Indian tourists come under fire for posing with Vietnamese women. Netizens call viral pics 'embarrassing'

A group of Indian men faced backlash after a video of them taking photos with a Vietnamese woman gained traction on social media. The clip was originally shared on Instagram by a page named Vietnam Local Adventure, showcasing a longstanding tradition in Vietnam. In this practice, local women dressed in the traditional Ao Dai pose for pictures with tourists to celebrate the Lunar New Year. The caption accompanying the video explained that this custom symbolizes hopes for good health, elegance, and grace in the coming year, qualities reflected in the Ao Dai itself.

The footage began with an Indian tourist snapping a selfie with a Vietnamese woman dressed in Ao Dai. Behind him, a queue of other tourists patiently awaited their turn to take pictures. One of them gave a thumbs-up to the woman, who responded with a warm smile. The other visitors also showed appreciation in a polite manner.

During the shoot, the woman posed with a Quat Tay, a Vietnamese hand fan crafted from palm leaves. A text overlay on the video read: "Many international visitors to Vietnam admire the beauty of Vietnamese women in their traditional Ao Dai."



After the post started circulating on Instagram, Indian tourists in the video faced sharp criticism, with many social media users leaving harsh comments. One remarked, "Indian men are an embarrassment to India everywhere." Another user wrote, "Indians will pose with any foreign woman they encounter."

A different individual added, "Stereotypes exist for a reason. Indian men often exhibit parasocial tendencies toward women." As the comment section filled with negative reactions, some Indian users defended their fellow countrymen.

One person countered, "When foreign men take pictures with Indian women in sarees, they are praised for appreciating the culture. But when Indians do the same, everyone loses their minds. Grow up."

Sharing a similar perspective, another user pointed out, "They are being respectful—keeping their distance, waiting patiently for their turn, and expressing gratitude. I don’t understand the outrage."

Highlighting the racial bias in the discussion, someone sarcastically commented, "Racism at its finest. If these men were white instead of brown, people would be saying ‘wow.’" Another individual noted, "Foreigners regularly take photos with traditionally dressed people in Japan, yet if an Indian does the same, it suddenly becomes an issue."

The video has since amassed over 370,000 views on Instagram, continuing to stir debate online.