We Ranked the Friendliest Countries — From Most to Least Friendly & We Were Surprised

Amateur globetrotting is daunting work. Despite the extensive funding required to bounce from one country to the other and the planning it takes to put into action, you’ll also have to deal with new people from different walks of life. Indeed, it’s this fear that often stops people from traveling outside of their comfort zone. The simple fact is that some countries are definitely more welcoming than others, so visiting these sorts of places may be your best bet. Thus, we present our definitive ranking of the friendliest countries in the world to add to your travel list.

#40. Vietnam

In recent years, Vietnam has really boomed as a travel destination for many. Despite what some 20th-century wartime media may have led people to believe, the country is a warm, welcoming place with plenty to see and do for city slickers and jungle cats alike.

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This cozy and inviting atmosphere can be attributed to the openness and humility of the Vietnamese population. Although you may not speak a word of Vietnamese, there will always be a kind local to point you in the right direction and help you get where you're going.

#39. Colombia

Colombia is another country that is consistently unfairly portrayed in Western media. Far from the lawless desert, it is routinely described as Colombia is actually something of an oasis. It's a country of perpetual pink sunsets and good vibes all year round.

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Of course, it's the locals who really make the country worth visiting. Plenty of countries know how to have a good time, but the citizens of Colombia know how to make visitors feel like they're right at home as well.

#38. Hungary

Hungary is often overlooked as a travel destination in favor of more popular European destinations like England, Germany, and France. While Europeans are generally stereotyped as an uptight and serious bunch, Hungarians, in particular, are thought to be even more reserved.

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But perhaps this air of reservation is simply politeness being mistaken for something else. Hungarian citizens are courteous and well-mannered, but they're also generally pretty open-minded - a far cry from how they are typically characterized. The country itself is also worth visiting for its beauty alone.

#37. Netherlands

Another European country that is consistently mischaracterized, the Netherlands is a great place to visit if you're a first-time traveler, mostly due to how welcoming they are to visitors of all creeds and colors. Roughly 2.6 million out of the country's 17 million citizens are foreign-born - there has to be a reason they chose to stay, right?

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Of course, the country is generally well-maintained too. The overall infrastructure of its towns and cities is great, as are its canals, tulip fields, windmills, and cycling routes, all of which the country is famous for.