HOSPITALITY HERO
Tu grew up in fear of storms destroying his family’s makeshift house. Now, he creates comfort and relaxation at his own bartending academy.
INHOSPITABLE
One of Tu’s most vivid childhood memories is the sound of wind whistling through the gaps in his family’s house.
Tu’s family lived in a makeshift hut by the sea. It was made from scrap metal and crumbling stone walls. When the wind started to howl, it normally meant an incoming storm was about to blow it down.
Tu doesn’t know how many times the roof broke; how many times the walls caved in or how many times he and his family had to take cover at a neighbour’s home. What he does know is that those early years of fear and hardship shaped the person he is today.
“If I hadn’t been through that journey, I wouldn’t be me.”
DARK HORIZON
In summer, Tu’s father would spend weeks or months away on deep sea fishing trips to provide the family’s only source of income.
Tu had to cycle miles to school every day, often returning home to find his house broken and his family deeper in poverty than the day before.
At 14 years old, Tu decided to leave his long commute to school, his crumbling home and his storm-prone village behind as he travelled to Ho Chi Minh City in search of work.
Tu became an unpaid apprentice in a factory. He had no money, and the gruelling labour began to give him back problems.
Alone, worked to the bone and without any qualifications, there was little Tu could do to make his life better. Any dreams he had of lifting his family out of poverty slipped into a hopeless grind.
DOOR-TO-DOOR
In 2008, Blue Dragon found a family living in a run down hut by the sea. They told us that their son had dropped out of school and gone to Ho Chi Minh City in search of work.
We travelled to Ho Chi Minh City, rescued Tu, and brought him home to work with his family on a long-term support plan.
Tu didn’t want to go back to school as he felt overwhelmed by the thought of studying so many subjects at once. What he really wanted was to focus all his attention on the field that he dreamed of working in: hospitality.
“I wanted to go into hospitality because I always felt it has something to do with human emotion. Working in this field, I knew I would have many chances of talking and sharing with customers, which I believe is a way for me to get new perspectives on life.”
When we supported Tu to enrol in a vocational training course in hospitality at STREETS International in Hoi An, he never looked back.
“It changed my life!”
Tu (left) with his family.
Tu proudly holding his graduation certificate.
Tu making a speech at his graduation.
UNICORN
Tu’s passion for hospitality awakened his ambitions. Suddenly, he wanted to travel, to learn everything he could and to be the best he could possibly be in his field.
So, once he graduated from his vocational training course, Tu moved to Dubai to get firsthand experience working in top end hotels with people from different corners of the globe.
“The best thing about my time there was that I got to experience a multi-cultural environment and make friends from all over the world.”
After two years in Dubai, Tu spent several years working in bars and restaurants around Da Nang city. He soaked up all the knowledge he could, became passionate about professionalism and attention to detail, and began to pride himself on being the most attentive waiter possible.
“I felt very happy when receiving good feedback for my service. That was the biggest motivation for me to keep doing what I’m doing.”
When Tu felt confident enough, he decided it was time to start giving back to others who dreamed of pursuing hospitality. So, in 2020, he founded his own bartending academy called Unicorn.
GRATITUDE
Now Tu – the boy who grew up listening to the wind whistling through the broken walls of his makeshift home – is an expert in bringing comfort and relaxation to others.
His favourite thing about passing on his skills at Unicorn is the way that teaching helps to keep him on his toes while reminding him of how far he’s come.
“I love giving to others, because that’s the way I can continue to learn new knowledge. And sometimes it helps me recall knowledge that I’ve learned in the past just by sharing it with other people. I think every hardship is a lesson learned. After each lesson, I feel like I become more mature, thoughtful and responsible. When you’re given a chance, try to make the most out of it to transform your life. Gratitude is the best way to grow.”
Tu has grown and developed so much since his days carving wood for hours on end, and he has brought his family along with him – making sure they have a sturdy home with strong walls and a proper roof.
When Tu visits his parents now, he no longer has to listen to the sound of the wind whistling through the cracks; he no longer has to fear what might be on the horizon.
