{"id":4395,"date":"2018-09-11T19:12:33","date_gmt":"2018-09-11T12:12:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/?p=4395"},"modified":"2019-09-06T17:35:23","modified_gmt":"2019-09-06T10:35:23","slug":"barack-obama-anthony-bourdain-vietnam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/barack-obama-anthony-bourdain-vietnam\/","title":{"rendered":"How Obama and Bourdain&#8217;s Vietnam Visit Helped Ignite Tourism"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The past couple of years have seen a massive increase in tourism to Vietnam, and we cannot help but think that President Barack Obama and <a href=\"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/barack-obama-anthony-bourdain-vietnam\/\">Anthony Bourdain&#8217;s 3-day visit to Vietnam<\/a> in 2016 helped dramatically boost the local tourism industry.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4398\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4398\" style=\"width: 2048px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4398 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/anthony-bourdain.jpg\" alt=\"Obama and Bourdain&amp;#039;s visit to Vietnam\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" srcset=\"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/anthony-bourdain.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/anthony-bourdain-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/anthony-bourdain-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/anthony-bourdain-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4398\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image sourced via CN traveler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_75 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/barack-obama-anthony-bourdain-vietnam\/#Impact_of_Obamas_Trip_to_South_East_Asia\" >Impact of Obama&#8217;s Trip to South East Asia<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/barack-obama-anthony-bourdain-vietnam\/#3_Reasons_Obamas_Visit_Re-ignited_interest_in_the_region\" >3 Reasons Obama&#8217;s Visit Re-ignited interest in the region<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/barack-obama-anthony-bourdain-vietnam\/#Why_were_Americans_hesitant_to_visit_Vietnam\" >Why were Americans hesitant to visit Vietnam?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/barack-obama-anthony-bourdain-vietnam\/#Bourdain_raised_the_following_issues_in_his_televised_visits_to_Vietnam\" >Bourdain raised the following issues in his televised visits to Vietnam:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/barack-obama-anthony-bourdain-vietnam\/#Travel_Statistics_Post_Bourdain_Obama_%E2%80%98Summit\" >Travel Statistics Post Bourdain Obama &#8216;Summit&#8217;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Impact_of_Obamas_Trip_to_South_East_Asia\"><\/span>Impact of Obama&#8217;s Trip to South East Asia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Few American Presidents have had such a profound, noticeable impact on Vietnam as during the Obama era.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Reasons_Obamas_Visit_Re-ignited_interest_in_the_region\"><\/span>3 Reasons Obama&#8217;s Visit Re-ignited interest in the region<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trans-Pacific Partnership deal bringing economic benefits to the region<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Lifted arms embargo in post-war Vietnam era<\/li>\n<li>Renewed diplomatic ties reigned in by the Clinton and then Bush era<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His visit in 2016 to both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City underscored this new tone, and further brought the idea of Vietnam as a safe, friendly and <a href=\"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/top-13-things-to-do-in-vietnam-bucket-list\/\">fun tourist destination<\/a>. Prior to Obama\u2019s visit to Vietnam, the country\u2019s name was synonymous with its infamous war with the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perhaps the only other person that may have done more than President Obama to change the perception of Vietnam as a &#8220;war-torn&#8221; country was the world-renowned chef and traveler Anthony Bourdain. Through books, television, and a significant online presence, he had documented the food scene in Vietnam for years\u2014bringing local specialties like Bun Bo Hue and Bun Cha to the living rooms of Americans everywhere; presenting Vietnam as an amazing destination for rich culture and cuisine. With his popular TV show, \u201cParts Unknown\u201d, he also helped reintroduce the people of Vietnam to the rest of the world, helping shift the narrative from Vietnam\u2019s past to its incredibly bright present and future. With the recent and tragic passing of Anthony Bourdain\u2014one of this year&#8217;s most prominent celebrity news events\u2014we cannot help but reflect upon his legacy, especially his impact on bringing Vietnam and Vietnamese cuisine to the world. Bourdain&#8217;s death has drawn attention to Vietnam&#8217;s equally important impact on him, saying before his death, \u201cMy first trip to Vietnam changed my life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4397\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4397\" style=\"width: 1466px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4397 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/tt-Obama.jpg\" alt=\"Obama and Bourdain&amp;#039;s visit to Vietnam\" width=\"1466\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/tt-Obama.jpg 1466w, https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/tt-Obama-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/tt-Obama-768x524.jpg 768w, https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/tt-Obama-1024x698.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1466px) 100vw, 1466px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4397\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image sourced via T\u1ea1p ch\u00ed C\u00f4ng Th\u01b0\u01a1ng<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bourdain\u2019s association with Vietnamese food culture came to a head in 2016, when he took Barack Obama\u201444th President of the United States\u2014out for noodles in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. How did it happen? During the President\u2019s trip to Vietnam, Bourdain was scheduled to be filming for his Parts Unknown CNN show, and the two men got into contact; Bourdain chose the venue. What happened next is history:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The photo of President Obama and Bourdain eating a simple meal of Bun Cha Noodles and drinking cheap Vietnamese beer is not an image the world was expecting, but Obama\u201444th President of the United States\u2014was a very atypical president. It was a meal curated by Bourdain, and the plastic stool dining encounter\u2014televised for the world to see\u2014undoubtedly shed a prominent light on Vietnamese food and the rich culture it symbolizes. The two held a casual conversation, punctuated by the arrival of simple Vietnamese dishes to the table, a couple of cold beers and wide smiles by all in the restaurant; a true &#8216;no reservations&#8217; moment.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4399\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4399\" style=\"width: 1013px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4399 size-full\" title=\"Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain's visit to Vietnam included eating Bun Cha in Hanoi\" src=\"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/bourdain-obama-429e2fd0-b412-4a22-804a-acb7a25d8d43.jpg\" alt=\"Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain's visit to Vietnam included eating Bun Cha in Hanoi\" width=\"1013\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/bourdain-obama-429e2fd0-b412-4a22-804a-acb7a25d8d43.jpg 1013w, https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/bourdain-obama-429e2fd0-b412-4a22-804a-acb7a25d8d43-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/bourdain-obama-429e2fd0-b412-4a22-804a-acb7a25d8d43-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1013px) 100vw, 1013px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4399\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image sourced via Rolling Stone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_were_Americans_hesitant_to_visit_Vietnam\"><\/span>Why were Americans hesitant to visit Vietnam?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Until recently, Americans considering travel to Vietnam was an odd choice for a vacation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bourdain_raised_the_following_issues_in_his_televised_visits_to_Vietnam\"><\/span>Bourdain raised the following issues in his televised visits to Vietnam:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The contentious political history between the two countries<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The idea that Americans as tourists would be looked down upon\u2014or even resented<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Vietnamese war era population might resent the &#8220;Ugly American&#8221; stereotype<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As many more adventurous travelers have known for almost 20 years, these reasons were quickly dispelled by<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the friendliness so evident on the President\u2019s visit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> With an average age barely over 30 years old, most of the Vietnamese population was born after the fall of Saigon, so for the majority of the population, there is no memory or resentment from the war.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The tiny Bun Cha restaurant visited by Obama and Bourdain (Bun Cha Huong Lien) has since attracted something of a cult following, made incredibly popular by their impromptu meal. The presence of such a powerful American figure certainly left its mark on Hanoi, as a highlight of the president\u2019s landmark trip to Vietnam. Visitors to Bun Cha Huong Lien can now order a \u201cCombo Obama\u201d, the same meal savored by Obama, and the restaurant has appeared on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.exoticvoyages.com\/anthony-bourdain-taste-of-vietnam\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a food tour that honors Anthony Bourdain\u2019s legacy<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After his initial stop in Hanoi, former President Obama and Bourdain parted ways, with the President heading to Ho Chi Minh City, the former capital of Vietnam, which is still called &#8220;Saigon&#8221; by most locals. In Ho Chi Minh City, the former president did a bit of sightseeing by visiting The Jade Emperor Pagoda, a local Taoist temple. Later he even met with a few local tech startups and held a public town hall with students in the city, to discuss globalization and the future of Southeast Asia.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4400\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4400\" style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4400\" src=\"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/AP_16146169553044-small-1-1140x684.jpg\" alt=\"Obama and Bourdain&amp;#039;s visit to Vietnam\" width=\"1140\" height=\"684\" srcset=\"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/AP_16146169553044-small-1-1140x684.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/AP_16146169553044-small-1-1140x684-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/AP_16146169553044-small-1-1140x684-768x461.jpg 768w, https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/AP_16146169553044-small-1-1140x684-1024x614.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4400\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sourced via US Embassy and Consulates in Indonesia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tourism numbers are on the rise in the time since Obama\u2019s visit. Vietnam, rapidly coming into its own on the world stage, has become an incredibly popular destination for travel, and according to the latest statistics, received over 12.9 million foreign visitors in 2017 \u2014 nearly a 30% increase over the year before. That number is expected to increase in 2018, continuing a strong trend for new arrivals to the country. Obama\u2019s prominent stops in the nation\u2019s largest cities and the continued normalization between Vietnam and the United States have undoubtedly brought a substantial amount of positive attention to Vietnam as a fascinating place to visit.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Travel_Statistics_Post_Bourdain_Obama_%E2%80%98Summit\"><\/span>Travel Statistics Post Bourdain Obama &#8216;Summit&#8217;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Hanoi visitors are growing 15% (year over year)<\/li>\n<li>Danang tourist numbers are up 30% (y.o.y)<\/li>\n<li>Ho Chi Minh is nearing a landmark metro launch in 2020<\/li>\n<li>Ho Chi Minh City is now one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/nomadlist.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">top 10 global destinations for Digital Nomads<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Looking towards the future, Vietnam\u2019s popularity as a tourist destination seems almost assured, as the Vietnamese government has pushed to make tourism a larger contributor to the local GDP. They have relaxed Visa policies for many countries and have invested billions in infrastructure projects hoping to grow Vietnam\u2019s tourism numbers to something comparable to neighboring Thailand.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Both Obama and Bourdain contributed greatly towards giving Vietnam a more prominent position on the world stage. They drew attention towards the most aspiring <strong>parts unknown of Vietnam<\/strong>, from its burgeoning food culture to its youthful exuberance\u2014and significantly shifted the image of a country that was often disregarded as a travel destination. It&#8217;s difficult to estimate the impact that these men have had on Vietnam&#8217;s&#8217;s tourism numbers, but it&#8217;s likely that they&#8217;ll remain as positive symbols of the &#8220;New Vietnam&#8221; for years to come.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4456\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4456\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4456 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Street-food-tour-in-Vietnam.jpg\" alt=\"Eating crab claws in District 4\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4456\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Street food tour with XO Tours<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Want to embark on your own tribute to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/tours\/vietnam-food-tour.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown-style food tour<\/a> of Ho Chi Minh City? Bourdain loved to explore places that most tourists have never been and eat dishes that the locals eat. When he came to Vietnam, he didn\u2019t limit himself to eat dishes like Pho and B\u00e1nh Mi sandwiches\u2014and neither should you! In the spirit of wanting to provide our guests an &#8220;off the beaten path&#8221; experience, the internationally acclaimed XO &#8220;Foodie&#8221; tour takes visitors to locations that other Ho Chi Minh City tours do not\u2014to try each dishes that most travelers to Vietnam would never get an opportunity to try. Check out what people have to say <a href=\"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/gallery.html\">about XO tours<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The past couple of years have seen a massive increase in tourism to Vietnam, and we cannot help but think that President Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain&#8217;s 3-day visit to Vietnam in 2016 helped dramatically boost the local tourism industry. &nbsp; Impact of Obama&#8217;s Trip to South East Asia Few American Presidents have had such [&hellip;]<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":4398,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"Obama &amp; Bourdain&#039;s visit to Vietnam in 2016 shifted perceptions by showcasing one man&#039;s love of street food which he shares with a standing president.","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-4395","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-all-about-food"},"acf":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4395"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4395\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4685,"href":"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4395\/revisions\/4685"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4398"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xotours.vn\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}