , while I was busy not learning 5 -6 languages, I was getting a Degree in Engineering, as well as being able to physically fabricate practically anything from metal, ( any type ), at the time I assumed this would be much more useful for me in the future.

MIA2013 wrote:

bluenz wrote:

I can actually speak French, ( wasn't my choice, another useless language ), unfortunately, many of us were not born with a silver spoon, and have had to do actual physical work to meek out our existence.  Perhaps you should spend more time getting one language right, then boasting about the other languages you say you can speak,  that you must find ever so useful in VN.  ( I assume you can speak them, because you said you can ).
More assumptions, you assume everyone wants to travel around as well? ( I'm only living here because Immigration rules changed in Aus ).
   P.S , while I was busy not learning 5 -6 languages, I was getting a Degree in Engineering, as well as being able to physically fabricate practically anything from metal, ( any type ), at the time I assumed this would be much more useful for me in the future.

Hello little Lady.How's life?
What gives you such mirth?

bluenz wrote:

I can actually speak French, ( wasn't my choice, another useless language ), unfortunately, many of us were not born with a silver spoon, and have had to do actual physical work to meek out our existence.  Perhaps you should spend more time getting one language right, then boasting about the other languages you say you can speak,  that you must find ever so useful in VN.  ( I assume you can speak them, because you said you can ).
More assumptions, you assume everyone wants to travel around as well? ( I'm only living here because Immigration rules changed in Aus ).
   P.S , while I was busy not learning 5 -6 languages, I was getting a Degree in Engineering, as well as being able to physically fabricate practically anything from metal, ( any type ), at the time I assumed this would be much more useful for me in the future.

What has this got to do with Police bribes? MissMae asked what I thought was a good question. I've had European friends pretend they do not speak English when the Police have stopped them. The Police usually give up and tell them to move along.

The Long Man wrote:

But I was speeding be it only marginally over the limit. He was right and had video evidence so I was bang to rights. If I'd contested or not offered a bribe, my licence would have been confiscated and I would have had to retrieve it from the local police station. how much do you think that would have cost me? A lot more than the few notes I slipped into his pocket I'm sure

When in Vietnam, do as the Vietnamese do; pay.

missmae wrote:

bluenz wrote:

Why do you ' assume ' ALL native English speakers would speak another language? ( or even need/want to ).

Ah typically attitude. We don't need another language because everybody speaks English, right dude?

Kinda sad fact that you only know ONE language when you could have learned 5 or 6 and having no problems traveling around:)

In US only 2-3 years is required for foreign language and most people live nowhere near a border. So, I can't blame many for not speaking another language. "No child left behind" and all that crap doesn't have the funding to focus on foreign languages when plenty lower class people can hardly read their own language.

colinoscapee wrote:

Well if thats the case, dont ever complain about corruption.

Complaining about corruption? In my country they set up speed traps at the bottom of hills or in places where the speed limit is ridiculously low and get their 300 bucks. I don't care about the fine but it really pisses me off that they get to be sanctimonious about it as well. At least in Vietnam, it's a cash thing and there isn't all the other rigmarole. In other words there is good corruption and bad corruption. In Canada it stinks, here we get to hold our nose.

milkybunnyHCM wrote:

missmae wrote:

bluenz wrote:

Why do you ' assume ' ALL native English speakers would speak another language? ( or even need/want to ).

Ah typically attitude. We don't need another language because everybody speaks English, right dude?

Kinda sad fact that you only know ONE language when you could have learned 5 or 6 and having no problems traveling around:)

In US only 2-3 years is required for foreign language and most people live nowhere near a border. So, I can't blame many for not speaking another language. "No child left behind" and all that crap doesn't have the funding to focus on foreign languages when plenty lower class people can hardly read their own language.

I agree, the functional illiteracy rate in the US amongst US born citizens is truly astounding. The ignorance is simply stunning!

colinoscapee wrote:

I get your point and agree, the problem here is that officials are taking money and a hell of a lot of it, money that should be used in infastructure. As Uncle Ho said" he wanted all the citizens to share in the growth of Viet Nam", that surely is not the case when you see police owning BMWs on a meager wage of 400 usd a month.

You should see some of their houses! Unfortunately for Vietnam the graft is well and truly entrenched right to the very top. e.g. who owns the McDonalds franchise in Vietnam? Who was a major player in the Shipyard meltdown? Talk is cheap by the highest player in the land. Until they get the payoffs to a dull roar the country will never get first world status.

Julien wrote:

Guys, isn't that turning into politics, which are quite "touchy" on a public forum ?

You are right Julien, sometimes we need to be reminded where we are. This is not Toronto with an efficient mayor.