The long-standing debate over the behavior of Indian tourists abroad has been reignited after Deedy Das, a prominent Indian-American executive and partner at Menlo Ventures, shared a frustrating experience from his recent vacation in Vietnam.
Das took to social media to call out a group of Indian women for their “insane” lack of civic sense during a scenic cruise of Ha Long Bay. According to Das, the group’s loud behavior and total disregard for other passengers turned a peaceful journey into an uncomfortable ordeal.
“Bollywood Wife” Energy in a Quiet Lounge
The incident reportedly occurred in the boat’s only public lounge, where roughly 10 families were quietly enjoying the views. The atmosphere changed abruptly when a group of six women, all in their 50s, entered the space.
Das described the group as radiating “Bollywood wife” energy. He noted that they spent the first hour loudly doing their makeup and taking staged photographs while chatting at an disruptive volume.
“Insane experience with people with zero civic sense when traveling in Vietnam,” Das wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “They were talking at 90 decibels about their ‘acting careers’ and bragging about knowing Anil Kapoor personally.”
Stunned Silence as Singing Begins
The situation escalated when the women shifted from loud conversation to full-volume singing. Despite the “stunned silence” of other passengers and attempts by the cruise crew to intervene, the women remained oblivious to their surroundings.
“They start SINGING full volume Bollywood songs in the quiet lounge,” Das shared, alongside a video of the incident. He noted that while the crew tried to shut them down, the group continued their performance, leaving every other passenger in the lounge exchanging looks of disbelief.
Internet Decries “Downstream Effects” on Brand India
The post quickly went viral, drawing sharp criticism from social media users who expressed embarrassment over the group’s behavior. Many argued that such incidents damage the global perception of Indian tourists.
Notable Reactions:
- Lack of Nurturing: One user, Piyush Kumar, opined that such “selfish and ignorant behavior” is a result of poor nurturing, regardless of wealth. He added that the lack of civic sense has “cascading effects for the brand of India.”
- Educational Reform: Another user suggested that “civic sense” should be a mandatory subject in Indian schools starting from Grade 1.
- Reputational Damage: “Aunties making sure India’s civic sense image stays low in front of the world,” wrote another frustrated commentator.
This is not the first time Indian travelers have faced backlash for a perceived lack of etiquette. Similar reports of “queue jumping” in Thailand and unruly behavior at international hotels have frequently made headlines, leading to calls for a more conscious approach to cultural sensitivity while traveling abroad.