Nguyễn Hà Linh
"The 250K Girl" — from handing out flyers to a Thai restaurant chain and a 2.6M-member community
Who is Nguyễn Hà Linh?
Nguyen Ha Linh (born 1988 in Hanoi) is the founder of the Thai restaurant chain Koh Yam (~10 branches) and creator of the "Nghien Nha" Facebook group with 2.6M members. She started her first business at 18 with just 250,000 VND, later lost 7B VND on the Koh Samui coconut ice cream chain before restructuring into Koh Yam Thai. She was named Forbes Vietnam 30 Under 30 in 2016.
Notable Quotes
“I've never seen it as failure — it's simply stumbling.”
“80% of the business owners I know and admire have exceptional instincts for sales and marketing.”
“The Northern market follows trends fast, and forgets them just as fast. The real challenge is building a sustainable business model.”
Advice
Sales & Marketing are survival skills
No matter how good your product is, if nobody knows about it, it's meaningless. 80% of successful business owners excel at sales & marketing.
Build sustainable, don't chase trends
The 7 billion VND lesson from Koh Samui — Vietnamese markets follow trends fast but forget them just as fast.
People are the root of your brand
F&B success depends on your chef and manager. Partners must share the same vision.
Key Highlights
- ✓Started with 250,000 VND ($10) at age 18, day one revenue: 120 million VND
- ✓Lost 7 billion VND with Koh Samui → rebuilt as Koh Yam Thai (~10 branches)
- ✓Forbes Vietnam 30 Under 30 (2016)
- ✓Founded Nghiện Nhà — 2.6 million member community
Biography
Nguyễn Hà Linh (b. 1988, Hanoi) dropped out of university in her third year. At 18, with just 250,000 VND (~$10), she launched an IELTS class — day one brought in 120 million VND. She expanded into F&B with Koh Samui coconut ice cream, lost ~7 billion VND, then rebuilt as Koh Yam Thai. Now operating ~10 branches with "Vietnamized" Thai recipes. Forbes 30 Under 30 (2016). In 2020, she founded "Nghiện Nhà" — a 2.6M-member home design community.
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Articles & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
›Who is Nguyen Ha Linh?
Nguyen Ha Linh (born 1988 in Hanoi) is a young Vietnamese entrepreneur, founder of the Thai restaurant chain Koh Yam (~10 branches) and the "Nghien Nha" Facebook group with 2.6M members. She was named Forbes Vietnam 30 Under 30 in 2016.
›What is Koh Yam Thai and who owns it?
Koh Yam Thai is a Thai restaurant chain founded by Nguyen Ha Linh after restructuring from the failed Koh Samui coconut ice cream chain. It operates ~10 branches with a "Vietnamese-adapted" Thai formula — a sustainable model rather than a trend chase.
›When did Nguyen Ha Linh start her first business?
At 18, with just 250,000 VND, she opened an IELTS prep class — her first day brought in 120M VND. She dropped out of university in her 3rd year to focus fully on entrepreneurship, later moving into F&B.
›Why did Nguyen Ha Linh's Koh Samui chain fail?
The Koh Samui coconut ice cream chain failed because it rode a trend rather than building a sustainable model — the Vietnamese market picks up trends fast but drops them just as fast. She lost 7B VND and learned that model sustainability trumps hot trends.
›What is the "Nghien Nha" group about?
Nghien Nha is a Facebook group founded by Nguyen Ha Linh in 2020, now with 2.6M members. It focuses on home, interior design and lifestyle — one of the largest homemaker communities in Vietnam.
Other Experts
Nguyễn Hải Ninh
Serial entrepreneur — from Urban Station to The Coffee House, M Village, and Every Half
Sanae Takasugi
Co-founder & Deputy CEO of Pizza 4P's — architect of the "Oneness" culture from pizza to life philosophy
Đào Thế Vinh
Chairman & CEO of Golden Gate — Vietnam's largest restaurant group with 40+ brands and 500+ locations
Trần Lệ Nguyên
Vice Chairman & CEO of KIDO Group — from confectionery empire to ice cream, cooking oil, and F&B chains
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