tourist guide vietnam movie

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A Tourist's Guide to Love

An executive goes through an unexpected breakup, then accepting an assignment to go undercover and learn about the tourist industry in Vietnam. An executive goes through an unexpected breakup, then accepting an assignment to go undercover and learn about the tourist industry in Vietnam. An executive goes through an unexpected breakup, then accepting an assignment to go undercover and learn about the tourist industry in Vietnam.

• Steven K. Tsuchida
• Eirene Donohue
• Rachael Leigh Cook
• Ben Feldman
• 69 User reviews
• 26 Critic reviews
• 49 Metascore
• 1 nomination

Top cast 25

• Amanda Riley

• Brian Conway

• Maya Conway

• Sam Gonville

• (as Quinn Trúc Trán)
• Auntie Diem
• Female Cousin
• Male Cousin
• Durian Vendor
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia This is the first Netflix original film shot in Vietnam.
• Goofs In the Saigon Silver Star brochure shared at 11:09, the Ho Chi Minh Airport code is shown as SNG when in reality, it is SGN.

User reviews 69

• khanhngocnguyenpham
• Apr 22, 2023
• How long is A Tourist's Guide to Love? Powered by Alexa
• April 21, 2023 (United States)
• United States
• Netflix Site
• Hành Trình Tình Yêu Của Một Du Khách
• Hoi An, Quang Nam, Vietnam
• Cook and Muse Entertainment
• Head First Productions
• Muse Entertainment LLC
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 34 minutes
• Dolby Digital

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A Tourist's Guide to Love

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Watch A Tourist's Guide to Love with a subscription on Netflix.

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Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Steven K. Tsuchida

Rachael Leigh Cook

Amanda Riley

Ben Feldman

Andrew Barth Feldman

More Like This

Rachael Leigh Cook, Scott Ly celebrate travel, Vietnam and more in 'A Tourist's Guide to Love'

"A Tourist's Guide to Love" is available to stream Friday on Netflix.

A new romantic comedy is giving audiences wanderlust vibes and reminding others to believe in love.

In "A Tourist's Guide to Love," Rachael Leigh Cook plays Amanda Riley, a travel executive who goes to Vietnam after an unexpected breakup to learn about the country's tourist industry. Along the way, she meets Sinh Thach (played by Scott Ly), her Vietnamese expat tour guide, who helps her discover the magic of Vietnam and all of the beauty the country has to offer.

"The country speaks for itself. We're lucky enough to be able to give it a postcard version," Cook, who is also a producer on the film, shared during an interview with "Good Morning America."

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"I thought this was a wonderfully organically diverse story about people from all different cultures, all different walks of life coming together to have a really incredible adventure," she added.

The movie, which arrives to Netflix on Friday, was filmed in several places in Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Hội An and Hà Giang.

The project was also the first international production to film in Vietnam since the global pandemic, according to the streaming service.

"I knew that I wanted to do a movie that celebrated travel," Cook said. "Coming out of COVID, we haven't had as much community and a sort of global perspective. So this really felt like a good fit."

Many who worked on the film shared a personal connection to it, including Ly.

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The actor, whose family fled their home in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, said that working on "A Tourist's Guide to Love" was a meaningful experience for him due to his familial connections.

"For it to be this first project that I get to really kind of sink my teeth into, play the lead role and have so much on my shoulders -- for it to be in Vietnam, from where my parents came from -- for it to be something that I could really just relate so well to, it was the perfect fairytale story," he said.

MORE: REVIEW: 'Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves' is a goofball fantasy adventure

"I got emotional too," he added. "My mom is always like, 'Hey honey, I teach you how to be a good person. You go out there and you experience life, and you go and do whatever you want to do.' So she knows she brought me to this country."

"My mom's a great supporter," he added.

Screenwriter Eirene Tran Donohue took inspiration from her own life when she was unexpectedly dumped by her boyfriend before her own trip to Vietnam, Cook shared. At an event, Donahue called the film her "love letter to Vietnam," according to Netflix .

MORE: Zetus lapetus, these 1999 movies are 20 years old

"There are almost no American movies set in Vietnam that aren't about the trauma of war," she told Tudum . "It was really important to me to tell a story about life now -- one that was full of joy and love and celebration. I wanted to change the conversation about Vietnam, to highlight it as a modern, thriving country whose stories are worthy of being told."

With the film's themes of adventure, love and travel, Cook also said she hopes it inspires interest in exploring Vietnam -- and she hopes the film inspires audiences to "believe in love if their belief had waned."

Ly added that he hopes the film will inspire others to overcome their fears.

"I want them to know that any challenges or kind of fears they have, you can overcome them," he said. "You just got to find the right people. ... The opportunities [are] always there. You gotta take that leap, that's always the hardest step."

"When you take that first step, the next stuff is easier and easier and then you pull people in and you become like a magnet," he added. "Then, positive energy will come at you and like for me, I did that step and then Rachel came into my life and this project came into my life and then these other things came into my life."

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‘A Tourist’s Guide to Love’ Review: A Wearyingly Familiar Trip

Rachael Leigh Cook stars in this bland rom-com as a travel executive exploring Vietnam and getting over a breakup.

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By Elisabeth Vincentelli

The first thing we learn about Amanda (Rachael Leigh Cook) in “A Tourist’s Guide to Love” is that she works for a high-end agency called Tourista World Travel. But nobody in this Netflix film even comments on the fact that “turista” is slang for vacation-wrecking diarrhea. That puzzling choice and its utter lack of consequences are the only surprise in Steven Tsuchida’s film, a rom-com that so scrupulously fulfills every cliché of the genre, it might as well have been devised by ChatGPT.

Amanda is dispatched to Vietnam to check out a small tour company that Tourista is considering buying to develop its market in the area. The assignment is also a good distraction: She was recently dumped by her dull accountant boyfriend, John (Ben Feldman). Going undercover as a regular tourist, albeit an extremely well-prepared one, she’s immediately drawn to the floppy-haired guide, Sinh (Scott Ly). He is the kind of dreamboat who has both abs and sensitivity, and can show Amanda not just his country’s beauty, but how to enjoy life.

Sinh eventually doffs his shirt at the beach and emerges from the water in resplendent slow motion, because the clichés here are as tightly packed in as tchotchkes in a traveler’s suitcase: Amanda is a perky American Type A; village elders are cute as buttons and wise as Yoda; street food is tantalizing; jaded Westerners rediscover themselves as they ditch their phones and bask in a rural experience made only sweeter by the knowledge that it’s temporary. The soundtrack’s catchy Vietnamese songs provide the only fizz in this otherwise flat concoction.

A Tourist’s Guide to Love Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 34 minutes. Watch on Netflix.

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A Tourist's Guide to Love Takes Viewers to Incredible Filming Locations in Vietnam

The Netflix rom-com is giving us major wanderlust.

Anyone aching for a fresh rom-com is in luck: The new movie A Tourist’s Guide to Love has officially hit Netflix . It follows travel executive Amanda (played by She’s All That ’s Rachael Leigh Cook) who goes undercover in Vietnam to learn about the tourism industry and recover from a breakup. While there, she meets a tour guide named Sinh (Scott Ly). They find adventure and romance in markets, streets, temples, and ancient villages that actually were the set for some of the film ’ s most beautiful scenes. We spoke with its Ho Chi Minh City–based production designer, An Do, to learn behind-the-scenes details about these incredible filming locations . Warning: Reading on may cause severe wanderlust.

Ho Chi Minh City

Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam. It’s where Amanda starts her trip. Along with the tour group, she browses Ben Thanh Market , one of the city's many lively markets where visitors can grab anything from fresh produce to garments and handcrafted items.

In Hoi An, an ancient town on Vietnam’s central coast, the tour group goes sightseeing, visiting spots like Quon Cong Temple . Hoi An turned out to be Do’s favorite place to film. “The town’s character is so unique,” the production designer says. “My team and I designed and created a total of four main locations within Hoi An.”

Do’s team set out to elevate the existing value of each location. The tailor shop was one such spot, created at a Yaly Couture shop. “Knowing their newest collection was not on current display, I took the privilege of turning their vintage courtyard into a brand-new showcase area with the most unique pieces of Yaly’s latest designs,” Do says. “And with the appropriate addition of the peacocks and some jays, this center area was transformed into an authentic colorful royal garden for our scene.”

The dreamy lantern-lit street that Amanda and Sinh wander down is another creation. While Hoi An is known for lanterns and small lantern-covered streets, none as elaborate as the one in the film existed. So, Do's ordered more than a thousand lanterns in various shapes and sizes. At more than half a mile long, it was constructed over four hot summer days—and it still stands. “We were very honored when Hoi An People’s Committee and Department of Culture asked production to leave this set intact for future tourists to enjoy,” Do says.

When Amanda and Sinh partake in the water lantern festival, they’re on the bank of the Thu Bon River . That experience “is a treat to even a Vietnamese person because the actual festival only happens once a year, and it is rare for a tourist to conveniently be in Hoi An during such time,” Do explains.

Filming also took place at the Hoi An Hotel , which functioned like a studio since it was closed at the time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We were going to name it Da Nguyet (Moon Watching) Hotel, but since the flower vines, after months of pandemic, had beautifully covered the sign of the hotel, we decided to let nature be the voice.”

The coastal city of Da Nang was tapped as a filming location for its sandy beaches. About an hour away from Da Nang and Hoi An, filming also took place at My Son Sanctuary . The Unesco World Heritage site encompasses the remains of tower temples and “was the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom for most of its existence,” according to Unesco . Surrounded by mountains, the area is set in a stunning geological basin.

Sinh’s family home is located in Hà Giang, on the banks of the Lô River in northeastern Vietnam. “Hà Giang, and Hà Giang city in particular, was an incredible opportunity to show Vietnam’s cultural ethnic heritage and roots,” Do says of the area. It took the cast and crew six hours to get there from Hanoi. “Its rustic, countryside beauty with fields and terraces of rice really lent the off-the-beaten-track value to the film.”

The pure beauty and cultural value aren’t the only aspects that made filming in the location extra special. “It could very well be the last time that that old village is filmed, as Hà Giang is developing at such a rapid speed, meaning a traveler would need to drive eight, even 10 hours to see the likes of that kind of village again,” Do says.

Vietnam’s capital of Hanoi served as the backdrop for the film’s final scenes. Both the interior and exterior for the water puppet show were shot at Thang Long National Water Puppet Theatre , which is located in the heart of the city and near one of Vietnam’s most famous lakes called Ho Hoan Kiem. “The traditional art of performing water puppet shows dates back as far as the 11th century from the people whose life were nurtured by the water of the Red River,” Do says. “For us, it was a mission to bring this art form into our film.”

The heartwarming moment between Amanda and Sinh at the end was filmed at the iconic roundabout in front of the Hanoi Opera House , which was built by the French from 1901 through 1911 and was inspired by classical Greek architecture and Paris’s Palais Garnier.

In Hanoi, filming also took place at the Tirant Hotel . Located on Gia Ngu Street in the Old Quarter, the hotel has operated since 2011. Surrounded by beloved restaurants and entertainment venues, it’s ideal for both business and leisure travelers.

You love filming locations. So do we. Let’s obsess over them together .

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‘A Tourist’s Guide to Love’ Review: Rachael Leigh Cook Eats, Prays, and Loves Her Way Through Vietnam

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Rachael Leigh Cook has done all that: She’s been a teen breakout star in an iconic high school comedy (“She’s All That”), transitioned to cringe sponsored movies (“Spirit Halloween”), and made the leap to Hallmark Christmas queen (“Tis the Season to Be Merry”). Now, she’s deftly parlayed her everywoman likability into the sweet made-for- Netflix movie “A Tourist’s Guide for Love.”

Yes, “made-for-Netflix” is a category all on its own. While “The Irishman” is considered to be a Netflix Original, “made-for-Netflix” separates the mass-produced movies like the nearly-perfect “Falling for Christmas” and calming background noise of “Murder Mystery 2” from the real Oscar contenders. It’s a sliding scale of quality under the streaming titan’s content umbrella, and Cook’s latest film, “A Tourist’s Guide to Love,” feels like an adaptation of a sweet viral BookTok romance novel — in the best way possible.

Cook stars as tightly-wound Los Angeles career woman Amanda, who is assigned to go undercover in Vietnam to scope out whether the tour travel company she hires is worth buying out. Just before she jets off to her dream vacation, Amanda is slapped with some unsavory news: Her predictable and practical boyfriend (Ben Feldman) puts their relationship on “hiatus” as he relocates to Ohio. Worse? He doesn’t pop the question like Amanda had expected in her planned-out perfect scenario.

Cue up the steamy Vietnamese tour guide Sinh (Scott Ly), and soon enough, Amanda’s rigid rule-following goes right out the window, much like her neatly-packed luggage that went missing at the airport. And while that sounds predictable, other beats of the film take their own path. “A Tourist’s Guide to Love” could have easily opted for Americanized, voyeuristic quality when it comes to capturing the lushness of Vietnam, or even exoticizing Sinh’s character as a local craving Amanda’s sensibilities while in turn teaching her own to loosen up.

Thankfully, “A Tourist’s Guide to Love” is smarter — and more tasteful — than that.

Amanda does do some “Eat, Pray, Love”-ing during her trip — one that is doomed already by her deceptive reason for the vacation, which could involve buying out Sinh’s family business — but rather, it’s Sinh’s excitement and passion for Vietnamese culture that roots the film, not just the characters’ budding romance. “A Tourist’s Guide to Love” is a road map for how to love adventure abroad, with dashes of Vietnamese trivia and spiritual facts along the way.

Director Steven K. Tsuchida (“Younger,” “Cobra Kai,” “Resort to Love”) doesn’t shy away from shooting the rich cuisine of Vietnam like a CNN travel show reminiscent of Anthony Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown.” Rom-com touchstones are woven in with cultural traditions; a night market scene is used to adorably show Sinh teaching Amanda how to properly bargain, all while he’s slyly imparting wisdoms like if the vendor doesn’t lower the price, purchasing a symbolic phoenix rising scarf just wasn’t meant to be.

Sure, there’s an inherent eye roll here and there — the traffic tip to jet across the street sans crosswalk is to “always move forward, never back” — but Sinh’s effortlessness translates nicely and makes Amanda learn life lessons by way of local customs. As Sinh warns, their trip and impending romance is not a list of tourist attractions or relationship milestones to be checked off; rather, it’s letting the spontaneity of a life-changing adventure come naturally.

A third act love triangle throws a realistic wrench in the wanderlust romance, with Amanda realizing she was too comfortable and therefore too complacent in her “little corner of the world.” This is a rom-com, albeit “made-for-Netflix,” but one that has an important message that more streamers need to hear.

Eirene Tran Donohue penned the script, with Cook producing the feature, along with Joel S. Rice for Muse Entertainment. “A Tourist’s Guide to Love” is the first U.S. film to be almost entirely shot in Vietnam, and marks the first international production to film in Vietnam since the global pandemic. The winning production make a case for more films to be set in Vietnam, hopefully opening up Netflix’s international production presence just as it deepens Cook’s rom-com roots extend far past the Hallmark Channel to more roles (and parts!) unknown.

“A Tourist’s Guide to Love” is now streaming on Netflix.

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• Entertainment

Rachael Leigh Cook Falls For Vietnam — and a Local — in "A Tourist's Guide to Love" Trailer

One woman's real-life story of fate and exploration is getting the rom-com treatment. "A Tourist's Guide to Love," from writer Eirene Tran Donohue and director Steven K. Tsuchida, will begin streaming on April 21 on Netflix — and POPSUGAR has an exclusive first look at the trailer. Starring Rachael Leigh Cook, "A Tourist's Guide to Love" follows a travel executive on an undercover assignment in Vietnam shortly after an unexpected breakup. While there, the lines between work and pleasure blend as she finds herself falling for her tour guide, played by Scott Ly.

"Whenever I tell people about how I met my husband while traveling in Vietnam, they always say that it sounds like a movie, and so it's pretty surreal to actually turn it into one," writer Donohue tells POPSUGAR. "And while the story has changed a lot from my real life, the emotional truth is the same. That feeling when you meet someone who makes you realize that you can do or be anything. I'm so grateful to have found a partner who inspires and supports me and who, after 22 years together, keeps my life a romantic comedy instead of a drama."

Highlighting the rich culture of Vietnam was important for Donohue, and for the film's star and producer Cook, who fans first fell in love with in 1999's "She's All That." Filming the movie was the first time the actor and producer visited Vietnam, and she praises the country's people as being "so friendly, inclusive, loving, creative, and wholly unique." She tells POPSUGAR, "I feel very lucky to have been embraced by the people in the creative community there while we were making this film."

Fans have been falling back in love with rom-coms over the past few years, and Cook appreciates the unique take on the genre "A Tourist's Guide to Love" presents. She explains, "The aim of this film was not just to tell a love story, but to capture the sheer joy that can come with people from different cultures coming together and connecting over a shared, totally unique, and beautiful experience. This is a movie that is as much about loving life as it is another person."

Keep reading to watch the first trailer and learn more about "A Tourist's Guide to Love"'s cast, plot, and release date.

"A Tourist's Guide to Love" Trailer

"A Tourist's Guide to Love" Cast

In addition to Cook and Ly, the film also stars Missi Pyle, Ben Feldman, Glynn Sweet, Alexa Povah, Jacqueline Correa, Nondumiso Tembe, Andrew Barth Feldman, Morgan Dudley, Quinn Trúc Trần, and Nsưt Lê Thiện.

"A Tourist's Guide to Love" Inspiration

In addition to being ripped from her own life, "A Tourist's Guide to Love" writer Donohue says she found inspiration in "classic old Hollywood movies." Explains Donohue to POPSUGAR, "I was a big fan of Audrey Hepburn. So 'Roman Holiday' and 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' were a big influence. Then of course the classic '90s rom coms. 'Pretty Woman,' 'While You Were Sleeping' and 'Sleepless in Seattle.' More recently, I've definitely been inspired by 'Crazy Rich Asians.' For me it's really important to make sure that the romance is central and also that the main character isn't just interested in finding a man, but that they are searching for love. And that the love they find is worthy of them. I want the audience to emotionally connect with the characters and to feel like that big love is real and that it's possible for them too. Everyone deserves a big love."

"A Tourist's Guide to Love" Release Date

"A Tourist's Guide to Love" will begin streaming on Netflix on April 21.

"A Tourist's Guide to Love" Poster

"A Tourist's Guide to Love" Stills

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• Netflix’s ‘A Tourist’s Guide to Love’ - A step closer to the beauty of Vietnam

A Tourist’s Guide to Love is the first Netflix’s film shot in Vietnam, telling about an unintentional love of Amanda with the adventurous and exciting Sinh. Especially, the film showcases the beauty of local landscapes along with that of Vietnamese people and culture through six main filming locations: Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hoi An, My Son and Ha Giang

After the premiere on Netflix, A Tourist’s Guide to Love soon to claim its position as the most-watched movies globally on Netflix.

A typical rom-com that anyone might be looking for on a lazy Saturday, however, A Tourist’s Guide to Love certainly celebrates the country, showcasing multiple cities and landscapes as Amanda (played by She’s All That’s Rachael Leigh Cook) and her new friends discover the wonders of Vietnam. They find adventure and romance in markets, streets, temples, and ancient villages that actually were the set for some of the film’s most beautiful scenes.

As someone who had never been to Vietnam before this production, my fervent hope is that it’s worth the watch just to get a sense of this incredible country… We filmed in Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Da Nang, Ha Giang and Hanoi, all of which are wildly different places in look, history and energy…

Cook tells Tudum of Netflix.

Eager to explore Vietnam by yourself but can’t get away right now? Make your way through the most memorable Vietnam locations in A Tourist’s Guide to Love below. No passport needed of course.

Ho Chi Minh City

A bustling metropolis, a hub of commerce and culture. Since the city is well known for its lively streets, impressive skyscrapers and vibrant nightlife, travellers can find many interesting things and places to experience. The city offers an eclectic mix of colonial architecture, historic landmarks, and cultural attractions. It’s also home to the city’s famous Ben Thanh Market. Other places to be considered are: The Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon - a stunning example of French colonial architecture and features many stained glass windows and intricate carvings; The Saigon Central Post Office - a must-visit for architecture lovers, with many rooms to explore and ornate details to marvel at; Cu Chi Tunnels - an impressive network of underground tunnels during the resistance war of Vietnamese people. Not far from the centre city, the Mekong Delta provides a wonderful cruising tour for sprawling views of paddy fields and houseboats creating signature floating markets.

The Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica

Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An, the gorgeous coastal town of Vietnam famous for its handcrafted lanterns, yellow hue households which are rich in cultural experiences to dive into. The Ancient Town, which is a UNESCO-listed heritage site, is simply a spectacle. For a taste of local life, you can pay a visit to Tra Que Vegetable Village where farmers grow the lushest greens, or Sampan’s Distillerie d’Indochine to sample the one and only Vietnam-made rum. Whether to satisfy culture hunters or lazy souls preferring relaxing on a pristine beach, Hoi An is a wonderful destination that surely offers something for everyone. You should experience unmissable activities such as riding the iconic basket boats, experiencing farm life at Tra Que Vegetable Village, checking out the Lune Centre, getting an education at the Hoi An Silk Village.

A coastal city in Central Vietnam known for its sandy beaches. With a huge arc of gently curving sand at the coastline, Da Nang boasts beach areas to suit a range of sunseekers. And what else? My Son Sanctuary, located not far from the City of Bridges. The sanctuary is an architectural complex of many Champa temples with extremely unique architecture, influenced by Hinduism. All temples in the My Son sanctuary are made of brick and stone, facing the East - the direction of the rising sun. On the walls of the temples and towers are sophisticated, elaborate and meticulous carvings with many sophisticated details.

Linh Ung Pagoda

Serving as Sinh (Scott Ly) hometown, where Amanda and friends celebrate Tet as guests. The north-eastern mountainous province of Ha Giang, home to 22 ethnic groups, also well-known as the place where “flowers grow in rocks”. Ha Giang in the spring will be coated in the scent of flowers, especially cherry blossoms, plum flowers, mustard flowers and pear flowers in March. Spring is also the season of festivals. In Ha Giang in October-December, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy the subtle fragrance, witness with their own eyes a purple colour of the buckwheat flowers covering all the small villages.

A view of Nho Que River from above

Besides primitive and majestic landscapes, Ha Giang also owns historical relic sites such as the Heaven’s Gate and Quan Ba twin mountains (Quan Ba District); the Vuong Family Palace and Lung Cu Flagpole (Dong Van District); Ma Pi Leng Pass (Meo Vac District); Tien (Fairy) Waterfall – Gio (Wind) Pass and the Ancient Rock field of Nam Dan (Xin Man District); and Quang Ngan mineral stream in Vi Xuyen District, etc.

The Temple of Literature (Ha Noi)

The adventure finally comes to an end in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, embracing and nurturing the well blended of tradition, ancient and contemplative elements. Ha Noi is a home of many historical relics such as the Temple of Literature - Vietnam’s first university and educated hundreds of well-known scholars and mandarins. Ha Noi is also a place to have fun and explore with many art shows such as water puppet dances, The Quintessence of Tonkin,... a shopping hub and a true place to wander and taste street food.

Water Puppet Show

Viewers of A Tourist’s Guide to Love can find the film a slapstick comedy, fish-out-of-water gags, copious shopping montages, a secret to be revealed and a last-minute dash to say “I love you”, but this time they’re set against the backdrop of present-day Vietnam, which gives this artwork an unusual feeling of novelty. “A Tourist’s Guide to Love” is essentially a travelogue with a plot, and, somehow, a motivation for you to pack your suitcase and come to Vietnam, to explore, relax and play and all above, to live freely and fully in Vietnam.

We hope to see you in Vietnam, in person, really soon!

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On Location: Rachael Leigh Cook Shares Her Vietnam Itinerary From ‘A Tourist’s Guide to Love’

Lifting the curtain on some of the season's most exciting new releases.

As the sun set in Hoi An one evening last spring,  Rachael Leigh Cook gazed out on the Vietnamese scene on the Thu Bon River. Her mom sat beside her beaming ear-to-ear as someone played Peter Gabriel in the distance. “I remember thinking, ‘I don’t want anything else in the world—I just want to be exactly here, where I am,'” the 43-year-old actress says. “That was a transcendent travel moment for me.” It’s exactly that kind of travel magic that’s celebrated in her latest film,  A Tourist’s Guide to Love , a Netflix original, premiering April 21, about travel executive Amanda Riley who is sent undercover to experience a small-group tour company that her American corporation is considering buying. Arriving in Vietnam with a check-list of sights to see, she soon discovers that the most meaningful moments are found veering off the itinerary. 

In A Tourist's Guide to Love , Rachael Leigh Cook's Amanda is a lovelorn travel executive who goes undercover to learn more about Vietnam's tourism industry.

Filmed all around the Asian nation—from its major hubs Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to the beach town of Da Nang and the northeastern province of Ha Giang —Cook was stunned by how unique every corner of the country is. “It seemed too good to be true,” she says. “Then I got there and realized it’s just that beautiful, and people will get to discover that if they watch our movie.” 

This movie is such a celebration of travel—how has traveling been a part of your life? I spent my whole childhood in Minnesota . My dad worked in the school system, so we could travel a little bit in the summer, but we never went especially far. My parents are extremely prudent financially and we would stay at youth hostels. I remember we went to the Seattle's Northwest Folklife Festival and saw the fish market . As someone who didn't travel much as a kid, the opportunities to travel that have come from my work have shown me some of the most eye-opening and unexpected moments of my life. And this movie is the pinnacle of that.

The movie starts in Ho Chi Minh City and ends in Hanoi—how do the cities compare? Ho Chi Minh City is bustling. It is hard-working, fast-paced, and kind of crazy. There are incredible rooftops there. There's glamour. Anything that you could want to find, you can find in Ho Chi Minh City. Hanoi is completely different. The energy there is very different. Everyone walks at a slower pace. There's just less sound in the air. The aesthetic is different—and it’s absolutely beautiful. 

Scott Ly plays Sinh, an expat tour guide with whom Amanda falls in love.

The first spark of romance comes during a scene in Hoi An—how would you describe it? When people see images of Vietnam that have those streets full of lanterns and borderline Disney magic about them, that's Hoi An. It's stunningly beautiful—I think that that might have been my favorite stop. It’s conveniently very near Da Nang, which is named the most livable city in Vietnam. It's just a gorgeous beach town. I'm not gonna pretend it wasn't hot. Of course it is. It's Vietnam. But a must-see for sure. 

The group then ventures off the plan and heads to My Son Sanctuary . What was it like to film there? You can feel the stillness and the history there. Its beauty is transcendent and very special. It feels pretty weird to have lighting equipment on an ancient temple—that juxtaposition is not lost on me. I felt just very grateful that they let us film there. I hope that people want to go check it out after seeing our movie.

The movie purposely skips the Golden Hand Bridge , but did you go there? I totally went to the Golden Hand Bridge. We even say in the movie that it’s awesome, but it's just not steeped in as much history. My mom came out for about 10 days with my kids—they couldn't miss more school, but they came during their spring break—and they absolutely loved it. They've created a theme park after a gondola ride. It takes like 22 minutes to get to the top of this mountain. And then up there is something that I would equate to the scale of maybe like a quarter the size of Disneyland and there are theme park rides up there. There is a giant—I don't want to call it a food hall because it's beautiful—but all these restaurants, it is really worth seeing. The engineering blows my mind. What a gift that we got to experience that together.

The film is set in both bustling Ho Chi Minh City and sleepy Hanoi, giving a glimpse at life in various Vietnamese cities.

Filming the homestay scene in Ha Giang must have been quite a contrast? Ha Giang is mountainous and very beautiful and it's near the border to China. It was probably our most rustic place. It's very much a hard-working community that's seen a lot over the years. It's one of those places I never would have been motivated to come to, but I'm so glad that I did. It’s very user-friendly and the people they're incredibly welcoming. They're excited that you're there. They want to know how you got there. I really just hope they liked the movie—I hope we do them justice.

What were your favorite food experiences in Vietnam?   The food that I ate way too much of that I have not been able to find as good since I've returned back here is bánh xèo. That's my favorite thing. It's like a very thin egg pancake with fresh vegetables quickly cooked in it, and it gets wrapped up like a pancake. So it's sort of like a burrito without the burrito. And oh my gosh, the sauces with it. It's delicious. I did try the durian. I was impressed by the taste. It's in the family of sweetness of a mango, almost. I found the consistency [was] what I couldn't really get behind. And obviously this smell—it is as advertised.

Cook notes the difference between a tourist—someone who wants to escape their life—and a traveler, who does so in order to experience theirs.

Amanda is a very over-prepared traveler. How would you categorize yourself? My packing style is not impressive. If I have a week to pack, it'll take a week. If I have three hours to pack, it'll take three hours. If I have 30 minutes, it'll take 30 minutes. The results are all the same. It's never better or worse. My travel style is generally unprepared and heavy on recommendations. I love knowing where people say to go, especially if it's friends or friends of friends, I find that the most fun and reliable way to sort of like wade through a city. I also like to stay where it makes things central, so I can walk as much as possible. I'm a little bit daunted by taking underground systems where I can get lost because I have no sense of direction.

What’s been your favorite interaction with a stranger while traveling? I made friends with this woman when I was working [on 2014’s  Red Sky ] in Russia. She spoke no English and I speak no Russian, but we could just tell that we liked each other and that we had a similar vibe and humor, and we still found ways to laugh together. I remember her very fondly—she's such a special soul.

Cook's own travel style is different from the overprepared Amanda—the actress relies largely on recommendations. 

What’s a place you’d always go back to? A place I've been twice and I hope I go many times is Moorea , near Bora Bora [and] Tahiti . I think it was Marlon Brando who lived out in Bora Bora because he knew that his heart rate would drop by like 20 percent the second he touched down there, and I could feel it in myself too. It's just so relaxing and centering.

What do you think it is about travel that makes us let go? In the movie, we say a tourist is someone who wants to escape their lives, and a traveler is someone who wants to experience theirs. But I think that those sentiments go hand-in-hand. Sometimes you gotta jump out of the boat that you're in to be able to experience a new thing, and that's okay. Getting out of your comfort zone is what creates and inspires lasting memories. You don't know how long life is going to be, and you should spend your life on experience.

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A Tourist's Guide to Love cast: who's who in the romantic movie

A Tourist’s Guide to Love cast is led by Rachael Leigh Cook. But who else is in the romantic movie?

A Tourist’s Guide to Love is a romantic movie that follows a woman named Amanda, who heads to Vietnam where she's on a mission to decide whether her travel agency should purchase a smaller outpost there.

But, while there, she finds herself becoming interested in Sinh (Scott Ly), a tour guide 

The Netflix movie is partly based on screenwriter Eirene Tran Donohue’s real-life experiences: She told Tudum : "This idea was based off of the time in my life when, right after college, my safe stable boyfriend unexpectedly broke up with me right as I was about to leave for a five-week trip to Vietnam.

"While I was in Vietnam I realized that that relationship, which was a good one, wasn't actually the best fit for me."

Rachael Leigh Cook as Amanda

Amanda Riley is an American visiting Vietnam who finds herself in an international love triangle while she's there trying to make business decisions, leading to an unexpected romance overseas.

She's played by Rachael Leigh Cook who has starred in The Baby-Sitters Club ,  Love, Guaranteed , 11:14 , and  He’s All That .

Scott Ly as Sinh

Sinh is Amanda’s tour guide in Vietnam, who she develops a connection with during her time there, something that takes them both by surprise!

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This marks Scott Ly’s first major film role, after years of appearing on television. Fans might recognize him from Criminal Minds , The Young and the Restless , Animal Kingdom , and FBI: Most Wanted.

Ben Feldman as John

John was Amanda’s boyfriend of five years until he moves to Ohio and the couple break up. He's the third part of this complicated love triangle.

Fans might recognize him from TV comedies like  Superstore  and  Silicon Valley. He also starred in the found footage movie Cloverfield and horror hit Friday the 13th .

Missi Pyle as Mona

Mona is Amanda’s business partner and longtime friend, so she's a trusted figure when it comes to her professional and love life.

Missi Pyle is known for her work in Galaxy Quest, Bringing Down the House, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, and Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory .

Quinn Trúc Trần as Anh

Anh is Sinh’s cousin and tour guide co-host so she has a key role in the movie.

Actress Quinn Trúc Trần is a Vietnamese-Australian actor and  A Tourist’s Guide to Love  is her second project. Fans may recognize her from My Mr. Wife.

Nsưt Lê Thiện as Ba Noi

Ba Noi is Sinh and Anh’s grandmother and provides a lot of the movie's comic relief, according to Tudum!

Actress Nsưt Lê Thiện has also starred in Goodbye Mother , Until You , The Emperor’s Gift , and Blood Moon Party.

Who else is in A Tourist's Guide to Love?

• Jacqueline Correa
• Andrew Barth Feldman
• Morgan Dudley
• Glynn Sweet
• Alexa Povah

A Tourist's Guide to Love is out now on Netflix.

Lucy joined the WhatToWatch.com team in 2021, where she writes series guides for must-watch programmes, reviews and the latest TV news. Now she works for our sister site TechRadar in the same role. Originally from Northumberland, she graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a degree in Film Studies and moved to London to begin a career writing about entertainment.

She is a Rotten Tomatoes approved film critic and has a huge passion for cinema. She especially loves horror, thriller and anything crime-related. Her favourite TV programmes include Inside No 9, American Horror Story , Stranger Things and Black Mirror but she is also partial to a quiz show or a bit of Say Yes to the Dress ! 

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Netflix’s Tourist’s Guide to Love Sheds Light On The Beauty Of Vietnam

A Tourist’s Guide To Love is a film about a travel executive who takes on a new mission to investigate the tourism industry in Vietnam undercover. During her journey, she begins a romantic and adventurous relationship with her Vietnamese ex-pat tour guide after an unforeseen breakup.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Scott Ly (@scottly.ig)

Directed by Steven Tsuchida and penned by Eirene Tran Donohue, the film aims to urge audiences to explore beyond the usual tourist spots. The film shows a side of Vietnam that is not shown in mainstream Hollywood movies.

“There are almost no American movies that I can think of set in Vietnam that aren’t about the trauma of war,” Donohue, who based the script on her own life-changing trip to Vietnam. “It was really important to me to tell a story about life there now, one that was full of joy and love and celebration.”

The film not only highlights the beauty of Vietnam through various cities and landscapes, but also depicts adventure and romance. It touched on what travel experiences should be about. The main characters stress the importance of living in the moment and embracing travel as an experience and not an itinerary.

This film highlights the beauty of Vietnamese culture. It explores the different cities and experiences that one could have when visiting this beautiful place.

“We filmed in Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Da Nang, Ha Giang and Hanoi, all of which are wildly different places in look, history and energy,” said Rachael Leigh Cook who plays Amanda to Netflix . “Our goal, that I feel like our director Steven Tsuchida accomplished, is that you feel like you had a seat on the bus with us.”

Here are some of the cities that the movie explored.

Ho Chi Minh City

With a population of over 8 million people, Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam and was previously known as Saigon. As the cultural and economic center of the country, the city is bustling with activity.

It is a vibrant and dynamic hub of modern skyscrapers and historic landmarks. Ho Chi Minh City has busy street markets, and delicious street food. The Vietnam city attracts tourists from around the world and is a highly sought-after destination.

Hoi An is a small coastal city in central Vietnam. Most people know are aware of it because of Ancient Town. The town is a melting pot of Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese cultures.

The old town features well-preserved historic buildings, narrow streets and canals. It also is famous for its lanterns. They are sold throughout the town and lit up at night. It creates a magical atmosphere.

Da Nang is a coastal city in central Vietnam, located between the popular tourist destinations of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. It is the fifth largest city in Vietnam and has a population of over a million people. Da Nang is known for its beautiful beaches, lush landscapes, and rich history. It served as an important trading port during the Cham dynasty. The city also has a modern and cosmopolitan vibe with a variety of shopping and dining options. Popular attractions in Da Nang include the Marble Mountains, the Museum of Cham Sculpture and the Dragon Bridge.

The Vietnam city of Ha Giang is home to many minority communities. Visitors to Ha Giang can trek through the mountains, visit traditional villages and witness the local culture and way of life. The province has regional specialties, such as thang co and grilled duck.

Hanoi is the capital and second-largest city in Vietnam with a population of over 8 million people. Located in the northern region of the country, Hanoi has rich history, cultural landmarks and delicious cuisine. Hanoi is home to many museums, including the Vietnam National Museum of History and the Ho Chi Minh Museum. Visitors can enjoy traditional water puppet shows, explore the famous Hoan Kiem Lake and sample local street food.

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