I live in Vietnam. I assume your buddy went out, got drunk, and managed to put himself in a compromising position that required payment to remedy. But come to think of it, nothing should require a few hundred dollar payment—so I assume a police officer assumed (correctly, it seems) that your buddy was a chump and could be milked for a significant markup over the typical fee. Tell your buddy to work on his negotiation skills!
My buddy wanted pot. A guy on a scooter pulls up in front of hotel and says “I can get pot. Hop on, friend!”
Scooter takes buddy to bad part of town. Buddy was told to wait in a room for the pot. “In the meantime, listen to this here music” scooter guy says.
My buddy is not interested in the karaoke, but OK, he says.
“Pot not here yet. Observe the dancing girls!” the scooter guy says as 2 girls enter room and begin to dance. By buddy is not into the girls. He just wants pot and is getting antsy.
“Hungry? enjoy our great food!” the scooter guy says.
An hour has elapsed and still no pot. My buddy decides it is time to go, but is informed that before he is allowed to leave he must pay for the music, the food, and the prostitutes. $400 will cover it.
He now notices several very large men in the doorway. Vietnamese muscle!
My buddy is scared. He has no idea where he is, only that he crossed “several bridges” while on the back of the scooter, and he is in an impoverished section of town several miles from his hotel.
He makes a deal w/ scooter guy: My buddy will give him $100, scooter guy takes him back to hotel, and my buddy will get the remainder of his “bill” from his hotel room and pay then.
And that is exactly what happened.
No police were involved that night!