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A video showing a group of Australian tourists passing bricks hand-to-hand in Ha Giang of Tuyen Quang Province on Sept. 13 drew thousands of interactions online.
"They paid to go on holiday only to end up doing manual labor in Vietnam," many netizens joked.
According to Dinh Hung, a tour guide with Jasmine Tours, the group of nine Australian men visited Ha Giang from Sept. 9 - 12. On their very first day, they joined locals in harvesting rice and asked for more chances to take part in everyday village life.
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Australian tourists pass bricks during their trip in northern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Dinh Hung |
By the third day, as they passed through Mau Due Commune, the travelers saw women stacking bricks under the midday sun. Surprised at the workload, they offered to help and were welcomed.
"They picked it up fast, within half an hour they had already moved a large pile," Hung said.
In the video, Hung can be heard jokingly playing the role of boss, urging his "foreign workers" to keep going and not slack off. When told they had gone viral in Vietnam, the Australians laughed and said they were delighted.
"They were all energetic, and actually enjoyed the work. They spent money to travel but didn't mind sweating under the noon sun," Hung shared.
The surprises did not stop there. On their final day, heavy rains had left a section of road in Yen Minh District flooded waist-deep. Unable to ride through, the group decided to carry each of their nine motorbikes across. They slid poles through the rear wheels, then worked in teams of four to five men to hoist the bikes over the water.
Australian tourists carry motorbikes through floodwaters. Video courtesy of Jasmine Tours
After getting their own vehicles across, the Australians stayed for nearly two hours to help other tour groups and locals in the same situation.
"Foreign visitors to Ha Giang are usually young, adventurous, and open-minded. They don't shy away from difficulties and are always ready to join in local life," Hung shared.
A representative from Jasmine Ha Giang noted that foreign tourists, especially younger travelers, are drawn not only by the destination's landscapes but also by the warmth of its people. To meet this demand, many tours now include experiences such as farm work, garden visits, and homestays, giving visitors a more authentic connection with the region.
Tourists join villagers in hauling bricks in Ha Giang, September 2025. Video courtesy of Jasmine Tours
