Viet Nam

 

State of play. Viet Nam is still a communist country with some fairly hardline views on sex trade so be aware that while pay for play is available it is quite illegal and you may get a knock on the door mid stroke from the local whallopers who have been tipped off by a hotel clerk you didn't tip enough.

 

Now that being said the women in the south of Viet Nam range from very cute to smoking hot and given the opportunity and the right set of circumstances I would give the left one to unload the right into one of these pint sized princesses. Unfortunately for me the circumstances of my fortnight in Viet Nam did not allow me the pleasure of sending Jnr D on an canyoning experience.

 

Sai Gon (or Ho Chi Minh City for those that haven't ever been there) is the capital of the South and is also the place to start your VN experience. This place is crazy with just about any experience available and not for to many dollars. It was not uncommon to get asked if you wanted MaryJane or massage at least once every 10 metres or so through the backpacker district (D1). In the main area it was the moto guys offering you girls ... they would call you over and show you pictures and offer to take you to these girls. From what I have been told the girls are usually the ones in the pics. The place that the guys will take you to is usually clean and safe. The girls are usually quite cheap (VND 200k to VND 300k – approx $14 – 21). Unfortunately the moto guys aren't so up front and you will usually get ripped badly for the trip there ... and worse for the trip home as you are in the middle of nowhere and have no idea how to get back.

 

The other option in this district is the Girls actually on the bikes being pimped by the guys driving. Similar story cute girls, cheap and these ones you take to your own room. Check to ensure your hotel is girl friendly or ask the girl to suggest one – you may end up paying for a second room for the night but at least you wont have to hide all your stuff. This would have probably been my preferred option based on the quality of women I saw offered this way.

 

Option 3 is the bargirls. Scattered all over Sai Gon (and seemingly all over southern VN) these bars are just normal looking bars with girls who are quite happy to see you. These bars differ from those of Singapore and Thailand in that the girls are not so aggressive in their approach. In the bars we visited the girls tended to stand back and wait while you had a drink or two and then one would approach and ask if you would buy her a drink. If you do this she will often invite over one of her friends (if there are two blokes) and then the fun starts. The girls are very touchy feely and especially liked my beard. After a few drinks they then offered to come with you. In Sai Gon these bars seemed to be mainly in the backpacker district (around the Go2 bar) and the area around the Sheraton although there are a few around other areas (avoid Apocalypse Now as this place is expensive and the girls are way over priced – although usually pretty hot).

 

Option 4 is KaraOke bars (note the big O) – these are pretty common around the place and you get a private room and hostess who will happily allow you to treat yourself to her delights while you keep buying expensive lady drinks. Expensive but could be entertaining.

 

Last option is the health spas. These are usually much pricier but depending on your needs and desires could be just what the doctor ordered. I did partake of this service and will review it in more detail separately. Prices here seem to be about VND800k to VND 1 million for FS (approximately an hour of massage and sex).

 

Next stop Vung Tau – this is a coastal town where many Aussies spent their time during the American war. Didn't overnight in this area so cant really comment on the opportunities that exist although from what I saw and what I was told this area could well have the world's most friendly people and I would love to punt here. There are a number of bars in the beach area that look like strong possibilities and all the hotels advertised massage.

 

Last place we visited was Da Lat up in the mountains. Lovely place with a nice mild climate and a very European feel (the pastries for breakfast were incredible) and for the caffeine addicts apparently this place has the world's best coffee. It also has a number of massage places, KaraOke bars and Girl bars. I cant comment on most but I did find time to visit the Golf 3 hotel and in the nite club area there were at least three working ladies all who rated about 5-7s . One with incredibly long hair chatted with us while we bought her drinks and then wouldn't let us go. She then took us to a nice little restraunt area and offered to buy us a meal. We ate and drank and while she wasn't looking paid for it. My brother disappeared and she gave me BBBJ NQNS in the back of the cab on the way back to the hotel (VND150k – about $10...including the cab fare).

 

So my summary ... is Viet Nam the place to visit as far as P4P is concerned. Honestly probably not. There are plenty of cheap opportunities but there are also a number of obstacles.

 

1) the ladies almost never speak English enough to communicate.

 

2) the "pimps" will try to extract more from you than the girls.

 

3) the legal state of prostitution is not conducive (although a blind eye is often turned this is not always the case).

 

4) most hotels are not girl friendly.

 

5) mostly the services are for locals

 

6) short time is not timed ... you cum you go

 

7) its probably easier in Thailand.

 

While you probably wont get robbed you will probably get ripped off if you don't speak the language. Although getting ripped off probably means it cost you $25-30 instead of $10-$15

 

That being said southern Viet Nam is a wonderful place with some of the most incredibly friendly people you would ever meet. Once you get past the frustration of the beggars and peddlers trying to relieve you of your dong (Viet currency not John Wayne Bobbit style) this place is incredible. The traffic is nuts, the food is amazing (even dog and fertilised duck eggs) but the people are what will bring me back.

 

In the words of Charlie Daniels I guess "I'm still in Sai Gon in my mind"