“As a rice exporter it is important that I be able to make such observations,” chided Dzung. “In order to improve the quality of the revolution. So Manh, I will be honest. There are far too many prostitutes in Sai Gon. At night when I work, the streets are filled with them. Maybe if we built a few more strip clubs they would be finding happier work.”

“Enough social policy,” commanded Manh, cupping a cigarette from the wind in the open cab as he lit it. “We are heading to Patpong for a very serious purpose.”

“To stare at the bodies of naked Thai women,” nodded Dzung.

“We will do that, but that is not our purpose.”

“To make love to them, for the good of the revolution.”

“Mister Trong, you amaze me with your lack of respect.”

“It’s what happens when you make a little money,” said Dzung, staring wide-eyed out at the mass of traffic and the sky-high urban sprawl that surrounded them.

“No,” said Manh, dragging deeply on his cigarette and smiling mysteriously to Dzung. “Our purpose is more singular. Tonight we must turn you into a Thai.”

“A Thai!” Dzung smiled, nodding his enthusiasm at the concept. “So how long have I been a Thai?”

“Not actually to be a Thai,” said Manh, shouting over the noise of a large truck that was passing them on the thickly traveled street. “Just to be so comfortable that no Thai would notice you or remember that you walked past them in the dark.”

“A fish among their fish.”

“Yes,” nodded Manh. “Like that! A guerrilla in their midst.”

They reached Patpong. Manh tossed his cigarette into the street, paid the driver, and they began to saunter slowly along Bangkok’s most famous evening entertainment district. The streets, which were closed to traffic at night, were jammed shoulder to shoulder with revelers of every race and nationality, including a surprising number of Thais themselves. Stalls lined the middle of the streets, selling everything from rip-off jewelry to fake designer clothes to pirated music and films. On the curb was a mix of establishments catering to people of the night: open-air bars where customers stood before large-screen TVs showing the fanatically popular Thai kickboxing matches, raucous strip clubs whose music pounded into the night air like jackhammers, and small hotels awaiting that evening’s ration of customers who rotated into and out of the strip joints.

It took Dzung less than half a block to relax into the crowd. “Give me a cigarette,” he said to Manh.

“Anything you say, all-powerful Mister Trong.”