The day I visited the prison-turned-museum, a woman was outside it selling T-shirts, one printed with "Good Morning Vietnam" in red letters.

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His unit was caught in what Mr Ellicock describes as a Vietnam-style exchange of red and green tracer bullets.

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However, Mr Thiraphong does fear competition from places such as Vietnam, because he reckons that the government there is better than Thailand's at cutting red tape.

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