The truth about the 'Westerner' picking water spinach in the middle of Noi Bai airport

Foreign tourists pick vegetables in the middle of the Noi Bai airport lobby. Photo: Weibo Vietnam .

On December 5, social networks spread an image of a foreign man sitting in the middle of the Noi Bai airport ( Hanoi ) to pick vegetables. In front of him were many bundles of vegetables believed to be water spinach, Vietnamese coriander, fish mint... making many people surprised by his strange actions in the crowded area.

However, according to Tri Thuc - Znews , the photo was taken in 2023 and caused a stir in the online community at that time.

Tourist Nguyen Duc Kien, who witnessed the incident, said that at around 10 p.m. on November 29, 2023, he saw a "Western man" sitting at the check-in area of an airline at the international terminal of Noi Bai airport.

"The man was picking vegetables that looked like Vietnamese coriander. But many people around me thought they were water spinach," he said.

Some of Kien’s friends came to talk and take pictures with the foreign man (unknown nationality). Kien also picked vegetables with the tourists, but due to language barriers, the two only communicated briefly and took souvenir photos.

Kien said he regularly flies between Vietnam and Japan, on average two flights a week, so it is not unusual to see foreign tourists comfortably sitting right in the middle of the terminal lobby.

Tourists line up to check in at the international terminal, Noi Bai airport, 2022. Photo: Viet Linh.

According to the Code of Conduct in Public Places of Noi Bai Airport, passengers are advised not to litter; not to sit, lie down, or sleep on the terminal floor; not to set up food and drinks outside of permitted areas; and not to smear the walls or floors of the terminal...

Regarding goods regulations, vegetables are not on the list of prohibited goods and passengers can bring them when leaving the country, but they must be packaged and checked, not carried by hand.

However, customs clearance is subject to the regulations of the destination country's customs and passengers must accept if refused.

In fact, many countries have strict regulations on plant quarantine and ban the import of vegetables, tubers, and fruits such as Korea, Australia, Japan, China (if plants are infected with insects or harmful organisms), the US, etc. Therefore, passengers need to research carefully before bringing agricultural products when leaving the country.

Source: https://znews.vn/thuc-hu-ong-tay-ngoi-nhat-rau-muong-giua-san-bay-noi-bai-post1608696.html