One of the smaller but startling cultural differences many foreigners encounter when coming to Vietnam is that it seems to be perfectly okay to ask a perfect stranger how much money they make. Many times the question comes very naturally right after somebody asks what your job is.

Two foreign customers are shopping at a Vietnamese market.

At first, my immediate reaction to this question, which in most western countries would be considered impertinent, was to say, "None of your damned business." But it didn't take long to figure out that the majority of people asking meant no offense at all and did not see it as rude.

Of course I'm glad that I figured that out - it probably saved some unnecessary hostility and misunderstandings. On the other hand, though, that knowledge leaves me with a dilemma every time somebody asks me how much I make. Still, I think it's not their business, but I also don't want to put on an attitude with somebody who meant no harm. As far as I can see, it leaves me with only one choice: to answer.

How to answer though? You can lie and say that you earn less than you do. I've tried that before, but it always leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It also often leaves a baffled and disappointed looking face on the inquisitive person who obviously thought that I must make more because I'm not Vietnamese. They're right, of course.

You can also tell the truth, but this leads, almost every time, to another endlessly frustrating kind of misunderstanding. I've told the truth from time to time. The worst reaction for me from telling the truth is a big smile, or even the word "rich". It makes my stomach sink.

Never once have I succeeded in explaining to this type of person that, while, yes, I do make more than an average Vietnamese person, it by no means makes me rich. And the same goes for other foreigners living here (unless, of course, they are actually rich).

I've never once succeeded in explaining that the economics of living in this country as a foreigner are completely different. Believe me, I've tried listing all of the factors that put me with my eyebrow-raising salary squarely within that circle of the broke: Living on one's own, i.e. no family meals or free shelter. Frequent and necessary trips abroad to secure visas. And a hundred other things that are too boring and depressing to list.

Admittedly, it's sort of a mystery to me as to why it would bother me that somebody would think I'm rich when I'm not. There are some practical disadvantages, I guess. The misperception of all foreigners being rich does lead to a fairly systematic overcharging. But no, that's not it. I don't mind so much paying an extra thousand for tea when I go to a strange stand.

No, I suppose what really annoys me is the thought I may be perceived as someone who comes here and lives very comfortably off the fat of the land solely on the merits of being a foreigner. It's impossible to tell how real that perception is. But yeah, the thought of that bothers the hell out of me.

Anyway, like I said, I've never been able to explain this to anyone who gets it in their head that I'm rich. Even if it were possible it would take far too long. So I've stopped trying. Now what I usually do is allow the person to add their new-found rich friend on Facebook using their iphone, while I slowly enter their number on my VND500,000 Samsung.

Once that's all over, I reply, "Yes, a beer sounds good. But it's not on me."