Channel Steve

Are cops sometimes known as ‘pigs’ in your country? Well, these two certainly fit the bill in both behaviour and eating habits. I wonder how often they need new uniforms?  And the amount of gold dripping off them was disgusting.

Vung Tau cops

OK, I know they’re probably the same all over Vietnam, but these two didn’t even bother trying to come up with a remotely believable reason to rob us on Saturday, so I’m leaving Vung Tau thinking their cops are worse than those in HCMC.

We were travelling down a three lane road with each lane clearly marked as to which type of traffic should be in it.
We were in the middle lane the entire time and never strayed out.

Vung Tau road sign

Thu was pulled over and asked to hand over her papers. The reason for selecting her was almost definitely because I was on the back – a ‘rich’ tourist. To their surprise she had her licence, insurance and bike ownership papers intact (many Vietnamese don’t have licences). So their next trick was a rather pathetic claim that she had been in the car lane. When she explained that the middle lane was not the car lane (we read the sign) they told her that the part of the road we were on was not covered by that particular sign. This has got to be one of the most pathetic attempts at highway robbery I can imagine, and when she remonstrated Thu was told that they could either take her licence or she could cough up VND200,000.

I’ve heard a few people say that cops are on such a meagre wage that they have to take personal payments to survive. Garbage! Many own multiple apartments for rent, and as you can see from these two they’re eating better than I am.

Absolutely disgraceful that ‘men’ like these can be in a position of responsibility and power. If any Vietnamese local reading this knows someone high up the tree, I have the number plate of this unit.

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