Hi again Danny,
I was living in Sai Gon for about 3 or 4 weeks before I even saw a gun of any sort. A few holsters on the belts of some of the Cong An - but never a naked gun of any sort.
One afternoon we (VN wife and self) where at a fairly large coffee shop in the middle of Sai Gon, (free WiFi )
On the way back to where we'd parked our bikes, I noticed a guy in an army uniform sitting back having a cigarette in front of a large, high steel gate. Asked my wife what the place was - she said it was a consulate or minor embassy of some sort.
On the opposite side of the gates from where the guy was sitting was a small 'guard post' box and inside, resting against a wall was an AK47.
I wandered over to the 'guard', tapped him on his shoulder, gave him a cigarette (pays to always be friendly) and with sign language, pointing, etc. asked if I could have a closer look at his AK.
He got up, wandered over to the guard post, lent inside, picked up the AK, turned around and simply handed it over to me !
This in the middle of the day, in the middle of Sai Gon ! No-one else seemed to take any notice or care at all.
I'm told there are firearms both legal and illegal but they are pretty well up in the hills well away from Sai Gon.
It's the knives and machetes some of the street thugs in the cities carry that are the things to watch out for.
Had a pair of would-be bike thieves try to force me to stop one time (daytime) when I was by myself, on Phan Chu Trinh alongside Cho Ben Thanh Markets. About a year and a half ago now. One of then showed me he had a good sized knife in his hand.
( BIG DEAL ! )
Stopped almost in the middle of the street - much to the dismay of the would-be thieves. Jumped off my bike, ripped off my T-shirt and went straight at them snarling and making it very obvious I wasn't the slightest bit worried about the knife but I intended to do them both a lot of extreme physical damage.
The rider got the hint and took off so quickly his stupid little friend could barely stay on the bike.
Lots of laughing and cheering from the nearby street vendors.
Got in no end of trouble with my wife over that As she reminded me, I while I was a professional soldier most of my life, that didn't count now - - - I am not that young anymore so I have to behave in a more civilized manner these days.
Still - no guns and the 'bad guys' took off when openly challenged - so that was that, and it's the only thing that's ever happened in years of living in Sai Gon.
With very few exceptions the people of Viet Nam are always friendly, willing to help a stranger and endlessly polite.
In short - it's a GREAT country and the people are REALLY GREAT as well !
Flip465.