Misterstan
Moderator
Posts: 161
(5/23/01 8:58:28 am)
| Del All Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When our light cargo ship was being loaded with supplies, I often went ashore to experience the night life in the larger cities and villages along the rivers of Vietnam.
The doorway to most bars was a single row of beads that completely filled the opening. I would spread my arms out to move the beads out of the way, and often find two girls on each arm by the time I entered the bar.
At first, I would sit down in a booth with all four girls and soon I learned to choose one of the girls before I would take a seat. In Saigon they would say, "You buy me Saigong tea, I give you VD". These girls could drink tea by the gallon!
In Cat Lo, the village where our ship was home-based, I met a girl who became my main squeeze. I spent most of my free time with her and to this day I still think about her often. She used to say to me, "I love you too much!"
The Vietnamese girls used to assign a number from one to ten to describe their feelings. If you were liked, you were called, "Number one GI". If you were not liked, you were often called, "Number ten GI".
It was my understanding at the time that prostitution in Vietnam was considered an honorable profession. The going rate for a female companion was 500 piasters and for spending the night with her it was 1000 piasters. The exchange rate for 1 dollar military payment certificate was 325 piasters.
I remember reading somewhere that the average income in 1970 for a Vietnamese family was about $36 per year. As a Yeoman Second Class (E-5) I was being paid just over $500 a month tax free, which included hazardous duty pay.
Stan Lambert
St. Clair Shores, Michigan
Copr6
Senior Chief Moderator III
Posts: 203
(5/23/01 1:15:49 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good memory Stan. The beads...there were always beads!! I even put some up in a doorway years ago just for the memory!!
hope6970
Moderator
Posts: 310
(5/23/01 1:52:45 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Those beads were every where. By the time I left there, I didn't want to see another bead.
Also remember those mats, all different colors? Always had one of those at the side of our cots. We had the idea that it would help with the dirt and wouldn't have to hop out of bed and hit the cement.
gorourke
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 32
(5/23/01 8:03:04 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stan,
Two Bar Girls from the Club in Cu Chi at the LCLC school - "Lightning Combat Leadership Course". I was sent in from the field to attend this course, another story.
Two minutes after this photo was taken they were called in to receive their shots, the little cutie on the right was crying like a baby, before the shot. I felt so sorry for her.
P. Gary
Edited by: gorourke at: 5/23/01 9:08:13 pm
hope6970
Moderator
Posts: 317
(5/23/01 9:32:14 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P. Gary,
Now I know how you come about finding the swimming pool...and much more. lol
gorourke
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 34
(5/23/01 10:15:57 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hope,
No swimming pool that week, but after class, the relative comforts of Cu Chi were more then appreciated. I recall enjoying the steam bath with fond memories.
P. Gary
hope6970
Moderator
Posts: 320
(5/23/01 11:39:00 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P. Gary,
Steam Bath???? Just what all did you guys have there at that mini R & R Center? I have a feeling there was a lot more then just the usual activities.
Perhaps that is why the alert sounded so quickly after we arrived there. Someone didn't want all the secrets out. hummm lol lol
LarryJK
Senior Chief Moderator III
Posts: 3
(5/24/01 8:39:41 am)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gary...great photo! It makes me wonder what they would look like today.
Hope...I don't know if you recall or not but there was a steam bath at Long Binh. I went there several times. After a good steam the bath babes would massage and walk on your back. I would feel like one big limp noodle walking back to Company area.
hope6970
Moderator
Posts: 323
(5/24/01 9:02:33 am)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Larry,
I do not remember a steam bath or anyone talking about it. I am begining to believe I spent too much time underground....lol lol Where was it located?
LarryJK
Senior Chief Moderator III
Posts: 8
(5/24/01 10:01:47 am)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hope...I have no idea about how to tell you where the steam bath was. Wait a minute...ok... if your standing in front of the Stockade main gate with your back to the gate...then the steam baths would have been maybe 5-6 blocks away at approximately 11 o'clock position. This is the best I can remember.
hope6970
Moderator
Posts: 326
(5/24/01 1:07:13 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Larry,
Sounds like you were heading toward the WAC Det. but more off to the officer quarters, as the crow flies that is. Now please do not tell me you do not know where the WAC Det. was. Almost at 11 o'clock of the 24th Evac. and 9 o'clock of the holding area for the Viet. POWs. Now, have I got you all mixed up?? lol
Steam Baths, huh??
106RR196LIB
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 107
(5/24/01 2:14:26 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PCOD
I had a funny experience with Vietnamese ladies of the
evening.
We had a cutoff day when you could no longer "consort with Ladies of the Evening". The day was called the "PCOD" that stands for "P (feminine anatomy) Cut Off Day. It was meant t protect American women from STDs. If you were caught "getting any" after PCOD you had to stay in country for a long incubation period determined by the medics. During your extra stay you had to work in your MOS. This means combat for infantry! Any one violating PCOD would get another 30 days of combat.
Our small group of survivors who shipped in together and were getting ready to go home and some of the guys who were not past their PCOD wanted to visit a brothel. We had been in the field for months. Since we do everything together we all went to the same house in Chu Lai. I was past my PCOD and terrified of more combat, so I abstained.
We had one fella who was the cleanest grunt in the world. He always managed to stay clean and neat no matter what. He even had his jungle fatigues tailored! We would kid him about looking good for Graves Registration but he always said he wanted to be the best looking corpse in the 196th.
He regaled us with tales of his civilian feminine conquests for the entire tour. He swore he was God's gift to women and they just couldn't stay away from him.
He went to the back room with a Lady and returned shortly. She then loudly announced that he was not American. We told her he was an American GI. She insisted that he was different. She showed us with hand gestures that American GIs were about so long and so hard. She then told (and gestured) to everybody that his was small and limp! She kept yelling "no same same" and repeating the gesture.
We roared laughing. We bought her several beers and gave her a big tip. It was a perfect ending to his tales!
Mike H
homer4
Moderator
Posts: 631
(5/24/01 7:31:49 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hehehe,aw come on Mike give the guy a break...maybe that girl had unusualy xtra-large hands.Hehehehehe! Ah Me!
...and two hard boiled eggs.
gorourke
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 36
(5/24/01 10:24:20 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drinks are on me in the Boom Boom Lounge if anyone can tell me the unofficial name of the Steam Bath in Cu Chi.
PS… If you know the name, please send your reply in e-mail, this is a public forum after all.
P. Gary
LarryJK
Senior Chief Moderator III
Posts: 16
(5/24/01 10:32:28 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike, good one..."best looking corpse in the 196"!! Now, that is a ball buster! A very positive attitude...no doubt.
oneknight
Moderator
Posts: 977
(5/24/01 11:50:49 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey Mike,
Great story! PCOD--that is hilarious.
Drop in the Boom Boom Lounge sometime,
Homer needs someone besides me to pick on.
Boom Boom
gene29223
Moderator
Posts: 140
(5/25/01 12:56:32 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PCOD?
I guess to be politically correct today you'd have to call it the VCOD (heard of the vagina dialogs?) - maybe not - someone might think your talking female circumcision or about the Victor Charlie.
But it was a great story anyway.
Homer, Xtra large hands -yeah - and then she washed him off in ice water! I don't remember (or perhaps I didn't care about) the PCOD.
Take Care, Gene
Edited by: gene29223 at: 5/25/01 1:59:41 pm
TShooters
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 161
(5/25/01 5:01:03 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great stories!
And, Great pics, P. Gary! Pretty girls, but they look so young!!!
Hubby had a pic of their hooch maid, and his hand is on her head..think he was tryin' to get her to look toward the camera. Then he explains to me that you're not supposed to touch their heads...what's the story behind that? Anyone remember?
Sharon
dap22
Senior Chief Moderator II
Posts: 597
(5/25/01 7:11:26 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sharon:
It was taboo (an insult) to touch the head of a Vietnamese. Not sure of cultural explanation but maybe someone will pick up on it (Gene, you there??). Likewise, when beckoning a Vietnamese, it was an insult to call them with your palms up.....you know, as you'd have your palms up and motioning with your fingers? Properly done, palms would be down and you would say "lai dai" (correct spelling Gene?)
gorourke
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 42
(5/25/01 9:51:27 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sharon,
Yes they do look young. I hope they faired well after the NVA rolled in.
P. Gary
106RR196LIB
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 111
(5/26/01 5:01:53 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Homer:
Her first gesture was with her forearm sticking out at an angle, the second gesture was with her index finger hanging down in a limp posture. I wish my camera hadn't been stolen!
Donna:
Thanks for the offer -- much appreciated!
Mike H
gene29223
Moderator
Posts: 144
(5/29/01 8:37:36 am)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Larry, Most didn't age well. Time and circumstance were unkind.
Lai Dai (pronounced as lie day)is correct for come here and as Dave said it was always done with your palm facing you and fingers pointed towards the ground. I could never find out why - guess it was just one of those things passed on from generation to generation In the Hue area is was okay for an older sibling or family member to pat (tease or fluff the hair) of a younger person. However is was sinful for a younger person to pat an older person on the top of the head - this was sign of utmost disrespect.
Take care, Gene
Edited by: gene29223 at: 5/29/01 1:09:05 pm
Moderator
Posts: 161
(5/23/01 8:58:28 am)
| Del All Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When our light cargo ship was being loaded with supplies, I often went ashore to experience the night life in the larger cities and villages along the rivers of Vietnam.
The doorway to most bars was a single row of beads that completely filled the opening. I would spread my arms out to move the beads out of the way, and often find two girls on each arm by the time I entered the bar.
At first, I would sit down in a booth with all four girls and soon I learned to choose one of the girls before I would take a seat. In Saigon they would say, "You buy me Saigong tea, I give you VD". These girls could drink tea by the gallon!
In Cat Lo, the village where our ship was home-based, I met a girl who became my main squeeze. I spent most of my free time with her and to this day I still think about her often. She used to say to me, "I love you too much!"
The Vietnamese girls used to assign a number from one to ten to describe their feelings. If you were liked, you were called, "Number one GI". If you were not liked, you were often called, "Number ten GI".
It was my understanding at the time that prostitution in Vietnam was considered an honorable profession. The going rate for a female companion was 500 piasters and for spending the night with her it was 1000 piasters. The exchange rate for 1 dollar military payment certificate was 325 piasters.
I remember reading somewhere that the average income in 1970 for a Vietnamese family was about $36 per year. As a Yeoman Second Class (E-5) I was being paid just over $500 a month tax free, which included hazardous duty pay.
Stan Lambert
St. Clair Shores, Michigan
Copr6
Senior Chief Moderator III
Posts: 203
(5/23/01 1:15:49 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good memory Stan. The beads...there were always beads!! I even put some up in a doorway years ago just for the memory!!
hope6970
Moderator
Posts: 310
(5/23/01 1:52:45 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Those beads were every where. By the time I left there, I didn't want to see another bead.
Also remember those mats, all different colors? Always had one of those at the side of our cots. We had the idea that it would help with the dirt and wouldn't have to hop out of bed and hit the cement.
gorourke
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 32
(5/23/01 8:03:04 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stan,
Two Bar Girls from the Club in Cu Chi at the LCLC school - "Lightning Combat Leadership Course". I was sent in from the field to attend this course, another story.
Two minutes after this photo was taken they were called in to receive their shots, the little cutie on the right was crying like a baby, before the shot. I felt so sorry for her.
P. Gary
Edited by: gorourke at: 5/23/01 9:08:13 pm
hope6970
Moderator
Posts: 317
(5/23/01 9:32:14 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P. Gary,
Now I know how you come about finding the swimming pool...and much more. lol
gorourke
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 34
(5/23/01 10:15:57 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hope,
No swimming pool that week, but after class, the relative comforts of Cu Chi were more then appreciated. I recall enjoying the steam bath with fond memories.
P. Gary
hope6970
Moderator
Posts: 320
(5/23/01 11:39:00 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P. Gary,
Steam Bath???? Just what all did you guys have there at that mini R & R Center? I have a feeling there was a lot more then just the usual activities.
Perhaps that is why the alert sounded so quickly after we arrived there. Someone didn't want all the secrets out. hummm lol lol
LarryJK
Senior Chief Moderator III
Posts: 3
(5/24/01 8:39:41 am)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gary...great photo! It makes me wonder what they would look like today.
Hope...I don't know if you recall or not but there was a steam bath at Long Binh. I went there several times. After a good steam the bath babes would massage and walk on your back. I would feel like one big limp noodle walking back to Company area.
hope6970
Moderator
Posts: 323
(5/24/01 9:02:33 am)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Larry,
I do not remember a steam bath or anyone talking about it. I am begining to believe I spent too much time underground....lol lol Where was it located?
LarryJK
Senior Chief Moderator III
Posts: 8
(5/24/01 10:01:47 am)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hope...I have no idea about how to tell you where the steam bath was. Wait a minute...ok... if your standing in front of the Stockade main gate with your back to the gate...then the steam baths would have been maybe 5-6 blocks away at approximately 11 o'clock position. This is the best I can remember.
hope6970
Moderator
Posts: 326
(5/24/01 1:07:13 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Larry,
Sounds like you were heading toward the WAC Det. but more off to the officer quarters, as the crow flies that is. Now please do not tell me you do not know where the WAC Det. was. Almost at 11 o'clock of the 24th Evac. and 9 o'clock of the holding area for the Viet. POWs. Now, have I got you all mixed up?? lol
Steam Baths, huh??
106RR196LIB
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 107
(5/24/01 2:14:26 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PCOD
I had a funny experience with Vietnamese ladies of the
evening.
We had a cutoff day when you could no longer "consort with Ladies of the Evening". The day was called the "PCOD" that stands for "P (feminine anatomy) Cut Off Day. It was meant t protect American women from STDs. If you were caught "getting any" after PCOD you had to stay in country for a long incubation period determined by the medics. During your extra stay you had to work in your MOS. This means combat for infantry! Any one violating PCOD would get another 30 days of combat.
Our small group of survivors who shipped in together and were getting ready to go home and some of the guys who were not past their PCOD wanted to visit a brothel. We had been in the field for months. Since we do everything together we all went to the same house in Chu Lai. I was past my PCOD and terrified of more combat, so I abstained.
We had one fella who was the cleanest grunt in the world. He always managed to stay clean and neat no matter what. He even had his jungle fatigues tailored! We would kid him about looking good for Graves Registration but he always said he wanted to be the best looking corpse in the 196th.
He regaled us with tales of his civilian feminine conquests for the entire tour. He swore he was God's gift to women and they just couldn't stay away from him.
He went to the back room with a Lady and returned shortly. She then loudly announced that he was not American. We told her he was an American GI. She insisted that he was different. She showed us with hand gestures that American GIs were about so long and so hard. She then told (and gestured) to everybody that his was small and limp! She kept yelling "no same same" and repeating the gesture.
We roared laughing. We bought her several beers and gave her a big tip. It was a perfect ending to his tales!
Mike H
homer4
Moderator
Posts: 631
(5/24/01 7:31:49 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hehehe,aw come on Mike give the guy a break...maybe that girl had unusualy xtra-large hands.Hehehehehe! Ah Me!
...and two hard boiled eggs.
gorourke
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 36
(5/24/01 10:24:20 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drinks are on me in the Boom Boom Lounge if anyone can tell me the unofficial name of the Steam Bath in Cu Chi.
PS… If you know the name, please send your reply in e-mail, this is a public forum after all.
P. Gary
LarryJK
Senior Chief Moderator III
Posts: 16
(5/24/01 10:32:28 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike, good one..."best looking corpse in the 196"!! Now, that is a ball buster! A very positive attitude...no doubt.
oneknight
Moderator
Posts: 977
(5/24/01 11:50:49 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey Mike,
Great story! PCOD--that is hilarious.
Drop in the Boom Boom Lounge sometime,
Homer needs someone besides me to pick on.
Boom Boom
gene29223
Moderator
Posts: 140
(5/25/01 12:56:32 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PCOD?
I guess to be politically correct today you'd have to call it the VCOD (heard of the vagina dialogs?) - maybe not - someone might think your talking female circumcision or about the Victor Charlie.
But it was a great story anyway.
Homer, Xtra large hands -yeah - and then she washed him off in ice water! I don't remember (or perhaps I didn't care about) the PCOD.
Take Care, Gene
Edited by: gene29223 at: 5/25/01 1:59:41 pm
TShooters
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 161
(5/25/01 5:01:03 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great stories!
And, Great pics, P. Gary! Pretty girls, but they look so young!!!
Hubby had a pic of their hooch maid, and his hand is on her head..think he was tryin' to get her to look toward the camera. Then he explains to me that you're not supposed to touch their heads...what's the story behind that? Anyone remember?
Sharon
dap22
Senior Chief Moderator II
Posts: 597
(5/25/01 7:11:26 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sharon:
It was taboo (an insult) to touch the head of a Vietnamese. Not sure of cultural explanation but maybe someone will pick up on it (Gene, you there??). Likewise, when beckoning a Vietnamese, it was an insult to call them with your palms up.....you know, as you'd have your palms up and motioning with your fingers? Properly done, palms would be down and you would say "lai dai" (correct spelling Gene?)
gorourke
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 42
(5/25/01 9:51:27 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sharon,
Yes they do look young. I hope they faired well after the NVA rolled in.
P. Gary
106RR196LIB
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 111
(5/26/01 5:01:53 pm)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Homer:
Her first gesture was with her forearm sticking out at an angle, the second gesture was with her index finger hanging down in a limp posture. I wish my camera hadn't been stolen!
Donna:
Thanks for the offer -- much appreciated!
Mike H
gene29223
Moderator
Posts: 144
(5/29/01 8:37:36 am)
| Del Re: Vietnamese Bar Girls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Larry, Most didn't age well. Time and circumstance were unkind.
Lai Dai (pronounced as lie day)is correct for come here and as Dave said it was always done with your palm facing you and fingers pointed towards the ground. I could never find out why - guess it was just one of those things passed on from generation to generation In the Hue area is was okay for an older sibling or family member to pat (tease or fluff the hair) of a younger person. However is was sinful for a younger person to pat an older person on the top of the head - this was sign of utmost disrespect.
Take care, Gene
Edited by: gene29223 at: 5/29/01 1:09:05 pm