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submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by thewanderingbackpack@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

For me Ireland and Taiwan, how about some others

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[-] Mearuu@kbin.melroy.org 33 points 3 weeks ago

Thailand and Vietnam have such kind and welcoming people. I am constantly impressed by the gestures I see.

Just today me and my girlfriend were standing on the side of the road in Thailand waiting to cross. There was no crosswalk nearby but cars saw that we wanted to cross and stopped both lanes for us go. We did not signal in any way or step into the street. They just saw people in need of something that they could help with. Nobody behind them honked or became impatient.

There are so many more examples…

I’m American.

[-] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 25 points 3 weeks ago

I'm American

I'm so sorry (I'm also American)

[-] WindyRebel@lemmy.world 9 points 3 weeks ago

I'm American

I'm so sorry (I'm also American)

I’m so sorry (I’m also American)

[-] CrazyLikeGollum@lemmy.world 27 points 3 weeks ago

Ireland is probably the friendliest I've been too. The Irish are great people.

Rome (I know, not a country, but I can't comment on the rest of Italy) is probably the least friendly place I've been to. Romans are assholes. It's a very cool city, but the people, especially outside of tourist traps suck.

The Japanese are very polite, respectful, and helpful (almost to a fault) but I'm not sure if I'd generally describe them as friendly.

[-] Sergio@slrpnk.net 10 points 3 weeks ago

Romans are assholes.

First time I've heard this. People in Rome are like people in NYC: busy with their own lives, unwilling to take any BS, but generally helpful if you really need it.

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[-] AlecSadler@sh.itjust.works 22 points 3 weeks ago

I feel like it matters what race you are :(

My [white] friend has touted some of the friendliest places, but me being Korean...nope. A large number of places are very cold and passive-aggressive.

That said, not typically violent like America, but still not exactly welcoming.

[-] bitofarambler@crazypeople.online 18 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Vietnam, Thailand, India, Guatemala, Taiwan is a good call.

in Vietnam, someone literally ran out of their house while I was stopping to adjust my headphones in order to invite me to breakfast at his home.

he had a tiny orchard in his front yard and we shared mango, dragonfruit and pancakes.

[-] prole 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I've been wanting to visit Vietnam for a while now... I think it was watching Anthony Bourdain there that sold me. Looks like a beautiful nation full of amazing people

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[-] superkret@feddit.org 12 points 3 weeks ago

Finland and Chile, definitely.
They're also astonishingly similar.
Chileans are like the Scandinavians of South America.

[-] makingStuffForFun@lemmy.ml 11 points 3 weeks ago

Taiwan for sure. What lovely people.

[-] thewanderingbackpack@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

How about China? That's one country I want to see

[-] makingStuffForFun@lemmy.ml 5 points 3 weeks ago

I have been yes, and the people were indeed friendly. Same with Vietnam, and others. However, the Taiwanese people were just so, so, genuinely helpful, friendly and kind. I was taken aback.

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[-] atro_city@fedia.io 11 points 3 weeks ago

Really depends on the skin color of the person visiting and where they are visiting in that country. A non-white visiting most West-European cities will be mostly fine, but if they go out to the country-side, things can be very different.

I watched a documentary of an Indian boy adopted to a Swiss family who then went back to India to visit. He had a terrible time in Switzerland due to racism and nearly as an awful time in India, because he couldn't speak the language and people thus assumed he was a Pakistani spy.

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[-] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 10 points 3 weeks ago

Taiwan. Clerk at the shoe store didn't have what I wanted in my size. She went to the other shoe stores nearby searching for me without telling us. We found out when we asked why it was taking so long.

[-] triptrapper@lemmy.world 10 points 3 weeks ago

I'm a white American.

Most friendly: Portugal. They seem to be a happy bunch in general, and they all seemed excited to have visitors. Lisbon, Cascais, Lagos, and all the little towns in between.

Least friendly: Iceland. They could just be less open and emotionally expressive with strangers, but unless it was a business transaction I was frequently ignored when I said hello and people seemed uninterested in having a conversation.

[-] prole 13 points 3 weeks ago

Least friendly: Iceland. They could just be less open and emotionally expressive with strangers, but unless it was a business transaction I was frequently ignored when I said hello and people seemed uninterested in having a conversation.

Sounds wonderful

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[-] arudesalad@sh.itjust.works 10 points 3 weeks ago

Germany is very nice, most people I met were more than happy to help my with practicing my German

[-] Drusas@fedia.io 4 points 3 weeks ago

Interesting. My experience was the opposite; I couldn't practice German at all because everybody would switch to English.

[-] underreacting@literature.cafe 4 points 3 weeks ago

Not surprising; it's far more practical to get information across by switching to a language you both speak fluently. If you ask the other person to help you practice the language, it would change the task from "information" to "training", and you'd probably have better luck in speaking German if that's the expressed goal.

Communicate your wants, or you'll end up with the most efficient route to the end of the interaction. 'Tis the German way.

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[-] vvilld@lemmy.world 10 points 3 weeks ago

Friendliest country I've ever been to was Cuba. Everyone was incredibly nice and helpful with anything we could want. Malaysia was a close second.

Least friendliest was Belgium, but I went as part of a school exchange trip, so I was pretty much always in a large group of mostly teenage Americans with a few teachers. Understandable why people might not have been as friendly.

[-] rustyfish@lemmy.world 10 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Definitely Scotland. They are antithesis to the English. Super friendly and welcoming. I have been around a lot in Europe never have I been struck by the German nature after I returned from Scotland.

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[-] Gieselbrecht@feddit.org 9 points 3 weeks ago

Regarding the people, disregarding officials and leadership? Iran. Such lovely, welcoming people.

[-] jenni007@lemm.ee 7 points 3 weeks ago

Germany definitely, France second. Egypt and Canada.

[-] thewanderingbackpack@lemmy.world 13 points 3 weeks ago

France is actually quite nice the further you move away from Paris. Met some amazing folks in Breton.

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[-] zxqwas@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago

Most friendly: Namibia probably.

Least friendly: UK.

Some context: Live in Scandinavia, and been in all those countries. Other countries I've been to: Chile, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium (technically, walked across the border from Netherlands), Austria, South Africa, Zambia, Kazakstan.

[-] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 weeks ago

You thought the UK was less friendly than the Netherlands??? Did you only visit London?

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[-] borokov@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago

Mongolia.

Every single people I met were nice and friendly. Even when they don't speak english, they will try anything to help you, or find someone that speak english.

[-] sanderium@lemmy.zip 7 points 3 weeks ago

Australia, they are all just Koala friendly.

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[-] ocean@lemmy.selfhostcat.com 6 points 3 weeks ago

China, Taiwan, and just EA Chinese people in general are beyond nice. This past trip made me see how straight forward and warm hearted they really are and such strong family values.

[-] beansbeansbeans@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago

French Polynesia. Genuinely the kindest and most down to earth people on the planet. My husband and I had the most amazing and hospitable experience there staying in a detached room (treehouse style) with a local family. The locals are so friendly - we were given food, helped with getting a rental car (they even gave us a ride there and spoke with the guy behind the counter), told of all the best places to explore, taken to the farmer's market, and so much more. We were treated like visiting relatives.

[-] tiefling 5 points 3 weeks ago

Canada for sure, but I have friends there

[-] PonyOfWar@pawb.social 5 points 3 weeks ago

Japan, China and the UK were the friendliest I've been so far. I'm German.

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[-] Hadriscus@lemm.ee 5 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I did a short stay in Sri Lanka as a young adult, it was a formidable experience. I remember a different, more considerate sort of kindness in people compared to my home town/country

[-] HootinNHollerin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 3 weeks ago

Philippines

[-] Aurenkin@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 weeks ago

I'm Aussie. For me friendliest countries probably Taiwan, Ukraine and Canada

[-] slaneesh_is_right@lemmy.org 6 points 3 weeks ago

For me it's actually Australia. Except on Australia day, that was weird as fuck to be honest.

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this post was submitted on 03 Apr 2025
82 points (100.0% liked)

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