Confrontation with tourist leaves Aussie making headlines

When Queensland bloke Cole Lee witnessed an American tourist having an absolute meltdown at hotel staff in Ho Chi Minh City, his calm intervention became the viral moment Southeast Asia needed.

But this brief encounter has exposed a much bigger story about tourism, respect, and the growing tensions across the region's most popular destinations.

The video, which has racked up thousands of likes and comments, shows the American visitor—dressed in an Adidas T-shirt and sandals—aggressively berating Vietnamese hotel staff for over 20 minutes. His complaints? A bathroom door that hit the bed and milk being added to his coffee despite multiple requests not to.

'You open up the door to the bathroom and it's jammed against the bed. I have to go in sideways to get into the damn bathroom,' the man can be heard saying, waving his phone at the staff. When a female employee tries to respond, he cuts her off: 'Excuse me I'm talking, don't be rude.'

The Aussie intervention that captured hearts

That's when Cole Lee stepped in with perfectly measured Australian diplomacy.

'If you were in Australia they'd just knock you out if you talked to someone like that,' Lee told the agitated tourist, his tone matter-of-fact rather than confrontational.

The American's response revealed a man clearly rattled by his travel experiences. 'Believe me I'm not normally like that, I'm a very low key person,' he replied, before launching into another complaint about being served milk despite his stomach issues. 'The other day I told them no milk three times because it upsets my stomach, guess what? They put milk in it and I was throwing up on the street.'

Cole's response was perfect: 'Buddy you've had a rough trip.'

Social media celebrates Australian approach

The online reaction was swift and overwhelmingly positive, with viewers praising Cole's calm but firm intervention.

'As an American, I have so much love for the Aussie,' wrote one commenter, while another noted, 'The Aussie sarcasm absolutely went over his head.' A third observer quipped, 'You know it's bad when you get disciplined by an Aussie.'

But perhaps the most telling comment was: 'Just another boomer crying over spilt milk.'

The incident perfectly encapsulated cultural differences in handling conflict—the American's loud, aggressive approach contrasted sharply with the Australian's direct but measured response and the Vietnamese staff's patient professionalism.

Part of a troubling trend across Southeast Asia

This incident isn't isolated. Bali saw 6.33 million international visitors last year—surpassing its pre-pandemic peak of 6.28 million in 2019, but with record numbers came record problems.

The governor's proposal came soon after a German woman walked naked into a Bali temple and a Russian woman posed nude on a sacred banyan tree. In March, meanwhile, a Russian blogger who bared his backside on a volcano became one of reportedly more than a hundred people deported from Bali this year alone.

The pattern extends beyond Bali. In nearby destinations, tourist misbehavior has become so problematic that authorities across Southeast Asia are taking unprecedented action.

Authorities fighting back with strict new rules

The response has been swift and comprehensive. In March 2025, Governor Wayan Koster has issued Circular Letter (SE) Number 7 of 2025, which sets new guidelines for foreign tourists visiting the island. The regulation aims to address growing concerns over misbehavior among some visitors.

The new rules are detailed and strictly enforced:

What tourists are banned from doing in Bali:

• Climb sacred trees or monuments—This includes taking inappropriate or nude photos at religious sites
  
• Litter or pollute Bali's environment—Throwing waste in lakes, rivers, or the ocean is strictly prohibited
  
• Engage in aggressive or disrespectful behavior—This includes swearing, causing disturbances, or being rude to locals, officials, or fellow tourists. Sharing hate speech or misinformation on social media is also prohibited
  
• Work or run a business without proper permits—Tourists are not allowed to conduct business or work in Bali unless they hold official documentation

Governor Koster made it clear that these rules will be strictly enforced. Tourists who fail to pay the tourist levy will be denied access to attractions, and those caught violating the regulations will face legal consequences.

The economic balancing act

The crackdown comes as destinations grapple with a fundamental question: do they want more tourists or better tourists?

Indonesia's then-tourism minister, Sandiaga Uno, warned in September that if Bali saw a 10 per cent increase in tourists, it could soon see the same kind of local frustration boil over. 'We must avoid a situation like Barcelona, where tourists became public enemies,' he said. But that 10 per cent threshold was more than met by 2024's foreign visitor record—a 20 per cent increase from 2023.

Travel publication Fodor's publishes an annual list of 'no-go' destinations for the year ahead, in what it describes as an effort to highlight 'destinations where tourism is placing unsustainable pressures on the land and local communities'. The first of these is Bali. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics for Bali Province, the Indonesian island welcomed 5.3 million international visitors in 2023, a number that rose by 22 percent by the end of July 2024.

A tale of two approaches

The contrast between Cole Lee's measured response and the American tourist's aggressive behavior highlights different cultural approaches to problem-solving. Generally speaking, Southeast Asia is incredibly safe. In fact, it's one of the safest regions in the world, with several countries ranking in the top 20 most peaceful places in the world.

Australian travelers have built a strong reputation in the region. Australia remained Bali's leading source of foreign visitors, contributing 138,515 arrivals in May. Although the number slightly declined by -0.69 per cent compared to April, Australian tourism continues to dominate, making up 23 per cent of total foreign visits. Australia continues to lead by a wide margin, with 612,792 total arrivals in the first five months of 2025.

This reputation comes from exactly the kind of behavior Cole demonstrated—direct when necessary, but respectful and culturally aware.

What this means for future travel

The viral success of Cole's intervention suggests travelers are hungry for examples of how to navigate cultural differences respectfully. His approach—acknowledging the problem without escalating the situation—offers a masterclass in cultural diplomacy.

Many tourists don't understand how deeply they can impact Bali with their actions, says I Nengah Subadra, associate professor of tourism at Bali's University of Triatma Mulya. Dressing too casually, talking too loudly, or touching someone too intimately at sacred sites disrupts the island's delicate spiritual balance.

For Australian travelers, this incident serves as both a reminder of our good reputation in the region and a responsibility to maintain it. As Southeast Asia's tourism industry recovers and grows, the behavior of every visitor matters more than ever.

What do you think about Cole's approach? Have you encountered similar situations while traveling, and how did you handle them? Share your thoughts and travel experiences in the comments below.