(Vietnam Insider) – Cycling from the center of Huế City back to their 5-star resort, two Swiss tourists, weary and unable to find an open restaurant, stopped their bikes in front of a funeral procession. To their surprise, the grieving family warmly invited them to share a vegetarian meal.
Hungry and Tired Guests Stop at Funeral, Receive Heartfelt Invitation
Early in the afternoon, during the third day of his father-in-law’s funeral at his private residence in Vinh Loc commune, Huế City, Mr. Trần Hữu Cửu (50) – an English teacher and seasoned tour guide of 11 years – was surprised by the arrival of two strangers.
“I saw a foreign couple on bicycles stop in front of the house. Initially, I thought they might be curious about Vietnamese funeral culture and wanted to learn,” Mr. Cửu recounted.
However, the wife explained that they were cycling from Huế city center to their resort in Phú Lộc commune and were both extremely hungry and thirsty. They had searched the local market and surrounding restaurants but couldn’t find anywhere still open.
“The guests didn’t even realize we were holding a funeral. They just saw the tent and the crowd and stopped to ask for directions to a restaurant that was selling food,” Mr. Cửu added.
Realizing their predicament, Mr. Cửu initially offered to quickly cook them some instant noodles. As he passed the area set aside for funeral guests, his wife, hearing the story, approached the couple. After hearing about their hunger, she suggested that the family still had plenty of vegetarian food available.
The family promptly prepared two simple plates, featuring stir-fried vegetables, green beans, sautéed mushrooms, taro soup, and tofu – everyday home cooking, served without ceremony.
“I thought they might only take a few polite bites since the food might not suit their taste. Unexpectedly, they ate every last bit and were very happy about the warm assistance,” Mr. Cửu shared.
Even more surprising to Mr. Cửu was the guests’ revelation: both husband and wife are strict vegetarians. They expressed amazement that a simple roadside stop, brought about by their unexpected difficulty, had led to such a delicious and helpful vegetarian meal provided by strangers. Mr. Cửu even served a second helping to the husband, which he happily finished.
From Hospitality to Cultural Connection
In their brief conversation, the couple shared that they were from Switzerland and that this was their first visit to Vietnam.
“We have some Vietnamese friends living in Switzerland. They told us so much about your country, and we really wanted to visit. The trip has exceeded our expectations with its beautiful scenery, delicious food, and friendly people,” the Swiss visitors said.
Taking the opportunity, Mr. Cửu briefly introduced the couple to the local funeral culture in Huế. He explained that services often last 5-7 days and that many Buddhist families observe a vegetarian diet during this time.
Upon learning the context, the two visitors offered their deep condolences to the family before setting off again. They were staying at a 5-star resort in Cầu Hai Lagoon, Phú Lộc commune. Their luggage had been transported separately, but they still had about 20 kilometers to cycle, including some challenging slopes. Mr. Cửu advised them to proceed with caution.
“We were in a hurry, so we didn’t even exchange names,” Mr. Cửu confided. “They said they were very lucky to have met me today and offered their thanks. But I also received something special on the day of my father-in-law’s passing.”
Mr. Trần Hữu Cửu currently serves as the Chairman of the Huế City Tourist Guides Association. He has over 27 years of experience teaching English and 11 years as a tour guide.
