Around 5 PM on 8/2, Ms. Bich Lieu, a resident of Tri Ton, went to the edge of a small river, locally known as "Tan Tuyen Melaleuca forest," and encountered a Hungarian tourist, estimated to be over 50 years old, paddleboarding. This area is not typically frequented by tourists, so the appearance of a foreigner surprised Ms. Lieu.

The male tourist explained he was group backpacking to explore Vietnam; he was paddleboarding down the Hau River, while other members traveled by bicycle. By 8/2, he had been paddleboarding for about three weeks. Exhausted, he asked Ms. Lieu if he could stay overnight near the riverbank, preferring not to enter her home to avoid disturbing anyone.

After discussing with her family, they decided to invite the tourist to rest in a riverside hut, a spot typically used for enjoying the breeze and taking afternoon naps.

"Upon hearing a foreigner had arrived, the entire hamlet came out to welcome him and check if he needed anything," Ms. Lieu recounted. After settling into his lodging, the Hungarian tourist also strolled around the hamlet and enjoyed playing with her 15-month-old daughter. He shared that in his home country, people do not allow strangers to interact with young children as freely as in Vietnam. The friendliness of the villagers surprised him.

The male tourist paddleboards through the Mekong Delta. Photo: Me Con Cat

That evening, a family prepared a meal and invited the tourist, even assigning a family member proficient in English to converse with him, ensuring the foreign guest felt comfortable.

Around 7 AM the next day, the tourist departed, with the entire hamlet coming out to bid him farewell and help with his belongings. Before leaving, he gave everyone a few small gift bags, primarily sweets and snacks bought in Vietnam, and repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

"He came to our hamlet, stayed one night, and the next morning the entire hamlet came to see him off as if he were a family member going to work abroad," Ms. Lieu said with a smile, noting that hospitality is always evident among people in the Mekong Delta.

Ms. Lieu's video of the male tourist shared online garnered significant community attention. Many expressed gratitude to the families in the hamlet for their thoughtful reception of the tourist, helping to spread a friendly image of Vietnamese people to the international community.

Additionally, many comments expressed surprise at the Hungarian tourist's journey, while also warning of the dangers of traveling alone on the river for many days. Ms. Lieu stated that, according to the plan, this Western tourist had already reached the estuary area of the former Kien Giang province.

Many accidental encounters between Western tourists and locals have also attracted attention previously. In 10/2025, a tired Western cycling couple was invited to a funeral feast by a family in Hue. One month prior, a South Korean female tourist was also unexpectedly invited to a meal by a jewelry shop owner in Hoi An when she stopped to make a purchase.

The entire hamlet bids farewell to the Western tourist after an overnight stay. Video: Me Con Cat

Hoai Anh