Starting a business in the heritage land of Hoi An

l1(1).jpg — Mr. Nguyen Van Tien (Thomas Tien). Photo: NV

Branding

The beginning of Little Hoi An Group is associated with the journey of Chairman Thomas Tien, a newcomer to the tourism industry.

Nearly 15 years ago, from Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Tien visited his friend in Hoi An. He was surprised and curious when he saw many tourists visiting the old town. “What is it that makes Hoi An so attractive? Is it because of the people, landscape, culture, and heritage here?” – Mr. Tien asked and answered for himself.

A bold idea arose in Mr. Tien's mind about an architectural accommodation project - a miniature Hoi An with products and services imbued with the spirit and beauty of the heritage land.

In 2012, Little Hoi An Hotel was born at 2 Thoai Ngoc Hau, starting an inspiring journey. Although small in scale (30 rooms), Little Hoi An seems to contain all the cultural quintessence and the pure humanity of Hoi An people.

Thomas Tien shared that from the beginning, he oriented Little Hoi An to become a boutique hotel chain, taking Hoi An people and culture as a guideline for development. Therefore, the unit mainly recruited local staff to spread Hoi An culture and the culinary quintessence of Quang Nam , Vietnam to international friends.

“Our slogan is “The Heart of Hoi An People”, which not only shows the hospitality of the company’s leadership and staff but also affirms the core values that the group wants to introduce to customers when using services at Little Hoi An” – Mr. Tien explained.

From the initial success, in 2014, Mr. Tien continued to launch La Residencia hotel with 49 comfortable rooms and a modern temperature-controlled swimming pool, marking the first step of development of Little Hoi An. Next was Little Beach (106 rooms) at Cua Dai beach, then Allegro Hoi An (2018), 5-star standard with 93 rooms (about 200m from Chua Cau); Little Riverside with 42 rooms along the Thu Bon River (2019) ... forming a chain of luxurious and classy hotels in Hoi An as well as the Central region.

Many international tourists have chosen Little Hoi An as their accommodation for their sightseeing tour. Photo: VL

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the Little Hoi An brand has been further affirmed with the launch of the Little Oasis hotel on the banks of the Do River (132 rooms) in 2023. With its rustic resort architecture, Little Oasis has become a new highlight in the chain system. It is expected that by the end of this year, Little Group will welcome a new member, the high-end restaurant and bar Little Dune at Tan Thanh beach, continuing the beautiful story of a brand and Thomas Tien's love for the heritage land.

Grateful to Hoi An

Recalling the years of the COVID-19 pandemic when global tourism froze, the Little Hotel chain also almost stagnated. Faced with the difficult decision of having to close the entire system, meaning employees were unemployed.

Unable to let workers lose their jobs and income, Mr. Tien decided to sell the land fund planned to build a hotel in Da Nang City, the villa his family was living in, and even transfer the Little Beach brand to a partner to have funds to maintain operations and support the salaries of the staff even though they only work two sessions per week.

Little Group always takes local culture and people as a guideline for development. Photo: VL

When Vietnam officially reopened tourism (March 15, 2022), Little Hoi An quickly started operating. Thanks to careful preparation and a reasonable business strategy, in less than 2 years, the hotel chain has fully recovered, even rising to the top of the region. The business has paid off all bank debts. Mr. Thomas Tien has turned difficulties into a springboard for sustainable development.

“The Group always prioritizes recruiting people from Hoi An, Quang Nam because we want to spread the rustic beauty, honesty, kindness and hospitality of the people here to international friends. We believe that for each employee, the Group not only provides career opportunities but also builds sustainable values with them, contributing to preserving and promoting the cultural identity of Hoi An. This is also a way for us to repay this land,” Mr. Tien confided.

“
Chain
Little Hotel currently owns more than 450 rooms and a culinary service system at 2
Large restaurant in the old town and Tan Thanh beach, serving more than 600 diners. System
The group's ecosystem also expands with a fleet of more than 20 vehicles and tour services.
professional calendar, creating jobs for nearly 700 workers, part
mostly local

Looking back on 12 years of starting a business in the heritage land of Hoi An, Mr. Nguyen Van Tien feels proud and grateful. Proud because from a small initial idea, Little Hoi An has developed into a large brand with 6 hotels, 2 restaurants and a large staff of nearly 700 people.

Grateful for the fact that on the entrepreneurial journey, besides my own efforts, I also have the support of a united, dedicated team; the trust of customers, especially the support and companionship from the local government and community.

“Every step, every milestone that Little Hoi An achieves has profound meaning, but what I cherish most is the value that Little brings, which is not only unique resort experiences for guests, but also career opportunities and jobs for the people of Hoi An, Quang Nam.

With passion and determination, Mr. Nguyen Van Tien is aiming to build Little Group into a strong brand in Vietnam and internationally. Photo: VL

For me, the success of Little Group, in addition to the numbers, is extremely important in building a brand with heart and vision, truly creating an impression in the hearts of tourists. Therefore, local culture and people always play a decisive role in every development of Little Hoi An, aiming to bring core values, contributing to enhancing the beauty and quintessence of the land, firmly affirming the Little Hoi An brand on the map of Vietnamese and international tourism" - Mr. Thomas Tien confided.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/khoi-nghiep-tren-vung-dat-di-san-hoi-an-3144741.html