The photo that went viral on social media: When the World Pickleball champions "chilled out" at a subsidized tea shop

The photo caused a stir on social networks

The photo that has taken social media by storm captures a simple but meaningful moment. Pickleball star Andrei Daescu, world No. 1 men's singles player, along with tennis beauty Eugenie Bouchard, world No. 5 women's singles player and the leader of Vietnam's sports industry with bright, friendly smiles, behind them is a sidewalk tea shop with a "subsidized" character. The highlight of the photo is also the details that bear the mark of Hanoi: right in front, a child is curiously watching two veterans engrossed in a game of Chinese chess, next to it is a cyclo stained with time, reminiscent of an old Hanoi - like a silent witness to the flow of history.

The combination of these seemingly opposing elements has created a strong visual effect. It not only shows the openness and friendliness of the Vietnamese people, but also the interest of international friends in the local culture. The photo has broken all barriers of nationality, profession, age... of each person in the photo, showing a simple common point: joy and happiness in very ordinary moments, very "Vietnamese".

It is known that the photo was taken by chance when Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong was making suggestions and sharing about the development orientation with the founding team of the Metro Line 6 project - "Hanoi Street Museum" at the 2025 Tourism Gift Festival, when the World's Top 1 Pickleball athletes came to experience the subsidized Kitchen - Cupboard - Tray Car of the project. And the meeting, exchange and intimate conversation took place right in the space of a sidewalk tea shop - a typical cultural feature of Hanoi recreated by the Metro Line 6 project.

Sharing about this memorable moment, a member of the pickleball team said: "We were really surprised and felt extremely excited about this experience. This tea shop is very special, bearing the historical mark of Vietnam. Sitting here and chatting with the Deputy Minister is an unforgettable memory of this trip."

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong, Pickleball star Andrei Daescu, tennis beauty Eugenie Bouchard and Secretary of the Truc Bach Ward Party Committee Nguyen Dan Huy - Representative of the Metro Line 6 project next to a tea shop with a "subsidized" character

Secretary of Truc Bach Ward Party Committee Nguyen Dan Huy - Representative of Metro Line 6 project shared about the photo: "I am very happy to have the opportunity to welcome the Deputy Minister and interact with the world's top pickleball players in an everyday space like this. This is a great way to help international visitors understand more about the culture and people of Vietnam in the most authentic way. This photo is not only a beautiful moment but also shows the openness and friendliness of Vietnam towards international friends."

It can be seen that the photo has become a unique and effective way to promote the image of Vietnam. Instead of luxurious or modern scenes, the image of a "subsidized" tea shop, an old chess board and a cyclo stained with time brings a unique charm, attracting the attention of international friends, arousing curiosity about a Vietnam that is both modern and focuses on preserving and maintaining traditional values.

The photo is not just a random moment but also a beautiful story about cultural exchange, about the passion for sports, the friendliness and openness of Vietnamese people, about simple things that can connect people around the world. It will certainly be mentioned a lot in the future, as a proof that the simplest things sometimes become the most profound impressions.

The Metro Line 6 Project - "Hanoi Street Museum" is a unique and key tourism product of Ba Dinh District. In just a short period of trial operation, the project has been honored to welcome many special guests such as: Ambassador of the Republic of Finland, Ambassador and Deputy Ambassador of the Kingdom of New Zealand, Ambassador and Deputy Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba, Former Deputy Minister of Industry and Innovation of the Kingdom of Sweden, Mr. Ho An Phong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr. Nguyen Manh Quyen, Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee, Mr. Ha Van Sieu, Deputy Director of the National Tourism Administration, Ms. Dang Huong Giang, Director of Hanoi Department of Tourism, the World's top 1 Picleball Athletes, the senior leaders of the Swedish Syre Group... to visit and experience.

Vietnam.vn