That’s Some Dollar Store Diplomacy

I’m visiting the Independence Palace (Old US Embassy) in Ho Chi Min (Saigon). A visitor is at the ticketing desk a few places ahead of me, speaking in loud, aggravated English.

Visitor: “What do you mean I can’t use my dollars! This is the original American Embassy!”

Ticket Clerk: “I’m sorry, sir, we can only accept Vietnamese đồng.”

Visitor: “I was able to use it at the hotel! I should be able to use it here! Why can’t I use my dollars?!”

I’m about to say something to him when the guy in line immediately ahead of me, also sounding American, says:

Other Visitor: “Because they kicked our a**es. Their country, their rules.”

The angry visitor is suddenly aware he has a whole line of people staring at him, and says as he leaves:

Visitor: “I didn’t want to go in anyway!”