Super Bowl LVIII - Viet Nam

[VictorGMT]

So, in 2015 I established the tradition of watching the Super Bowl in a different country every year (long story).

I've watched in Vienna, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Tokyo, Sao Paulo, Miami (Covid), and Belize.

For 2024, it's going to be Viet Nam. I will arrive Saigon, and would like to include a trip to Hanoi.

Any tips, places, recommendations, etc? I like sun/pool in the winter, good food, safe transit, and cool places that accommodate English speakers.

[Corvette]

I think this is worthy of hearing the story. I’m just genuinely curious…never heard of such a thing!

[Jets_fan44]

I would like to hear about the long story as well

[scarlet knight]

You should attend a Super Bowl. We did, #46, Giants vs. Pats in Indy.

[VictorGMT]

OK, the story.

In 2015, I joined an industry we won't discuss. That year at our largest annual trade show, I meet the VP Sales of a dominant portable product manufacturer. He invited me to tour the factory if I ever visited Vienna.

So, I booked my trip for January 2016. I put a lot of time into optimal credit card point strategy, so I was able to book business class round trip to Vienna.

I landed Tuesday evening and I wanted to order a meal in English before soaking up the local culture after a good sleep. So I went to the Hard Rock Cafe.

The waitress asked me of my plans for the week. I told her I was going to walk Vienna for two days, and visit the portable product factory in Deutsch-Wagram on Friday.

On Saturday I would drive through Prague to Berlin. In Berlin, I wanted to visit the Brandenburg Gate on Ronald Reagan's 105th birthday and take a selfie at the spot of the "Tear Down This Wall" speech.

Sunday I'd drive back, and Sunday night at midnight, watch the Super Bowl on my laptop.

She said "Cool. But you should come here, we have a Super Bowl party".

"Cool. Tell me about it."

"It's €99" "OK" "We have hotdogs and hamburgers" "OK" (so far I'm not excited).

"We usually have an American host but I think he had to cancel" "What did he have to do?" "Just greet guests and explain the rules if people have questions".

"Let me meet the manager".

And that's how I ended up hosting a Super Bowl 50 party with 100 of my newest friends at midnight at Hard Rock Cafe Vienna.

And you only need to know more about the rules than they do.

"Why is the kick returner waving his hand?" "Infield fly rule".

"Why did he throw that yellow cloth?" "Oh they were icing".

I'll bet there are Austrians to this day who explain wildcat formation as a "Double Play".

I enjoyed it so much, I vowed to never watch the Super Bowl in the US again. I always accumulate a few hundred thousand points and book business or first class all segments. I've gone all the way around the world once going West and twice going East. Look forward to the trip all year.

This year I facilitated the sale of the business and retired, so I'll enjoy this one more than most.

[Chewbacca]

Iliana speaks highly of Prague.

But with the money you spend seeing places you can see all at once at a Vegas buffet, and then you could buy an NFL team.

These threads are why ADs laugh at us and Greys charge 3796% more.

[GB-man]

What an interesting story

I know nothing about Vietnam unfortunately other than they have damn good food.

[RW16610]

Amazing story! I'm sure you'll be able to gather all required details and host an outstanding event!

[JasoninDenver]

Freakin amazing man!!

You are now REQUIRED to post a report on the eventual trip.

[Jackie Daytona]

Pretty cool interesting story. That’s a pretty neat thing to do.

Looks like we are both in Nashville. Bring me along!! I want to go watch the Super Bowl in Vietnam

[omar10213245]

ha! that's awesome, OP! I've watched the Superbowl outside of the US twice, during my Army days. The Panthers-Patriots in 2004, while I was in Camp Humphreys, Korea (very weird to watch a Superbowl at 7am onwards!) And then the epic 2008 Superbowl where the Giants took down the mighty, undefeated Patriots, I was at FOB Salerno in Afghanistan; we created our own little MWR tent within our living quarters area, and I just remember after David Tyree had his "helmet catch", me and a few of my fellow buddies were jumping up and down, giddy like school girls, yelling "they're gonna do it! The Giants are gonna win this thing!!" I'm a Steeler fan, but on that morning, I was bleeding Giants blue and red