Ok, just a random little post about security in Vietnam.

Pretty much every street has security on it, be it army, police or private guards. In fact there is so much security around, you litterally couldn't walk more than 5 meters without tripping on a broken sidewalk and landing in a uniformed guards lap. They always look mean, and unless they are bashing someone with a rifle (which I am forced to say never happens - Mr Dong, you can put the nightstick down now) they almost always look bored.

Security is pretty tight even in the nightclubs, but this time was pretty OTT (over the top in internet nerd speak) and imposing. It is a little scary when 3 white guys decide to pull an all nighter before a 6am flight, and turn up to a club which is litterally on a building construction site, and instantly get mobbed by security guards. They scowled at us, and then ushered us all into what can only be described as a tiny cube of sound. Sound so freaking loud that talking was impossible, and standing with your internal organs intact was difficult to say the least. I couldn't hear what was ordered, and to be honest, can't exactly remember HOW it was ordered, but what I do remember is being the ONLY white Honkies in a club surrounded by Vietnamese... quite conspicuous to say the least.

We got a LOT of stares from all the girls, and a lot of glares from all the Vietnamese guys who thought we were there to steal girls. Next thing we know, a group of security turned up and surrounded us at our little table. 3 white boys who don't speak the language, and 4 massive security guards. Overkill anyone?

We got a little worried, although the fact we were already a little drunk meant that we weren't too worried until it was a little too late. The security cordon surrounding us and separating us from the other club goers, and stood there smiling with arms crossed. Eventually we realised they were there entirely for us, just to protect and serve us... pretty soon we had security bringing and pouring us drinks, and holding back the multitudes keeping us in our own VIP area.

They stood with us for the rest of the night, pouring us drinks, escourting us to the bathrooms, making sure we were happy, calling us cabs, pouring more drinks, smiling, pouring, presenting more drinks. It was pretty much like being famous and I loved it!

So yeah, security in Vietnam can be pretty tight. Sometimes they are there to protect and serve. Sometimes they are there to protect and serve drinks.

I'm just glad I didn't pay the drinks bill that night.

Will

P.S.
I just checked, and apparently I DID pay the bill last night. In the order of one and a half million dong or something. Yay.