That's what I hear and it is all because of many of the same reasons. I don't think the Russians were ever singled out for outright visa bribe theft, but you gotta go to the places where it is economically most viable and from what I hear the friendliness is more genuine in Vietnam. I've only been there once and had a guide the entire time I was there so I can't say for sure. I do know that visas are easy peasy over that way though.