Western tourists coming to Vietnam for 20 years reveal the reason for their 'addiction'

After more than 20 years of continuously returning to Vietnam, the Western guest was captivated by the bowls of pho that made him linger, the vivid experience and the feeling of "having been there, I will want to come back".

Tourists take photos on the Ho Chi Minh City metro line during the testing phase in November 2024. Photo: Duy Hieu .

Ben Groundwater still carries with him the taste of the bowl of pho he once ate at Phu Vuong restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City. For Westerners, it is the perfect bowl of pho, fragrant, balanced, delicate and rich, topped with bean sprouts and herbs.

That aroma, mixed with the distinctive broth, motorbike exhaust and humid air of Ho Chi Minh City, still lingers in Ben's memory.

"I would eat it again. I must," Ben, an Australian travel journalist based in Sydney, with more than 25 years of experience in the media and almost a lifetime of traveling around the world , told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Pho Phu Vuong is one of the reasons Ben keeps coming back to Vietnam. Photo: Bong Bong.

Vietnam - a destination to return to many times

After more than 20 years of continuously coming to Vietnam, Ben said he never felt tired or thought he might not return.

A bowl of Pho Phu Vuong is one of the reasons, there is also Sa Pa with its fog and highland culture; the bustling small streets of Hanoi; the beauty of Ha Long Bay; the freedom to explore the Mekong Delta; the sea air of Nha Trang or the cool feeling of Da Lat.

According to Ben, Vietnam is becoming one of the fastest growing destinations for Australian tourists. In 2024-2025, the number of visitors increased by 35.4% compared to the same period last year; compared to August 2019, the number of visitors in August this year increased by nearly 58%.

Although not yet on the scale of Indonesia, New Zealand or Japan, the trend is clear.

Number of Australian tourists to Vietnam in the past 10 years
Source: Vietnam National Administration of Tourism
Label		2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2022	2023	2024	October 2025
	Number of people	323,792	320,678	370,438	386,934	383,511	92,227	144,736	390,087	490.88	447.47

Ben commented that Vietnam has similar appeal to Japan - a popular destination for Australians for many years.

Both are easily accessible with direct flights and little time difference. But Vietnam has a bigger advantage in terms of cost thanks to low-cost airlines and the initiative in the number of flights.

In terms of cultural experiences, Vietnam offers a similar sense of immersion to Japan, “even more surprising and unpredictable”. Destinations range from mountains, seas, big cities to river deltas, no less diverse than Japan.

Cuisine is also a big strength of Vietnam. According to Ben, Vietnamese cuisine is rich, complex and very accessible at all price points.

Exploring the remaining wild corners of Sa Pa is also an "addictive" experience for Ben. Photo: Pham Quang Tuyen.

"Addictive" experience

Ben fondly remembers riding his motorbike around the Mekong Delta, stopping for iced coffee at roadside stalls, eating banh xeo in small towns, staying overnight in budget guesthouses and having his morning bowl of pho at the local market.

For him, it was one of the best travel experiences of his life.

After that trip, he stayed at a 5-star hotel for less than 400 USD/night. For him, what is special about Vietnam is the ability to switch flexibly between low-end and high-end experiences, each of which is memorable.

He believes that in Vietnam, tourists can eat snails and drink beer at a sidewalk restaurant, then enjoy cocktails at a high-end bar, or do it all in one evening.

Transportation is also easy, like taking the overnight train one way and flying back the other.

Tourists explore and experience the most wonderful neighborhood in the world in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Linh Huynh.

According to Ben, Vietnam is attractive because of its closeness and dynamism. Visitors can easily meet locals and interact naturally. The cities are full of energy, where young people do business, study, ride motorbikes, eat and have fun.

The guest believes the trend of Australian visitors to Vietnam will continue to increase. For him and many others, Vietnam is a destination where each trip is worth enjoying and visitors easily return.

“You will come back, not just because you will always crave that bowl of pho,” says Ben.

Source: https://znews.vn/khach-tay-den-viet-nam-trong-suot-20-nam-tiet-lo-ly-do-gay-nghien-post1606895.html