The love month may long be over but that's not a reason for us to discover new rom-coms. Netflix's upcoming rom-com, entitled A Tourist's Guide to Love, is not only promising-- it's also one that breaks tradition. In fact, this is the first U.S. movie that was filmed completely in Vietnam. The story also doesn't portray the trauma of the US-Vietnam war, which is what its director Steven K. Tsuchida aimed for.
Apart from making you swoon, the movie will make you book a ticket to explore this Asian country asap.
Here's what you need to know about A Tourist's Guide to Love.
When Is A Tourist’s Guide to Love Coming Out on Netflix?
Good news! You don't have to wait too long for A Tourist's Guide to Love to come out on Netflix since it will be getting released soon. The streaming platform first announced the movie in late January 2023.
A Tourist's Guide to Love is coming out on Netflix on April 21, 2023.
Is A Tourist’s Guide to Love Movie Based on a True Story?
The official Netflix log of A Tourist's Guide to Love reads:
"Work brings an American travel executive to Vietnam, where a free-spirited tour guide helps open her eyes to a beautifully adventurous way of life."
The film follows the story of a travel executive, Amanda Riley (played by Rachel Leigh Cook) as she goes undercover to learn about Vietnam's bustling travel industry right after a breakup. Once there, she meets Sinh Thach (played by Scott Ly), her tour guide, who lets her uncover who she truly is.
The script was written by Eirene Tran Donohue, who based the story from her own experience. On the eve of her five-week trip to Vietnam, she got dumped by her boyfriend. And just like the movie, Donohue met a free-spirited and adventurous Canadian backpacker who made her realize she "didn't actually want a safe predictable life." She tells Tudum:
"He was supposed to be my holiday fling, [but] we have been together ever since-- 22 years."
In another interview with POPSUGAR, Donohue told the publication:
"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. 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."
Who Stars in A Tourist’s Guide to Love Movie?
The most notable cast member in A Tourist's Guide to Love movie is, without a doubt, Rachel Leigh Cook; who was one of the early 2000s rom-com princess. She rose to fame in 1999 in the teenage rom-com, She's All That, when she played the lead role opposite heartthrob Freddie Prinze Jr.
Joining her in A Tourist's Guide to Love include the following:
- Scott Ly (as Sinh Thach)
- Ben Feldman (as John)
- Missi Pyle (as Mona)
- Glynn Sweet (as Brian Conway)
- Alexa Povah (as Maya Conway)
- Jacqueline Correa (as Sam Gonville)
- Nondumiso Tembe (as Dom Fisher)
- Morgan Dudley (as Robin)
- Andrew Barth Feldman (as Alex)
- Quinn Trúc Tràn
- Nsut Le Thien (as Ba Noi)
- Anh Dao (as Auntie Diem)
Where Was A Tourist’s Guide to Love Filmed?
One of the things that make A Tourist's Guide to Love is that the movie was shot entirely on location in Vietnam. In fact, it is one of the first American films to have done this. As director Tsuchida says:
“To be able to film in so many locations in Vietnam was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The excitement of [Ho Chi Minh City] was captivating, while the traditions of Hanoi were enriching. The diversity and culture of Da Nang, Hội An and My Son [sanctuary] was breathtaking. And living and filming in Hà Giang was spiritually moving.”
Is There a Trailer for A Tourist’s Guide to Love?
Yes, Netflix released a trailer for A Tourist's Guide to Love on March 28, 2023. You can watch it here:
You can watch A Tourist's Guide to Love when it comes out on Netflix on April 21, 2023.
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