Gidday there :)

Not sure how many people visit this forum but thought I'd have a crack at it anyway :)

I am visiting Vietnam on holidays in September :D

In the past when i have been to Thailand, indonesia and Singapore, I have visited the prisons there and taken in stuff for the Aussie inmates, altho in singapore they bought out a Kiwi but i didnt mind LOL

Was just wondering if anyone here wanted me to take anything in for a particular pal when I visit? Im happy to if anyone wants me to.

If not i will just rock up, pay a lil 'inconvenience money" :confused: and visit whoever is first found.

Let me know :)

Cheers

dreamer

Please could you send some postcards from there. THANK YOU

PLEASE PM me I have some penpals that would love a postcard from Vietnam.

Hi dreamer,
did you get any replies yet?

Rach x

I know I'm late to this thread, but I just want to give the OP a heads up as someone who lived in Hanoi for 4+ years and have dealt with all this nonsense before.

1. Most prisons in Vietnam restrict visitors to immediate family only, so make sure the prison you plan to be visiting will even allow you to meet a random Australian.

2. Anyone who does indeed visit a prisoner (particularly a foreigner) in Vietnam will be subject to surveillance and in some cases harassment and deportation (for any minor offense). The Vietnamese gov't is in a bad spot right now (economy and power struggles within) and they are very very leary of strangers poking around in the penal system.

So beware, and be careful! Don't be surprised to have plainclothes police following you after your visit and interviewing all the people you spoke to on your trip, some rather aggressively. If they are suspicious of your motives they can make your trip very difficult. Maybe try to make your prison visit at the end of your vacation.

And don't forget -- 85% of Vietnam's police force are plainclothes!

Good luck, if you need more Vietnam travel advice hit me up in PM.

Thanks for this Eva.

This is really useful information.

Rachel