Comments for 9000 Hours in Saigon http://9khoursinsaigon.wordpress.com Dispatches from Ho Chi Minh City and Beyond Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:49:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 Comment on Apocalypse Then and Now by TJ http://9khoursinsaigon.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/apocalypse-then-and-now/#comment-245 TJ Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:57:45 +0000 http://9khoursinsaigon.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-245 I won't say I understand your frustration, but I certainly appreciate it. And while I agree that Apocalypse Now's door policy constitutes discrimination, I'm not sure whether you're aware that that policy is a direct response to the high instance of prostitution that contributed to its being closed down in recent years. Their mindset, as I've had it explained to me, is that if they charge the Vietnamese at the door, it will keep out Vietnamese prostitutes. I'm by no means defending that policy--to be sure, it's a rather heavy-handed, overly simplistic response. It certainly doesn't keep out prostitutes brought in by foreign men. That said, I would caution against speaking for all Vietnamese and spreading about shame. I never went there until my Vietnamese friends suggested it. They aired the same complaint you have, but said so long as they entered with us, they wouldn't have to pay. This was indeed the case. Also, there really is no recourse in regards to the UCLA. The UCLA handles American cases and holds zero stock here with the Party. I won’t say I understand your frustration, but I certainly appreciate it. And while I agree that Apocalypse Now’s door policy constitutes discrimination, I’m not sure whether you’re aware that that policy is a direct response to the high instance of prostitution that contributed to its being closed down in recent years. Their mindset, as I’ve had it explained to me, is that if they charge the Vietnamese at the door, it will keep out Vietnamese prostitutes. I’m by no means defending that policy–to be sure, it’s a rather heavy-handed, overly simplistic response. It certainly doesn’t keep out prostitutes brought in by foreign men.

That said, I would caution against speaking for all Vietnamese and spreading about shame. I never went there until my Vietnamese friends suggested it. They aired the same complaint you have, but said so long as they entered with us, they wouldn’t have to pay. This was indeed the case. Also, there really is no recourse in regards to the UCLA. The UCLA handles American cases and holds zero stock here with the Party.

]]> Comment on Eden: Gay-Friendly in Saigon’s Backpacker District by Orlando Gotay http://9khoursinsaigon.wordpress.com/2008/07/09/eden-gay-friendly-in-saigons-backpacker-district/#comment-244 Orlando Gotay Thu, 18 Sep 2008 03:10:40 +0000 http://9khoursinsaigon.wordpress.com/?p=136#comment-244 How things have changed.....I visited Saigon (HMC) in July 1994...and the only gay guy I saw was this totally Isadora Duncan looking young French guy, an artiste, who rode a moped and sashayed along with scarf and all. I asked and he took me, where, accoring to his broken English, "guys seemed go to around but nowhere" I took that to be cruising. The young Vietnamese kept calling us "Mister, Mister" in hushed tones. I was too afraid to even approach one of them...as I did not relish even the possibility of being caught violating some law. I saw no one that even seemed remotely gay at Apocalypse Now nor across the street at the fake Hard rock cafe. Did find very insistent (but nice and handsome) gay guys who doubled as Cyclopousse drivers further north in Hue.....one told me he had a cousin "in San Jose" (CA).... How things have changed…..I visited Saigon (HMC) in July 1994…and the only gay guy I saw was this totally Isadora Duncan looking young French guy, an artiste, who rode a moped and sashayed along with scarf and all. I asked and he took me, where, accoring to his broken English, “guys seemed go to around but nowhere” I took that to be cruising.

The young Vietnamese kept calling us “Mister, Mister” in hushed tones. I was too afraid to even approach one of them…as I did not relish even the possibility of being caught violating some law.

I saw no one that even seemed remotely gay at Apocalypse Now nor across the street at the fake Hard rock cafe.

Did find very insistent (but nice and handsome) gay guys who doubled as Cyclopousse drivers further north in Hue…..one told me he had a cousin “in San Jose” (CA)….

]]> Comment on Apocalypse Then and Now by hung http://9khoursinsaigon.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/apocalypse-then-and-now/#comment-239 hung Wed, 10 Sep 2008 05:53:13 +0000 http://9khoursinsaigon.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-239 This sad club is overcrowded and discriminates against its own people, the Vietnamese. Reportedly, it is operated and owned by Vietnamese American(s). How pathetic and un-American to discriminate against their own people. I was furious to see white foreigners with their whores walk right in without having to pay for cover charge while I was demanded to pay 150000 VND (~ 9 USD). So, if one has any respect for human rights, equality, and decency, one should boycott this club. I am actually looking for any witness to this blatant discrimination to file a complaint against these Vietnamese Americans with the ACLU in the USA. I firmly believe that these people break the oath to uphold the US Constitution. Shame on those expats who support the existence of such discriminatory practice of Apocalypse Now !!! Where is the pride? This sad club is overcrowded and discriminates against its own people, the Vietnamese. Reportedly, it is operated and owned by Vietnamese American(s). How pathetic and un-American to discriminate against their own people. I was furious to see white foreigners with their whores walk right in without having to pay for cover charge while I was demanded to pay 150000 VND (~ 9 USD).

So, if one has any respect for human rights, equality, and decency, one should boycott this club. I am actually looking for any witness to this blatant discrimination to file a complaint against these Vietnamese Americans with the ACLU in the USA. I firmly believe that these people break the oath to uphold the US Constitution.

Shame on those expats who support the existence of such discriminatory practice of Apocalypse Now !!! Where is the pride?

]]> Comment on The Cu Chi Tunnel Mantra: How Killing Fields Became a Jungle Gym by Tisu Girl http://9khoursinsaigon.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/the-cu-chi-tunnel-mantra-how-killing-fields-became-a-jungle-gym/#comment-230 Tisu Girl Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:09:11 +0000 http://9khoursinsaigon.wordpress.com/?p=48#comment-230 Yes, I went inside both tunnel and that small opening and the experience was unforgettable. Must really respect the fighting spirits of people of CuChi! http://myitchyfingers.wordpress.com/2008/04/07/i-squeeze-%e2%80%93-cuchi-tunnel-vietnam-trip-7/ Yes, I went inside both tunnel and that small opening and the experience was unforgettable. Must really respect the fighting spirits of people of CuChi!

http://myitchyfingers.wordpress.com/2008/04/07/i-squeeze-%e2%80%93-cuchi-tunnel-vietnam-trip-7/

]]> Comment on Painting with Street Children by Jfo http://9khoursinsaigon.wordpress.com/2008/07/22/painting-with-street-children/#comment-219 Jfo Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:02:02 +0000 http://9khoursinsaigon.wordpress.com/?p=176#comment-219 That sounds like a really neat organization! That sounds like a really neat organization!

]]> Comment on Painting with Street Children by l. http://9khoursinsaigon.wordpress.com/2008/07/22/painting-with-street-children/#comment-215 l. Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:56:40 +0000 http://9khoursinsaigon.wordpress.com/?p=176#comment-215 you painted charlie! you painted charlie!

]]> Comment on An American Spendthrift in London by Alex Robertson Textor http://9khoursinsaigon.wordpress.com/2008/07/12/an-american-spendthrift-in-london/#comment-210 Alex Robertson Textor Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:11:45 +0000 http://9khoursinsaigon.wordpress.com/?p=158#comment-210 Thanks for the post, TJ! Any new Jetstar Pacific news? Thanks for the post, TJ! Any new Jetstar Pacific news?

]]> Comment on HCMC Fine Arts Museum by sapteka http://9khoursinsaigon.wordpress.com/2008/06/07/hcmc-fine-arts-museum/#comment-147 sapteka Sat, 07 Jun 2008 09:54:27 +0000 http://9khoursinsaigon.wordpress.com/?p=85#comment-147 Add some pictures, perhaps? Add some pictures, perhaps?

]]> Comment on Sand Dunes of Mui Ne Survival Guide by Pete http://9khoursinsaigon.wordpress.com/2008/05/24/sand-dunes-of-mui-ne-survival-guide/#comment-136 Pete Thu, 29 May 2008 21:14:41 +0000 http://9khoursinsaigon.wordpress.com/?p=63#comment-136 Hey TJ - any photos of the dunes? I'd love to see what they look like, especially photos including sledding tourists. Sounds like a riot! Hey TJ - any photos of the dunes? I’d love to see what they look like, especially photos including sledding tourists. Sounds like a riot!

]]> Comment on Apocalypse Then and Now by TJ http://9khoursinsaigon.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/apocalypse-then-and-now/#comment-125 TJ Sat, 24 May 2008 02:23:04 +0000 http://9khoursinsaigon.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-125 We signed a cross-Pacific discretion agreement. We signed a cross-Pacific discretion agreement.

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