Australian visitors are fascinated by Hue

Troy Nankervis, from Sydney, said Hue deserves to be the top destination to visit when coming to Vietnam.

"Ignoring Thailand or Bali, Vietnam is the destination that Australian tourists are flocking to," said Troy Nankervis, a male tourist who just returned to Sydney after a 10-day trip to Vietnam.

For his first trip to Vietnam, Troy spent nearly $2,000 on a tour that included most meals and accommodation. He started his journey in Hanoi and visited Hue, Hoi An, the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City. The tour company also revealed that this was the best-selling tour in Australia at the moment.

Among the famous destinations in Vietnam, Troy talked about Hue the most, where he took a 14-hour overnight train. The male tourist bought a ticket from Hanoi, a sleeper cabin for 6 people for 500,000 VND. After a while on the train, Troy began to get used to the swaying and the creaking of the wheels on the rails. He was absorbed in watching the scenery on both sides of the road through the glass window.

Australian male tourist takes a photo in front of the Imperial Citadel. Photo: Troy Nankervis

Troy and his group of international tourists only slept for a few hours. When they arrived in Hue, they took a bus to a local's house for lunch.

The smell of lemongrass and mint surprised Troy as he entered a small house in central Vietnam. Before him was a large pot of pumpkin soup simmering on an electric stove. To his left stood Dang Thi Hao, a middle-aged woman, wrapping spring rolls.

The scene before Troy's eyes reminded him of the scene in the movie Hook , when the lost boys were preparing to have a feast of their imagination, but the difference was that his meal was real. The way the dishes were presented also made the male tourist feel the generosity and thoughtfulness of the host.

International tourists praised Vietnamese food as fresh, delicious, not heavy and more flavorful than European and American food. The group was treated to pumpkin soup, jackfruit salad, spring rolls, braised pork, tofu, minced pork cooked with tomatoes, tomato soup with seafood, pineapple, bean sprouts and fruit for dessert. "The meat almost melted in my mouth. I could taste the fresh ginger and garlic," Troy said. Under the hot summer sun of Hue, the group drank cold beer to cool off. Duy, the Vietnamese tour guide, instructed them to clink glasses and shout "one, two, three cheers" like the locals. The group enthusiastically followed suit.

"Dang Thi Hao's great-grandfather used to cook for the Vietnamese royal family. And now I get to taste those recipes," Troy said.

Troy commented that Hue is similar to Bali and Thailand in that the best way to explore is by motorbike and driving around. The price for renting a motorbike is 150,000 VND per day. The male tourist visited Tu Duc Tomb, Hue Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda. Hue is ancient but also has many bars, restaurants and lively streets at night. Troy compared the scene to "a less crowded version of Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City". He ended his time in Hue with a brand new tattoo and learned to play the game of tug of war with the locals.

Troy rides a motorbike to explore Hue. Photo: Troy Nankervis

Hue's royal culture gives it an important place in Vietnamese history, Troy says. As the capital of the Nguyen Dynasty, Hue was the country's cultural, political, and religious center from the early 1800s to 1945. The city is home to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. "If you spend a few days exploring, you'll find the Perfume River running through the city dotted with tombs and pagodas, all of which have been around for centuries," Troy says. The mix of mythology, history, and cuisine that is ubiquitous in the ancient capital of Hue is one of the highlights that makes Troy "really love this place in particular and Vietnam in general."

"I have to admit that Thailand, Cambodia or Bali are more well-known but Vietnam runs its own race with unique culture, flavor and history," said Troy.

Troy's dishes enjoyed when visiting Hue. Photo: Troy Nankervis

Troy is not the only Australian who has chosen Vietnam as his favorite destination. According to data from Intrepid Group, a leading e-commerce and digital services provider in Southeast Asia, the number of international visitors to Vietnam is expected to increase by 166% compared to 2022. Of which, Australian visitors account for 43%, followed by visitors from the UK (24%), the US and New Zealand (both 11%).

"Vietnam is like a big adventure. I can't wait to come back here to explore more," Troy said.

Anh Minh (According to News )

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/khach-australia-bi-me-hoac-boi-hue-4642702.html