In early 2023, Nguyen Thuat, born in 1991 and originally from Ha Giang (now part of Tuyen Quang province), resigned from his job at a company in Bac Ninh Industrial Park, where he earned over 20 million VND per month. The distance from home, work pressure, and a sense of not fitting the profession led him to return, seeking employment closer to his family with long-term development opportunities from his hometown's tourism potential.

Three days after leaving his job, Thuat traveled to Ha Noi to buy a camera. He then spent a week surveying tourist attractions, understanding visitor needs, and learning from experienced individuals. Thuat began by transporting guests on his motorbike to destinations like Tham Ma Slope, Ma Pi Leng Pass, and Lo Lo Chai, offering free photography services. In return, he asked guests to post photos and recommend his services to others.

Nguyen Thuat takes a commemorative photo at Lao Xa, Sung La valley, during his first motorbike taxi trip after returning to Ha Giang in 2023. Photo: NVCC

In the initial months, Thuat served only three or four guests per week, sometimes having no guests at all. On days with customers, he earned approximately 300,000-500,000 VND.

"The biggest challenge was that guests didn't know who I was or if they could trust me, especially since most came from southern provinces," he stated.

Local tourism is seasonal, with visitor numbers increasing during flower and ripe rice seasons but declining sharply during storms. Thuat dedicated time to researching routes and evaluating service quality to advise guests and gather their feedback.

Finding guests through social media was also difficult, as many groups required payment for advertising posts. Recognizing an increase in accommodation scams and false advertising as visitor numbers grew, and noting the lack of comprehensive information for tourists, Thuat established the "Ha Giang Review Tat Tan Tat" community in October 2023. This platform allows the community to share destination and service information, while lodging establishments and restaurants can promote their services free of charge. To mitigate misinformation, Thuat often verifies details on-site before approving posts.

The community reached one million members in seven months, surpassed two million in November 2025, and currently boasts around 2,3 million members—a dream figure for many key opinion leaders.

According to Ly Thai Chu, Deputy Chief of Office of the People's Council and People's Committee of Ha Giang Ward 2, Thuat possesses a deep understanding of tourism, is enthusiastic, and has introduced many initiatives to support the local area. Thuat's community has grown rapidly due to its updated, free information, connecting tourists with services. However, its large scale also demands strict control over advertising accuracy, as the administrative team occasionally misses inaccurate information.

Thuat noted that his team receives hundreds of posts and thousands of comments daily. The greatest pressure involves balancing members' right to express feedback with the responsibility to protect the reputation of all parties involved. When inaccurate information is identified, he promptly verifies, corrects, apologizes, or removes the post.

Ha Van Minh, a tourist from Ha Noi, commented that the group sometimes mistakenly approved content, such as incorrect photo dates, but "the admin quickly corrected it, so this remains a trusted community for sharing travel information."

Currently, Thuat employs seven staff members to manage the group in shifts. After each incident, they review procedures and require posters to provide clearer evidence.

Visitors explore Tham Ma Slope through Thuat's lens. Photo: NVCC

Peach blossoms in bloom in old Ha Giang during early year. Photo: NVCC

Traditional rammed-earth houses in Tuyen Quang captured by Thuat's lens. Photo: NVCC

Three years after returning home, Thuat transitioned from a motorbike taxi driver to the head of service procurement for a local travel company. In late 2025, he launched his own company specializing in tour services and transportation for international and domestic guests in Tuyen Quang. Thanks to his fanpage, his reputation grew, increasing service bookings by 50-60%. On average, he serves 60-70 guests daily, with numbers increasing five or six times during holidays and Tet. Yet, whenever he has free time, he still brings his camera to tourist spots in Tuyen Quang to take free photos for guests, just as he did three years ago.

Thuat's current income is 1,5-2 times higher than when he worked in Bac Ninh. However, what warms his heart most are the thank-you messages from tourists he has advised, helping them avoid scams.

Chu Thuy Linh, from Ha Noi, nearly lost nearly 10 million VND when booking a "ghost" hotel. After transferring a 500,000 VND deposit, she consulted Thuat before paying the remainder, and he warned her that the website showed signs of fraud.

Following assistance, many tourists seek out Thuat, bringing local specialties as thanks. "They stop by for a moment, giving me cakes, bags of dried meat, or packaged tea, most often during Tet," Thuat shared.

Phuong Anh