American couple spent 8 years traveling to 197 countries, fell in love with Vietnamese cuisine

(Dan Tri) - Mr. Hudson and his wife Emily from Pennsylvania (USA) spent nearly 8 years traveling to 197 countries around the world, before welcoming their first child in June this year.

The couple has experienced many lands and discovered many special things together. The couple revealed that, initially, they only planned to visit 50 states of the US and had no intention of traveling around the world .

"When we started traveling , we never planned to visit every country. We just wanted to explore more of the world, experience different cultures," Hudson shared.

Thailand is a favorite destination for couples because of its affordable prices, delicious food, and beautiful beaches (Photo: Hudson and Emily).

During their journey, the couple walked through Tuvalu - one of the world's smallest countries located in Oceania, or slept overnight on the Great Wall of China.

The couple were particularly impressed by the hospitality of people in most of the countries they visited. “Smiles transcend language barriers,” Hudson said. “Everywhere, people went out of their way to help or welcome us.”

When asked which was the most unexpected destination, Hudson immediately said Uzbekistan. "We were surprised by the friendliness, rich culture and great food here," he recalled.

The couple had many encounters with wild animals during their trip (Photo: Hudson and Emily).

Hudson also said that the ancient Islamic architecture in Samarkand (Uzbekistan) left an indelible mark on his and his wife's memories. The couple also visited Thailand and stayed there for 7 months. This is a favorite destination for Hudson and Emily because of its reasonable cost, cuisine and friendly people.

Throughout the trip, food was a special bridge that connected the couple to everywhere. Emily especially loved the cuisine in Switzerland. She also said that many places invited her and her husband to eat without charging, because they wanted to share culture and show hospitality.

Emily fell in love with Swiss cuisine (Photo: Hudson and Emily).

Meanwhile, her husband enjoys the unique, diverse cuisines of Vietnam and Thailand. "It's hard to find a bad dish in either country," Hudson says.

The couple had their share of ups and downs, though. Emily suffered severe food poisoning in Pakistan after attending a celebration. But they still consider the trip a special one, as strangers in the country were ready to welcome them on their biggest day.

Hudson and Emily have also had many encounters with wildlife, and Kenya (a country in East Africa) is a top destination for this, where they witnessed wildebeests crossing rivers during the Great Migration. In Tonga (a country in Oceania), Emily even had the opportunity to swim with humpback whales.

"Those moments were like a valuable documentary. Those experiences made us feel so small in the midst of majestic nature," Emily said.

Hudson and Emily in the Bahamas, preparing to welcome their first child (Photo: Hudson and Emily).

When asked about her travel tips, Hudson shared: "Don't expect too much before your trips, then you will feel satisfied on every trip. Whether it's fun or not, it's still a new experience."

As for Emily, she believes that the more she travels, the more she understands the world and herself.

The couple ended their world tour with a relaxing trip to the Bahamas, which they viewed as a gentle farewell before welcoming their first child in June.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/cap-doi-nguoi-my-danh-8-nam-du-lich-197-nuoc-phai-long-am-thuc-viet-nam-20250606194758069.htm