Mar 28, 2012

Let's talk about the traffic police, not foreigners

I'm a little bit fed up with the way foreigners are being portrayed in the Vietnamese press when it comes to traffic violations. A while back Tuoi Tre's English online site published this article entitled 'Rouge' Foreigners'.
Thanh Nien quoted Sub Lieutenant Nguyen Luu Trung of the Mui Ne traffic police as saying: “Foreigners in Mui Ne often break traffic laws but it is very difficult to fine them due to the language barrier.” 
Another article published on March 16th by Thanh Nien is called Foreigners get a free ride with the sub heading  'Expatriates who violate traffic laws in Vietnam are let off the hook by the language barrier or small bribes'. 


I think we all know that pretty much everyone can be let off the hook with small bribes. Not just the foreigners  who must make up a tiny tiny percentage of Ho Chi Minh City's population.

Lets talk about this lot instead (Source)
Instead of making out that foreigners not obeying the law are the problem (which is some twisted front page tabloid journalism logic) lets talk about the traffic police themselves. 

Everybody knows what that beige uniform means, and what it stands for, and it would take an almighty shift to change that perception even if there is a few good guys wearing it. 

Personally, I've been stopped well over ten times in the time I've been here. And I've always paid a bribe. Not one ticket. Actually, I was stopped this morning too - yes - a big motivational factor in writing this today. The 'language barrier' argument is something that the press likes to write about and which foreigners utilise, making it impossible for our heroic police officers to just do their job. But there's no language barrier when it comes to numbers. 

An actual ticket (Source)
This morning, it was the policeman who was confused. He stopped me for driving in the wrong lane, and his English was good enough to explain there are three lanes, and I should be driving in the right-hand one. Never mind that 50 meters around the bend where he was hiding  standing that lane ceases to exist. He then tells me, in English, 200,000 VND. I say that I want a ticket. I have a license and registration, so I want a ticket. I think the price is around 50,000 VND and he has to fill out a nice long form. He then starts trying to bargain with me on the price of his ticket (read BRIBE) - "Ok - you - how much money - 100,000 VND". I continue asking for a ticket. So he agrees and goes over to his bike and gets the form out. He's very reluctant to start filling it in, and then keeps asking me how much I am prepared to pay. I ask him 'How much is the ticket'. And this is where the 'language barrier' suddenly kicked in. He no longer understood English! "How...much...is.....ticket" he mumbled like a beginner student in a primary school class, a look of intense confusion on his innocent face. Great acting I have to say. Then he remembered some English again and said happily - 200,000 VND! Eventually I got tired of asking for the ticket, negotiated a 100,000 VND BRIBE, laughed in their faces as they fished around for CHANGE from my 500,000 VND note and gave them the thumbs up for doing such a great job for the people of Vietnam. 


I'm not complaining about being legitimately pulled over. The problem is, that rarely happens. Dangerous driving, speeding, drunk driving? No. 

Hiding on a corner, on a road where the lane disappears in 50 meters, catching people going about their business driving a few inches on the wrong side of some paint on the tarmac, taking their money, and stuffing it in their pockets. Yes. And one of them was smoking on the job. Which they aren't supposed to do. And so it goes, on my 20km journey to work, the police always find nice places to hide, which - yes - they aren't supposed to do either. 

Perhaps if the traffic cops didn't 'play sneaky', then neither would all those naughty foreigners. 

Mar 21, 2012

This should explain it

For those suffering from a case of rainy season prediction today after the storm, see below, hope it helps. 



Mar 18, 2012

Motorbikes and children

For expats moving to Vietnam, getting around is always a worrying issue. For us peasants who don't have a company car and who can't afford a private car, there's little other option. But it's not all bad.

It must be understood that transport in Vietnam still relies heavily on two wheels. Public transport is poor and unsafe and only the wealthy can afford cars. If the family wants to take a trip then the motorbike is by far the most convenient and cost-effective means, and for the vast majority, the only choice. Yes, it can be seen as dangerous, but Vietnam is still a poor country where the standard of living is below that of what we might be used to in 'the west' (or what we were used to, see Greece, UK in a few years).

Upon arrival in South East Asia the sight of children, toddlers and even new born babies on a motorbike is shocking. I'd agree, it's not great, particularly in Saigon's inner center, not least because of the traffic but also the horrible fumes which can't be great for young lungs. But it needs to be understood that most Vietnamese parents are not being reckless and take as many safety measures as possible when travelling with their children. There are those cases you see where there is recklessness, allowing toddlers to stand up on the seat, riding without a helmet, driving too fast - but these are the minority.

There is also the context of the journey to consider. I take my daughter on the motorbike, but only out in Phu My Hung, very rarely on longer journeys. If we need to travel into the city or beyond we'll take a taxi - thankfully, we can afford that. Also, whenever driving with Louisa, I drive with extra caution. Some might say that doesn't make a difference, but I feel it certainly cuts the odds a great deal. I also feel in complete control whilst driving with her around my local streets - I would never take her on Highway 1A with articulated lorries thundering past.

So for those with children considering transport issues I would ask firstly do you have an alternative (car with driver, taking taxis everywhere) and secondly do you feel comfortable driving with your child on your motorbike?

Going biking



Mar 3, 2012

Development Updates

Some development updates from around Saigon this morning.

This was taken December 2010 - Sunrise city



Development around PMH Dec 2010

And this morning:


Development Saigon 03/03/12

Good luck to anyone who wants to live in this place. What a rabbit hutch, and on an awful road connecting District 1/4 with District 7. 

Development Saigon 03/03/12

Development Saigon 03/03/12


Development Saigon 03/03/12


Development Saigon 03/03/12

So the Saigon Skyline is changing once again thanks to the M&C tower which will be 195 meters tall. 

This was taken in April 2010: 


April 23rd 2010

And this morning: 

Development Saigon 03/03/12

Heading into D1, damn traffic! 

Development Saigon 03/03/12


Time Square is finally finished on Nguyen Hue.
 
Development Saigon 03/03/12

Old and new:
 
Development Saigon 03/03/12

The M&C Tower with BiTexaco in the background

Development Saigon 03/03/12

Now back in Phu My Hung for a minute. 

Royal Tower, Nguyen Luong Bang, Phu My Hung D7 - May 2011

PMH 2011

And this morning:

Development Saigon 03/03/12

And finally, the 'business district' of Phu My Hung is slowly forming - this is the area behind the SECC and the Paragon. 

From March 2010

March 2010

And this morning:
 
Development Saigon 03/03/12

Yes, it's a beautiful day in Saigon.