The Japanese visited Vietnam 30 times because of the delicious food

By TravelWiseFeb 19, 2024 18:02 PMNews
Share:
The Japanese visited Vietnam 30 times because of the delicious food
Inoue Keiichi rides a bicycle around Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi, December 2022. Source: Inoue Keiichi, vnexpress.net

Inoue Keiichi has visited Vietnam 30 times in five years. The reason is that every time he goes, he "misses" the country's beautiful and diverse cuisine.

His love for Vietnam began in March 2018, when the 25-year-old Japanese traveled abroad for the first time. On his first day in Ho Chi Minh City, Keiichi was "mesmerized" by banh mi. The sweet and sour chili sauce, grilled meat sandwiches, and pate with pickled cucumbers allowed him to eat three loaves a day and not get bored," vnexpress.net writes.

"In the following days, I tried more types of Hoi An bread, milk bread, and pillow bread. Each type was delicious, despite the different sweet and savory flavors," he says.

Since the time on the trip was short, Keiichi regretted not having the opportunity to try many other dishes. However, when he boarded the plane to return home, he did try to take a few more loaves of bread with him.

When he returned home, he looked for places that sold Vietnamese bread and visited more than 20 stores, but he never found the authentic Vietnamese flavor. Three months later, he bought a ticket back to Vietnam.

This time, he decided to travel alone from south to north for a month to fulfill his desire to "eat real Vietnamese food" by focusing on typical dishes from each region, such as noodle soup, mixed rice paper, crab soup or pho, snail noodles, and draft beer.

"Some days I ate 6-7 times. I enjoyed banh cuon (steamed rice rolls) and drank more than six cans of Hanoi beer. I didn't get bored eating three or four cups of sweet chee soup at a time," he says.

Keiichi says that spicy dishes like bun dau mam tom (noodles with tofu and fermented shrimp paste) and durian made him almost throw up the first time he ate them, but now he is addicted to them.

The Japanese visited Vietnam 30 times because of the delicious food
Inoue Keiichi during a boat ride in Ninh Binh, northern Vietnam, June 2022. Source: Inoue Keiichi, vnexpress.net

"Now I always eat one durian every month. I can't stand it if I don't eat it," he said. "I missed Vietnam a lot every time I had to leave the place. Sometimes, when I went back to Japan for a few days, all I wanted to do was buy a ticket to go back to Vietnam. I like how Vietnamese people are close and supportive of each other," said Keiichi.

Keiichi said he just celebrated the New Year in Vietnam instead of returning to his hometown to reunite with his family. When he saw people gathering in the city center to watch musical events and fireworks together, he felt that the whole city was one big, happy, warm family.

"I've been in Vietnam for four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter, but I've never celebrated the traditional Tet. This year I will stay here to celebrate Tet," he said.

The young man admitted that he was a little worried when he heard that during the Lunar New Year celebrations, people take a break and close their shops to return to their hometowns and be with their families.

However, he plans to join in the Tet celebrations, such as wrapping banh chung (a square sticky rice cake), eating meat with pickled onions, and watching traditional festivals that only take place during Tet.

"Maybe I will ask to celebrate Tet at one of my close Vietnamese friends' houses. I'm pleased to see the busy streets on the eve of the holiday, where people stand in lines to buy peach blossoms and decorations for the holiday," says Keiichi.

Top Articles
Not Just a Suitcase: My Personal Checklist for Smart Travelers in 2025

Not Just a Suitcase: My Personal Checklist for Smart Travelers in 2025

Mar 3, 2025 18:00 PM
Practical Eco-Friendly Travel Solutions for Sustainable Tourism

Practical Eco-Friendly Travel Solutions for Sustainable Tourism

Feb 14, 2025 15:00 PM

Top Tips for Securing Your Luggage and Preventing Loss

Feb 7, 2025 14:00 PM

Your Guide to Hand Luggage and Baggage Rules

Feb 4, 2025 20:00 PM
More News
Person speaking into a megaphone during a public demonstration

Strike at Helsinki Airport to Disrupt Finnair Flights, Thousands to Face Travel Changes

Jun 30, 2025 20:38 PM
Modern hotel room with bed, sofa, and large windows

Berlin Becomes the Newest Dot on Dalata’s European Journey

Jun 30, 2025 18:23 PM

Transavia Replaces Boeing with New Jet on Mallorca Route

Jun 29, 2025 22:49 PM

European Food Halls Become Essential Travel Destinations

Jun 29, 2025 20:36 PM
Close-up of a Scandinavian Airlines aircraft parked on the tarmac at sunset

Direct Flights Between Copenhagen and Nuuk Resume After Two Decades, Opening New Arctic Travel Opportunities

Jun 28, 2025 21:22 PM
Electric Lumo train moving on railway tracks in the UK

New Slow Travel Trend Offers Different Way to Discover the UK

Jun 28, 2025 19:48 PM
LOT Polish Airlines aircraft preparing to land

LOT Adds Direct Flights Connecting Gdańsk to Istanbul’s Historic Core

Jun 28, 2025 17:35 PM
Multiple trains approach a busy London rail junction under a canopy of signals

Travel Disruption Expected on London Rail Lines 3 July

Jun 28, 2025 15:21 PM
Air Corsica aircraft wing above the clouds during flight

New Direct Flights Between Nice and Florence Open Up Easier Travel Across the Mediterranean

Jun 28, 2025 13:47 PM

Steady Travel Through Wales: T4 Changes Operator in September

Jun 28, 2025 00:34 AM

Montreal, Toronto, Niagara Falls Set for Centrally Located Hotel Openings

Jun 27, 2025 21:28 PM
Air Canada aircraft in flight approaching landing

New Direct Montréal–Edinburgh Flight Opens Summer City-to-City Travel

Jun 27, 2025 19:45 PM
Workers in safety gear repairing railway tracks with heavy equipment

Temporary Closure of Picerno Station Alters Train Routes in Southern Italy

Jun 27, 2025 17:32 PM
Ryanair Boeing 737 aircraft in flight against clear blue sky

Ryanair Unveils New Direct Winter Routes from Gothenburg, Boosting Travel Choices to Southern Europe

Jun 27, 2025 15:29 PM
Cozy hotel room with warm lighting and decorative wall art

New Hotels in Jeddah to Boost Travel Convenience Near King Abdullah Sports City

Jun 27, 2025 13:46 PM

Adelaide Gains Direct Flights to Bali, Unlocking Wider Asian Travel Options

Jun 27, 2025 05:33 AM

Travel to South Wales in July disrupted by rail changes

Jun 26, 2025 22:24 PM
Jet2holidays aircraft taxiing on runway

New Direct Flights to La Palma Expand UK–Canaries Access

Jun 26, 2025 20:41 PM
Train platforms and GWR trains at London Paddington station

Mobile Signal Returns to Key Train Routes

Jun 26, 2025 18:37 PM
Empty departure board at Helsinki Airport terminal during operational disruption

Finnair Warns of Major Travel Disruptions During July Airport Strikes

Jun 26, 2025 13:25 PM
Flydubai aircraft taxiing on runway at airport

flydubai Reopens Key Damascus Route, Expanding Travel Options in the Middle East

Jun 26, 2025 02:42 AM
Hotel room with a large bed, two lamps, and window curtains

New Hotel Opens in Tromsø Near Harbour as Travel Grows

Jun 26, 2025 00:38 AM

SAS Reopens Copenhagen–Mumbai Route After 17-Year Gap

Jun 25, 2025 22:21 PM

Canopy by Hilton Opens in Revitalized Longkloof District of Cape Town

Jun 25, 2025 20:47 PM
Emirates Airbus A380 flying against a cloudy sky

Etihad Begins Airbus A380 Flights to Toronto Increasing Capacity for Travelers

Jun 25, 2025 18:36 PM
Minimalist hotel room with natural light and modern decor

Hotel Opposite Haymarket: A New Stopover Spot in Festival Edinburgh

Jun 25, 2025 16:52 PM