Hue: Unexpected hospitality through vegetarian meal at funeral

Exhausted after a 50km journey, two Swiss tourists had an unforgettable experience when a family in Hue invited them to a vegetarian meal while they were preparing for a funeral.

Unexpected experiences on the way to explore the Ancient Capital

On the afternoon of October 20, a Swiss tourist couple had a memorable experience in Vinh Loc commune, Hue city. After cycling nearly 50km from the city center, they were exhausted and stopped in front of a house where a funeral was taking place, hoping to find a nearby restaurant.

The host, Mr. Tran Huu Cuu, 50 years old, noticed the situation of the two guests. As an international tour guide with 11 years of experience, he understood their fatigue. Since there were no restaurants in the surrounding area, he did not hesitate to invite them into his house for a meal.

Two Swiss guests were invited to a vegetarian meal at the funeral by the host family in Hue. Photo: Tran Huu Cuu

Simple vegetarian meal and hospitality

Initially, Mr. Cuu planned to cook instant noodles for the guests, but then the family decided to invite them to a vegetarian meal for the funeral. When asked if they could eat vegetarian food, the two guests were very happy and replied: "Great. We are vegetarians."

A quick meal was served with light vegetarian dishes such as mushroom soup, pickled vegetables, stir-fried dishes and tofu. Contrary to the host's thoughts, the couple enjoyed their meal and asked for more rice. The husband kept praising the dishes while enjoying them.

Mr. Cuu brought more vegetarian food to invite the two Western guests. Photo: Tran Huu Cuu

When they realized they were dining at a funeral, the two tourists bowed their heads in condolences, showing respect. Mr. Cuu also explained more about local culture, that when an elderly person passes away, the family considers it a peaceful departure and focuses on praying.

Unique cultural features in Hue funerals

Mr. Cuu shared that, in funerals in Hue, especially when the deceased is an elderly person, families often organize vegetarian meals. This is to keep the mind pure, avoid killing and is a way to pray for the deceased to be liberated. The funeral can last 5-7 days and during this time, many families will do good deeds such as giving gifts to the needy and releasing animals to accumulate merit.

This is a unique cultural feature, reflecting the spiritual depth and philosophy of life of the people of the Ancient Capital, something that tourists can hardly find in regular tourist guidebooks.

Hue: Destination of authentic experiences

The story of two Swiss tourists is proof that the attraction of Hue does not only come from the Imperial City, mausoleums or ancient pagodas. The beauty of this city also lies in the warmth of its people and authentic cultural experiences.

Mr. Cuu often leads foreign visitors to visit famous tourist attractions in Hue, Da Nang... Photo: Tran Huu Cuu

As a tour guide, Mr. Cuu often takes international visitors on daily activities such as cycling through the countryside, exploring lagoons, learning to cook or trying to be a farmer. These activities help visitors immerse themselves in the local lifestyle and have deeper memories of Vietnam.

The Swiss couple shared that this was their first time in Vietnam and the trip far exceeded their expectations. "Friends told us that Vietnam has many beautiful landscapes and unique cuisine... when we arrived here, we realized that Vietnam is truly wonderful," said the husband.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/hue-long-hieu-khach-bat-ngo-qua-bua-com-chay-tai-dam-tang-397695.html