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Vietnam has long been a magnet for international tourists thanks to its blend of breathtaking natural beauty and rich local culture. According to tourism statistics for 2025, Australia continues to hold its position among the top 10 largest source markets for tourists to Vietnam.
Recently, Brian Johnston, a veteran travel writer for The Sydney Morning Herald, published a noteworthy article highlighting 10 "unexplained" things that foreign tourists often encounter when experiencing Vietnam.
Street food art and the "magic" from small kitchens.
One of the first positive shocks for Western tourists is the irresistible appeal of Vietnamese street food. Brian Johnston poses a big, admiring question: How can dishes with such delicate flavors, freshness, and harmonious textures be prepared in tiny, rudimentary kitchens amidst the sweltering heat? The image of humble chefs busily working beside steaming pots of broth or their nimble hands filling sandwiches has become a vibrant symbol of tourism.
The experience of sitting on the sidewalk is a distinctive feature of the Vietnamese lifestyle.
In particular, Brian highly praised Vietnamese banh mi, saying it surpassed standards in many parts of the world, including France – the birthplace of the original baguette. The balance between the sourness of the pickles, the richness of the pate, and the crispness of the crust creates a culinary enigma that tourists can only admire rather than try to explain.
Vietnamese banh mi – a street food that surpasses conventional standards thanks to its delicate balance of a crispy crust and a rich, flavorful filling.
Vietnamese traffic: Smoothness amidst "chaos"
If there's one thing that both frightens and intrigues international tourists the most, it's the unique traffic of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. With millions of motorbikes intertwined with an ever-increasing stream of cars, intersections without traffic lights often lead newcomers to imagine utter chaos. However, Brian discovered the opposite reality: the traffic flows surprisingly smoothly.
Westerners call the way Vietnamese traffic operates "a survival skill."
The Vietnamese people's ability to weave through traffic and make split-second decisions is considered a natural instinct. Crossing the road in Vietnam is elevated to an "art of survival" that tourists must learn by heart: walk slowly, in a steady pace, and absolutely never stop abruptly. The invisible connection between drivers allows them to avoid each other precisely, transforming the apparent chaos into an unbelievable internal order.
Tiny plastic chairs and a "kindergarten restaurant" experience.
Another intriguing mystery frequently appearing on travel forums is the enduring presence of those small, low red plastic chairs. Tall Western tourists often feel like they're playing "kindergarten restaurant" when they have to sit hunched over, knees almost touching their ears, to enjoy a bowl of pho or a cup of coffee on the sidewalk. What puzzles international writers is that, despite Vietnamese people being much taller than previous generations, the size of these plastic chairs remains remarkably modest. It is this contrast between physical inconvenience and the culinary delight that creates a unique experience that tourists always want to try at least once.
Iced tea is a distinctive cultural feature of the capital city.
The story of Vietnamese life is intertwined with those green and red plastic chairs.
Motorbikes carrying "the whole world" and the incessant honking of horns.
Brian Johnston likens the balancing skills of Vietnamese people on motorbikes to those of true circus performers. From bulky gas cylinders and enough goods for a grocery store to a family of five on a single motorbike, they all move steadily through the streets. This image is not just a glimpse into daily life but also a testament to the flexibility of everyday living. Accompanying this is the characteristic "background sound": the honking of horns. In Vietnam, horns are used as a multi-purpose language: to warn, to ask for the right of way, to express impatience, or simply to signal presence. While sometimes disruptive to tourists who prefer quiet, the sound of horns remains an inseparable part of Vietnamese urban life.
Car horns have become a "background sound" in life here.
Hospitality and the "millionaire" numbers on the banknotes.
Overcoming infrastructure barriers and noise, the hospitality of the Vietnamese people is the key factor in retaining international tourists. Brian emphasizes that the friendliness, openness, and willingness to help of the locals, from giving directions to inviting people to meals, have created a warm tourist environment. However, the psychological barrier lies in the numbers on the Vietnamese dong banknotes.
Vietnamese people are gentle, hospitable, and kind.
With exchange rates causing a single meal to cost hundreds of thousands of dong and hotel bills to reach millions, many tourists feel confused about their spending. The humorous question, "Why not just cut out a few zeros?", is frequently asked as a way to alleviate the "pressure" of Western tourists when doing math.
The wiring matrix and the story of the Nguyen family.
In major cities, despite the ongoing efforts to underground the power grid, the tangled mess of electrical wires remains a striking sight. Tourists often wonder how technicians manage to sort and repair these telecommunications cables and wires in this complex network.
On the other hand, the writer humorously asks: why do 40% of the population bear the surname Nguyen? Distinguishing people in daily life by their given names instead of surnames is a unique cultural characteristic that Westerners may take a long time to fully understand. Finally, Brian debunks misconceptions about "touching someone on the head." He asserts that this is not some mysterious cultural rule, but simply universal courtesy: no one in the world feels comfortable when a stranger touches their head.
