V-in-V (Indonesian Blogger in Saigon)

Last Saturday I had a meeting with my Japanese friend at the Somerset’s Highland’s Coffee shop.  As I was parking my motorbike in the parking lot, a middle age Expat woman was blocking the path between the motorbikes with her motorbike.   As I came in, I had to lean my motorbike to the right against the wall to let her pass me.  I did not have to since she was blocking me, I just did it to be courteous to her.

What happened next shocked me, she glared at me and started shaking her head.  She was then rude to the parking attendant who was smiling at the both of us.

Even worse, I knew she thought I was Vietnamese.  I was wearing my full face mask, glasses and helmet at the time.  Yeah, I do get confused for being Vietnamese while I am in my full motorbike garb.  Black hair , Asian height, yeah I must be Vietnamese to her.  It was that look that she gave that appalled me but I knew she did not like this half-breed-Japanese-blood-Asian-looking-must-be-Vietnamese taking her space.

She kept shaking her head.  If I had not been leaning my motorbike to allow her to pass, I probably would have smacked her.  Before I could say anything to the woman, she sped by rather fast.  The parking attendant did try to stop her when he saw me saying something to her but she was too fast for him.

I hope this is an isolated case but even some Expats are blogging about Western behavior towards the Vietnamese in Saigon.  Expats need to respect the Vietnamese while they live and work in Vietnam.   I mean, honestly, it’s their country, not yours…

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