In Ho Chi Minh City, Swedish tourist moved as woman pays for his coffee

The woman’s friendliness, generosity, and hospitality left a lasting impression on Robert Berg, 28, who said the encounter became one of the most memorable moments of his first trip to Vietnam.

Berg posted a video of the encounter on Instagram in late August and has since received more than 3.2 million views.

Speaking to Dan Tri (People's Intellectuality) newspaper, Berg said he was walking around what was formerly District 8 in Ho Chi Minh City when he wanted to find a glass of iced black coffee without sugar.

He stopped at a small coffee shop, but the shop did not serve unsweetened coffee because its drinks had already been prepared in advance.

Seeing that Berg looked disappointed and was having difficulty asking for what he wanted in Vietnamese, a local woman offered to give him a ride to a nearby coffee shop.

The ride was short, and the two chatted in English along the way.

When they arrived, the woman helped Berg pronounce 'ca phe khong duong,' or unsweetened coffee, in Vietnamese.

She then paid for his drink, said “Welcome to Vietnam,” and quickly left.

“Just helping me order a drink was already a kind act, but she also drove me there and paid for my coffee. What impressed me most was that she was willing to spend her time and effort helping a complete stranger. Vietnamese people are truly kind and friendly,” Berg told Dan Tri.

The Swedish tourist joked that if Vietnam needed a tourism ambassador, the woman had done an excellent job during their brief encounter. 

Through a simple act of kindness, she demonstrated the openness and hospitality that he said he had experienced from Vietnamese people throughout his trip.

During his two-week trip, Berg explored only Ho Chi Minh City so he could get a closer look at its culture. 

He visited traditional markets, toured well-known landmarks, and wandered through small streets, Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper reported.

Having traveled to and witnessed the development of several major cities in Asia, Berg said Ho Chi Minh City offered him a different experience. The city has a vibrant pace of life without feeling rushed, allowing people to enjoy their own routines and interests.

Some areas are modern and crowded with tourists, while others are quiet and mainly frequented by local residents. Berg said this contrast makes the city interesting.

Food was also an important part of his trip. The Swedish tourist tried banh xeo (Vietnamese sizzling pancake), com tam (broken rice), bun bo Hue (Hue-style spicy beef noodle soup), banh cuon (thin steamed rice rolls filled with minced pork and wood ear mushrooms), and many other Vietnamese dishes.

Most of the food suited his taste, with banh xeo and com tam among his favorites. He also enjoyed Vietnamese coffee, describing its flavor as rich and distinctive.

But above all, it was the people who made Berg want to return to Ho Chi Minh City most.