Tan Son Nhat International Airport

I was travelling back to vietnam for christmas (i am an expat), and I brought a lot of christmas presents for my friends and colleagues. I was on my way out when the customs guy ordered me to open my bag and when he saw the goodies he said I had to pay for bringing in those stuff (they were trinkets, random things really). I told him I wasn't selling them, and that they were gifts (very obvious because they were in little bags). He picked 3 really nice items and he asked if he could have them. He had a really cheeky smile on his face and he said he was gonna give them to his wife. Which was really annoying because it was either pay up, or give me some stuff. My hands were tied, and i felt like i was mugged. seriously.

My name is Andrew Tu Thi, who was robbed 500 USD when I only had 5000 USD to go home to the USA.

I wonder how I appeal my case to the Director of Tan Son Nhat SAA NGUYEN NGUYEN HUNG ? will my statement be a total lost or will there be a Mr. Bao Cong in the country of Vietnam.?

I have so many sleepless nights since I got back to the USA.

Shamefully,

Tu Andrew, email tu.andrew@mail.com

Yes, it is truth and a shame of the Vietnamese customs at Tan son Nhat international airport.

If you are interested in this story, you can contact me, Andrew Tu Thi, a passenger of 63 years old who traveled back to the USA on Apr 25 2011 at 9PM on the Korean flight 862 from Tan son Nhat to Korea. I am the very victim of the event,

I was mugged by one of the officers in charge on that night., and I will never be able to forget the nightmare.

my email is tminhtu@mail.com

Sincerely,

Tu Thi Andrew

Pensylvania

Reply to @tt: I know what you mean, but basically it is another form of giving tips although people usually feel better if giving tips in the open space (and not being asked for) although Vietnameses are not customed to accept tips in the open space (and in front of others). In USA, I give tips to cab drivers everytime although I don't have to but I do (and usually the cab drivers don't do anything for me - I carry my own bags). So it would reasonable to give tips to people who help you with your lugages (and they will after accepting your tips).

Just another thought through my mind, what would the cab driver (in USA) says to himself if I don't give him any tip? You would never know!

My nick name is TT, a Vietnamese-American, had come back to Vietnam for the Lunar New Year of 2009 and returned to the USA on Feb 04,2009.

When I checked in my luggages (10 boxes of a group of 5 people), I was informed that mine needed to be double-checked; then was ordered to come into the scanned- room. My friends and I went in and the officer there asked my friends to leave the room and signaled me for money (I thought this practice long gone). To avoid hassle with openning & repackaging those boxes (most of them food) I gave him $300,000VND; he looked at me and said that it's too little compared to my stuffs. I was so angry and ashamed with "my people" but of course I cannot denie his request. After my "payment" was made, every thing was going smoothly. I got out of that room speechless and kept on wondering myself "is that policy applied only to Vietnamese-Americans or to all people who pass by Tan Son Nhat and want to get out of the airport with a peaceful mind?" What an international airport it is! I don't think I will come back for another visit in the near future since I don't want to experience the same thing again. I need time to forget and regain my pride and respect for my people and country. Poor my Vietnamese and Vietnam!

Shamefully,

TT