Since arriving in Vietnam last April, our list of complaints has grown steadily longer. We had another humdinger to add today.

I gave two new pairs of Marv’s chinos to my helper so that she could take them to the tailor for hemming. I measured both the inseam and the outseam, drew a diagram, and labeled it with both numbers. The pants came back today - 4 cm (1.6 in.) TOO SHORT. I did not get the fabric remnants back nor did I get my diagram back. But I’d bet anyone $100 that I was not the one who made a mistake.

On top of this disaster, I noticed large patches of light red stains all over the lighter colored pair of pants. The origin of these stains was puzzling because I had washed and ironed the pants before sending them to the tailor. When I asked my helper, she confessed to putting the pants into the SAME BAG as the beef she bought for our beef stew dinner.

The only consolation I have is that my mother-in-law bought them at discount so they’re only about $10 USD a pair. We might be able to re-lengthen the pants even if they end up being a centimeter too short. And, I’m washing the pants now with OxiClean.

Poor quality, slipshod workmanship, and inconsistent standards are an accepted way of life here. Vietnam will have to improve on all of these and more if they hope to be successful in the global economy after joining the World Trade Organization.

ETA, April 29: The link for OxiClean has been corrected.

ETA, May 1: The tailor did keep the fabric remnants and was able to re-lengthen the pants. But he somehow got some grease marks on them that I am having trouble removing because they’ve soaked all the way through the fabric. Thus far, regular laundering and gasoline have not done the trick. I will try an Oxiclean paste but have little hope.