The video series "7A.M Start" - "Why do we start?" produced by Travellive Media Group and its partner Ford Territory is a bridge to bring the audience to the stories behind the portraits of each Vietnamese local brand. In episode 2, Ms. Annie Vu - founder of Tubudd will bring a new perspective on tourism: "Experience local culture with local friends".

Once a tourist, once a "stranger", Annie Vu - founder of Tubudd understands the feeling of bewilderment when setting foot in a new land. Behind the warm welcoming smiles are sometimes barriers of language, culture and customs.

For Annie, traveling is not just about enjoying delicious food or seeing beautiful scenery, but also about exploring culture and connecting people. "I am passionate about food, but my passion above all is about culture and people. Every encounter is a new journey of discovery and the connection between people is the invisible cultural thread that binds us together," Annie Vu shared.

Tubudd - a platform connecting tourists with local assistants was born from that way of thinking. Annie - Founder of Tubudd wants to bring international tourists the opportunity to experience local culture in the most authentic and unique way. Unlike regular tours that take tourists to popular destinations, Tubudd connects tourists with "buddies" - local friends who are knowledgeable about the culture and locality.

Keeping up with the trend of independent travel and the boom of digital technology, Tubudd is like a breath of fresh air, bringing unique and creative experiences to tourists. Through its development journey, with 14 employees and 1,000 "buddies" worldwide, Tubudd affirms its position as a pioneering travel technology platform, connecting international tourists with local friends who are knowledgeable about culture and locality.

With just a few simple steps on the website or the Tubudd app, users can easily choose a destination and connect with a "buddy" - a friendly, enthusiastic local companion. Each "buddy" has good foreign language skills, a wealth of knowledge and experience about the destination. They are ready to lead tourists to explore many new routes, hidden places that few people know and immerse themselves in the colorful local lifestyle.

The difference that makes Tubudd attractive is the flexibility and personalization in each travel experience. Tourists are not constrained by a fixed schedule, but instead, the "buddy" will accompany tourists, planning detailed itineraries based on their own interests and desires. Thanks to that, tourists have the opportunity to experience local culture in the most authentic way, from typical cuisine, customs to historical stories or even the daily life of local people.

“Tourists not only get to taste delicious dishes but also listen to stories about the origin, meaning and preparation of the dishes. They get to participate in local festivals, chat with locals and learn about the customs and practices of the land they visit,” Annie Vu shared.

Not only a companion, Tubudd is also a cultural bridge that helps tourists overcome language barriers to integrate into the local community. With the support of "buddy", tourists can confidently communicate, shop, participate in recreational activities and fully experience the place they visit.

Annie Vu emphasized: “A phrase that customers always remember when mentioning Tubudd is 'cross the border'. We want to bring an assistant platform for cross-border travelers. Whether you are a foreigner coming to Vietnam, or any other country, Tubudd will have 'buddies' that meet your language skills and cultural connections well.”

In 2019, Annie Vu cherished the plan to bring Tubudd to the international market, starting with Korea. However, the Covid-19 pandemic that broke out in 2020 put Tubudd in a difficult position. "There were days when I thought I had to give up everything. There was a time when I thought about closing the company because I had no customers. But luckily, there were always new customers coming to Tubudd, giving me more motivation," Annie confided.

Crisis is an opportunity for Tubudd to innovate and grow. Realizing the need to support foreigners working in Vietnam, Tubudd has expanded its services to the "Business Buddy" segment.

Talking more about Tubudd, Annie Vu said: "I did not invent anything new. However, Tubudd provides a transparent platform that helps connect customers with reputable and professional 'buddies'. Customers can easily search, book and manage services conveniently."

More than a travel platform, Tubudd embodies the desire to connect people, spread the passion for discovery and share unique experiences, make new friends, expand relationships and create unique experiences in every journey.

TRAVELLIVE readers are invited to watch Episode 2 of the video series “7A.M Start” to discover Tubudd's story - with the desire to develop a friendly, personalized travel network, offering authentic experiences with locals.

Stay tuned for the next episodes of “7A.M Start” to be inspired by the passionate and courageous stories of Vietnamese brands!