Back to start over
As a child born in Ha Giang land (currently belonging to Tuyen Quang province), Mr. Nguyen Van Thuat (born in 1991) used to work for many years at a large corporation specializing in manufacturing electronic components, holding a management position in the production department. The job was stable but the pressure and the days often away from home made him gradually think about returning to his hometown, finding a new direction and contributing to local tourism.
In 2023, Thuat decided to return to his hometown, right at the time when local tourism entered the recovery phase after the pandemic. Attached to his hometown since childhood, he realized the tourism potential that exists around him and decided to start over from scratch.
I realize that my hometown has majestic natural landscapes, unique cultural identity and great tourism development potential. I decided to start over from scratch, both learning and experiencing and gradually building my own path in the field of tourism," he shared.
Starting from a point of almost no experience in the industry, he had to find out about the destination, services and needs of tourists himself. The money saved during his years of work was used by Thuat to buy a Canon camera, and then brought it with him on trips to tourist attractions.
He takes photos for tourists and sends back photos after the journey. The conversations during the photoshoot gradually help Thuat realize that behind the need to save beautiful moments is also the need to find reliable information about the destination.
Tourists often ask about itinerary, accommodation, car rental, food, destinations to visit and reliable services. Repeated questions in many meetings made him realize that travel information on social networks is still dispersed, while tourists want to refer to experiences from people who have been to Ha Giang (old).
I realize Facebook is a very effective channel to reach customers, but to keep tourists and make them come back, I need to create trust and better experiences," he said.
From then on, Thuat established "Group Review Ha Giang Tat Tan Tat Tourism", initially a place for people who have been here to share images, routes, dining addresses and experiences after the trip.
Those who have gone to share with those who are preparing to go, those who are planning can ask questions and refer to practical experiences from the community.
After 3 years, the group has more than 2 million members. From a place to share photos and experiences, the group gradually became a channel for tourists to find information before the journey, and at the same time warn each other about the risks when booking rooms, renting cars or using online tourism services.
To let visitors tell stories about the destination
Social networks are opening up another way to promote tourism, when people who have experienced it become storytellers about destinations. Shares about routes, accommodation, services or real experiences are increasingly being consulted by tourists before each trip.
With Tuyen Quang, review communities both help tourists find information and create more connection channels between customers and accommodation establishments, travel agencies, and local businesses. Thuat believes that the important thing is that the content must originate from real experiences and be shared responsibly.
On the other hand, the group also regularly warns about travel scams on cyberspace, from fake fan pages to accounts requesting deposit transfers.
We regularly post articles warning about new forms of fraud, guiding tourists on how to check the reputation of fanpages, homestays and service providers before transferring deposits," he said.
Tuyen Quang has many landscape advantages, from Ma Pi Leng Pass, Nho Que River, Lung Cu Flagpole to typical flower and rice seasons. But behind those familiar images are also culture, life and local people - factors that create a unique experience for the destination.
Each season in Ha Giang (Tuyen Quang) has its own beauty. From the buckwheat flower season, the ripe rice season, the flood season to the brilliant spring of flowers, every time visitors return, they have new experiences," he shared.
Thuat believes that tourism promotion needs to go further than beautiful photos, tell more stories about culture, life and local people, and at the same time promote environmental protection awareness and responsible tourism.
For Mr. Thuat, doing tourism in his hometown started from things close to tourists. From a camera, conversations and the desire to share useful information, he gradually found a way to both work and contribute to promoting the beauty, culture and people of Tuyen Quang.
