VietNamNet Bridge – The owner of Ba Duc ancient house, a famous relic in Dong Hoa Hiep village in Tien Giang province, tells a local newspaper that he only welcomes foreign visitors and groups of Vietnamese visitors organized by prestigious travel agents. Why?
According to Saigon Tiep Thi newspaper, the ancient house used to welcome both Vietnamese and foreign visitors. However, the house’s owner, Mr. Phan Van Duc, realized the sad fact that whenever Vietnamese tourists left his house, his orchard became bare and full of rubbish.

Mr. Duc said that Vietnamese tourists often asked for cuisines processed from turtles and snakes (not interested in environmental protection). They often made noise after drinking and discharged waste everywhere. Duc said he was afraid that foreign visitors will go away if they see it.

The owner of Ut Kiet ancient house, which is ranked as the most beautiful ancient house in Vietnam by Japanese archaeologists, treats local tourists the same way.

Tour guides said that while foreign tourists pay attention to each detail in ancient houses, Vietnamese tourists are only interested in taking picture, not tour guides’ introduction of the houses.

Nguyen Van My, director of the Lua Viet Tourism Company, Vietnamese tourists are not interested in learning about the places they visit, but in drinking and massage.

“It is very easy for tour guides, but tourists do not know that they suffer losses by that way of travel,” My said.

“The resolute attitude of the owners of ancient houses may make Vietnamese travelers change their thinking. Owners of ancient houses have been aware of preservation, tourists need to show their understanding,” said Huynh Thanh Huu, from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tien Giang province.

Poor awareness of Vietnamese tourists has become a hot topic on many online forums. Some analyze that the “farmer-style” has been deeply absorbed into Vietnamese, which results in their behavior, specifically: discharging rubbish at public sites, neglecting traffic lights, etc. To change this, Vietnamese must self-realize the matter and improve themselves. However, it will take a long time.

Van Phong