Nguyễn Hà Linh

"The 250K Girl" — from handing out flyers to a Thai restaurant chain and a 2.6M-member community

Notable Quotes

“I've never seen it as failure — it's simply stumbling.”
Source: Báo Đầu tư

“80% of the business owners I know and admire have exceptional instincts for sales and marketing.”
Source: CafeF

“The Northern market follows trends fast, and forgets them just as fast. The real challenge is building a sustainable business model.”
Source: CafeF

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.