British Tourist Travels Through Ha Giang With a Beloved Pet Chicken

A British traveler exploring Ha Giang has captured attention online after photos and videos showed him carrying a live chicken like a pet throughout his four-day journey.

On May 8, the story of a foreign tourist walking around Ha Giang with a chicken quickly went viral on social media. Many Vietnamese users affectionately joked that he was holding a “Vietnamese eagle” instead of a chicken, admiring the gentle way he cradled it in his arms.

According to Hoang Van Khanh, a tour guide with Jasmine Ha Giang, the traveler from the UK joined a four-day Ha Giang loop tour in early May. On the first day of the tour, the tourist expressed interest in buying a chicken after witnessing a slaughterhouse during a previous trip to Thailand and feeling sympathy for the animals. Khanh took him to Meo Vac market, where he bought a 1.3 kg chicken for just 158,000 VND (around $6.25).

The foreign tourist quickly bonded with the bird, treating it like a companion throughout the entire trip. He even purchased a small leash to keep the chicken secure during the journey. Interestingly, just a few hours after being bought, the chicken laid an egg in the evening—and another one the following morning. The traveler was delighted and carried the two eggs with him as souvenirs.

Other members of the tour group were equally amused and spent time playing with the chicken during rest stops. On the final evening of the tour, the British tourist even brought his feathered friend to the farewell dinner. Both traveler and chicken looked visibly tired the next morning before continuing their journey.

It remains unknown what happened to the chicken after the tourist left Ha Giang, but the experience left a memorable impression on everyone involved.

A representative of Jasmine Ha Giang shared that foreign tourists visiting Ha Giang often seek authentic and meaningful experiences. The region is especially popular among young international travelers interested in the raw beauty of the Ha Giang Loop and the warm hospitality of the local people. Many tour operators, including Jasmine Ha Giang, design immersive cultural experiences such as farming, market visits, and village tours to cater to this demand.