Telling story of local culture on digital platforms: New approach for tourism

As a young person passionate about revising traditional crafts in the "talent oasis" Kim Bong in Hoi An Ward, Ms. Pham Thi Cong, the owner of the Kim Bong Sedge Handicraft Production Facility (Kiboco), has partnered with the team of LocalLife platform (LocalLife.Asia) to create online content promoting her hometown's culture on the digital space.

Short films capturing every stage of sedge mat making, from splitting and sun-drying sedge to dyeing and weaving, allow visitors to gain deeper insights into the traditional craft through their smartphones and online channels.

“We hope that with the support of technology, local tourism products will spread widely to domestic and international tourists” Ms. Cong shared.

According to Mr. Tran Dang Huy, co-founder of LocalLife, amid the growing popularity of experiential and green tourism, many travelers are choosing rural areas and craft villages to immerse themselves in local life or seek out peaceful natural spaces.

For example, in Da Nang, there are experiential tours such as pottery making in the Thanh Ha Pottery Village in Hoi An Tay Ward, carpentry at Kim Bong Village in Hoi An Ward, exploring Co Tu culture at community-based tourism destinations in the highlands of the city, and SUP paddling combined with coral snorkeling off the Son Tra Peninsula in Son Tra Ward.

Seizing the trend, Mr. Huy and his colleagues decided to launch LocalLife as an online travel agency (OTA) that connects local service providers, primarily residents engaged in tourism, with travelers.

On the platform's app and website interface, information and images of scenic spots, historical sites, destinations, and local people across various regions, including Da Nang, are shared visually and comprehensively. This allows travelers to easily access updated information, learn about destinations, and make optimal, cost-effective choices for their trips.

The platform also enables local communities to create their own accounts, share their stories through photos and videos, and connect directly with tourists to organize tours or experiential activities.

In late July 2025, LocalLife.Asia, a pioneering community-based tourism platform aimed at preserving Vietnamese and Asian cultural identities, won the first prize at the Da Nang Innovation Startup Competition (SURF) 2025.

Currently, LocalLife continues to expand its network, connecting with travel enthusiasts, content creators, and travel bloggers nationwide to generate fresh content for the platform.

All videos and images published are carefully curated to ensure users access high-value content, thereby vividly portraying the friendliness of Vietnamese people, the beauty of the country’s natural landscapes, and the depth of Vietnamese culture shaped by thousands of years of history.