In a recent viral video, an unexpected phrase resurfaced in an unlikely setting. A Vietnamese soldier, while sharing light-hearted banter with a Pakistani soldier, cheerfully remarked, “tea was fantastic.” To the casual viewer, it may have seemed like no more than a jovial exchange. But for Indians, the phrase carries immense weight, recalling a moment of national tension and pride that dates back to 2019.
This episode has stirred reactions not only for its humour but also for what it reveals about alliances, history, and social attitudes in Asia. To understand why such a simple sentence can resonate so widely, it is important to trace its origins and consider the wider canvas of India’s partnership with Vietnam.
 |
| Reference image from twitter |
The Origin of a Meme: Abhinandan and the 2019 Clash
The phrase first entered the public imagination during the February 2019 dogfight between India and Pakistan. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, piloting a MiG-21 Bison, was shot down while engaging Pakistani jets. Captured on the Pakistani side of the border, he was filmed in custody.
In that footage, when asked about the hospitality extended to him, Abhinandan—maintaining composure under extreme circumstances—simply said, “the tea is fantastic.” His calmness, his moustache, and his understated comment became symbols of resilience for Indians. Very quickly, the phrase was adopted across social media, first as a meme and later as a cultural shorthand for dignity in adversity.
For Pakistanis, the line became a tool of mockery. For Indians, it was a mark of pride. Over time, it evolved into one of the most enduring memes in the subcontinent’s online culture.
From Border Conflict to Military Banter
Fast forward to the present viral clip. The Vietnamese soldier’s playful use of “tea was fantastic” in front of a Pakistani colleague might have been meant as harmless fun. Yet the choice of phrase has sparked curiosity and debate.
Why would a soldier from Vietnam—a nation that has enjoyed close relations with India—repeat a line so intimately tied to Indo-Pakistani hostilities? Was it ignorance of its origins? Or was it a deliberate attempt at humour, poking fun at both sides?
Whatever the intent, the clip shows how phrases can travel far beyond their birthplace, acquiring new layers of meaning when borrowed by others. It also highlights how globalised military cultures, through joint exercises and friendships, often exchange jokes and memes just as civilians do online.
India and Vietnam: A Growing Economic Alliance
This incident gains further interest when considered against the backdrop of India and Vietnam’s strategic partnership. The two nations share not only military cooperation but also an expanding economic relationship.
Trade between the countries has grown remarkably over the last two decades. What was once a modest exchange of goods has transformed into a robust commercial partnership, worth well over ten billion US dollars annually. India exports pharmaceuticals, machinery, agricultural products, iron and steel, while Vietnam sends electronics, textiles, coffee, rubber, and seafood.
A major catalyst for this growth has been the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement. By lowering tariffs on a wide range of products, the agreement has smoothed the path for businesses and encouraged cross-border investment. Vietnamese firms have gained access to India’s large consumer base, while Indian companies have established themselves as reliable partners in Vietnam’s rapidly industrialising economy.
This deepening economic connection reflects broader strategic goals: India views Vietnam as a key partner in its “Act East” policy, while Vietnam sees India as a counterbalance to other powers in the region.
Friendship in Policy, Friction in Society
Yet strong diplomatic ties and trade figures do not always erase cultural gaps. Despite the warmth of official relations, Indians travelling or living in Vietnam often encounter social frictions.
Some visitors have reported being treated differently due to skin colour, with subtle forms of prejudice colouring interactions. In other cases, groups of Indian tourists have been stereotyped as unruly or overly loud, creating resentment among locals. While such attitudes are by no means universal, they highlight an undercurrent of racial bias that continues to surface in parts of Vietnamese society.
This is not unique to Vietnam—similar issues are found worldwide, including within India itself. But it does underline a paradox: while governments may share interests and build robust partnerships, individuals at the ground level may still harbour prejudices that complicate people-to-people ties.
The viral video thus unintentionally shines a light on this contradiction. A Vietnamese soldier’s casual joke may seem harmless, yet it raises questions about how Indians are perceived in Vietnam—not as equal partners in a thriving alliance, but sometimes as subjects of jest or stereotypes.
Humour, Identity, and Misunderstanding
Humour often travels poorly across cultures. What one group finds funny may strike another as insensitive. In this case, the Vietnamese soldier might have thought he was simply sharing a widely known meme. For Indians, however, “tea was fantastic” carries a much more emotional charge, bound up with national pride and memories of a fraught confrontation.
This is the challenge of a globalised meme culture: phrases cross borders without their original context, leaving room for misinterpretation. Just as Western internet jokes sometimes bewilder Asian audiences, subcontinental memes may puzzle or even offend those unfamiliar with the histories behind them.
The clip also reveals something about military camaraderie. Soldiers, even from different nations, often develop bonds through shared training, exercises, and informal banter. Their jokes reflect a form of human connection that exists even amid the rigid structures of armed forces. In this light, the Vietnamese soldier’s remark could be seen less as mockery and more as a gesture of inclusion—an attempt to share in a joke that he believed his Pakistani counterpart would recognise.
Ultimately, the viral video illustrates how a simple phrase can open up wide discussions. It speaks to the strange afterlife of memes, the complexities of diplomatic friendships, and the persistence of social prejudice.
For India and Vietnam, the lesson may be to deepen cultural exchanges alongside economic agreements. Trade statistics tell one story, but genuine understanding between peoples requires more than tariffs and treaties. Educational exchanges, tourism, and popular culture could serve as bridges, allowing citizens of both nations to appreciate each other beyond stereotypes.
If such steps are taken, perhaps future jokes will be received in the spirit intended—not as echoes of old conflicts, but as shared laughter between equals.
“Tea was fantastic” has travelled far from its origin: from a captured pilot’s understated comment, to a meme, to a phrase repeated in jest thousands of miles away. The Vietnamese soldier’s remark may have been innocent, but it reveals how humour intersects with history, identity, and international relations.
India and Vietnam today stand as allies in trade and strategy, bound by shared goals and common challenges. Yet on the human level, stereotypes and biases still need to be addressed. The viral video, while comic on the surface, serves as a reminder that alliances are not built solely in boardrooms or battlefields, but also in the perceptions of ordinary people.
Perhaps, one day, the phrase will shed its baggage and come to represent something more positive: not the bitterness of conflict, nor the awkwardness of misused humour, but the simple joy of two friends sharing a cup of tea—and truly finding it fantastic.