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In 2009, while studying at RMIT University, for one of my assignments, I came up with the business idea of an entertainment center for kids in Vietnam inspired by my own childhood playing with rubber bands, rocks and paper dolls. That simple joy sparked my dream to one day help create better childhood experiences for Vietnamese children. Though I didn’t submit the idea, my co-founder Thomas Ngo and I turned it into a startup. After nine months of market research and preparation, we launched Vietnam’s first edutainment center, tiNiWorld, on 12 September 2009. From humble beginnings, tiNiWorld has served over 80 million customers nationwide up to date. Our company has successfully raised over $70 million in private equity and now employs over 1,500 people across Vietnam.
Stay resilient and committed to your mission, even when things seem impossible.
While conducting market research for tiNiWorld idea in 2009, I discovered a significant gap between the growing demand for children’s play spaces in Vietnam and the limited options available. Growing up playing on the street side, often in the rain or under the scorching sun, I dreamed of creating a better, safer play environment for future generations.
I was motivated to introduce more engaging, educational experiences through the “learn through play” concept into the kid playgrounds. On our opening day, seeing the joy, laughter, and connection between children and their parents deeply moved me. That moment revealed my true mission: to bring smiles and meaningful childhood memories to kids across Vietnam. I knew this was more than a business and that vision continues to drive everything I do today.
The biggest challenge we faced was during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2023. As a children’s entertainment business, we were among the first to close and the last to reopen. Our revenue dropped to zero during many lockdown periods, yet we still had to cover significant fixed costs. It was an incredibly tough time, but our strong company culture and “never give up” mindset kept us going.
We focused on what mattered most - our customers - and slowly rebuilt the business. My advice to others in this industry and in any business in general: cash is king, maintain a contingency fund to weather tough times. And above all, stay resilient and committed to your mission, even when things seem impossible.
My connection to the RMIT network has been a meaningful part of my journey. It not only gave me the foundation to launch my first business idea but continues to inspire me to give back. I’m also honored to serve on the Advisory Board for the RMIT Alumni community, which has allowed me to expand my network and stay connected with other professionals and business leaders.
Looking ahead, I hope to contribute more to the community by offering internships and job opportunities to students. I also have a personal dream to return to RMIT one day as a lecturer, sharing my entrepreneurial experiences with future generations.