In The Friday Morning 119, Mr. Vu Van Tuyen, the innovative founder of Travelogy Vietnam, brought his wealth of experience as an English and French-speaking tour guide to Tubudd’s team with Touching the Heart of Travel - Marketing & Sales Mastery. With a career rooted in crafting unforgettable travel experiences, Vu shared how to sell not just services but emotions. At Tubudd, a digital-first platform centered on Local Buddies, his insights on reading customers, building trust, and leveraging branding were pure gold.

A Guide Who Sells Stories

Vu Van Tuyen’s journey in travel began as a multilingual guide, where he learned that tourism thrives on emotional connection. Founded Travelogy Vietnam in 2009, he built a brand that survived challenges like Covid-19 by focusing on sustainable, community-driven experiences. “Travel isn’t about selling a tour—it’s about touching the customer’s heart,” he said, kicking off the event. At Tubudd, where Local Buddies guide travelers through authentic experiences, Vu’s philosophy aligns perfectly. His knack for reading clients—spotting needs in a single email—and his strategic approach to branding made him the ideal host to inspire Tubudd’s team to elevate their marketing and sales game.

Engaging Emotions Through Marketing and Sales

The session buzzed with Vu’s practical wisdom, blending Tubudd’s digital edge with travel’s emotional core. He started with a question: “What’s one customer interaction that taught you something?” Stories poured in—a tricky email exchange, a last-minute booking win—setting a reflective tone. Vu stressed that sales is about understanding clients’ personalities through subtle cues, like an email’s tone, to gauge their needs and close deals. “You can’t change their attitude, but you can shift yours,” he noted, echoing Tubudd’s focus on proactive problem-solving.

Vu then dove into marketing, praising Tubudd’s cohesive branding—vibrant colors, sleek designs, and a consistent identity that resonates with international travelers. Unlike traditional agencies with inconsistent visuals, Tubudd’s digital presence is “refined, trendy, and memorable,” he said. He urged the team to lean into this strength, using visuals and stories to evoke the six senses. “Travel isn’t tangible until you’re there,” he explained. “Give clients a link, a video, or a Local Buddy’s story to feel it.” A group activity followed: pitch a Tubudd experience, like a Hanoi railway tour. Teams crafted ideas—videos showcasing Local Buddies at the train tracks, guides explaining nem chua rán stalls, or sensory descriptions of coffee aromas. Vu’s feedback was sharp: “Touch their eyes, ears, nose—make them feel Hanoi before they arrive.”

He highlighted common sales pitfalls, like assuming clients understand “5-star” hotels. “Explain it,” he urged. “A boutique hotel feels vintage, charming—300-500 euros. A modern building? Convenient but cold, 200 euros. A retreat like Amanoi, with sea views and rare red-tailed turtles, starts at 700 euros for healing vibes.” His point? Match the product to the client’s emotions—make them feel smart, lucky, or inspired. Tubudd’s Local Buddy service, he noted, isn’t a traditional tour but a human connection, requiring sales to focus on personal value over packaged products. His challenge? “Create one sensory-driven pitch this week—sell the feeling, not just the service.”

Key takeaways included: Read clients deeply—“An email reveals their personality.” Evoke senses—“A video of a water puppet show beats a brochure.” Stay consistent—“Tubudd’s brand colors stick in minds.” Vu tied it to Tubudd’s digital-first model: “You’re not selling trains or hotels—you’re selling Local Buddies who bring Vietnam to life.” Employees left with ideas—social posts about Hanoi’s 37 streets, reels of Local Buddy-led village tours, or emails explaining boutique stays versus resorts.

A Culture of Emotional Connection

Tubudd’s culture—innovative, human-centric, and digitally savvy—came alive in the session. Vu’s emphasis on emotional engagement mirrored the company’s Local Buddy ethos, where experiences trump transactions. He reframed sales challenges as opportunities: a hesitant client becomes a chance to build trust; a hot Ho Chi Minh City day transforms into a moment to hand out water bottles with a message: “Tubudd’s with you, even in the heat.” “We can’t control their emotions, but we can control our actions,” he said, inspiring the team to use gentle, clever language to win hearts.

The session also celebrated staff contributions, with Vu suggesting internal recognition—articles, videos, or social posts—to showcase employees’ impact. “Clients trust a company through its people,” he said. One attendee reflected, “Vu made sales feel like storytelling—I’m rethinking my emails.” Another noted, “He showed us how to turn a ‘no’ into a ‘not yet’ with the right vibe.” The Admin Team’s handbook updates from TFM #117 (memory: April 17, 2025, 23:41) echoed here, reinforcing Tubudd’s clear, supportive policies as a foundation for creative sales.

A Blueprint for Heartfelt Success

The Friday Morning 119 was Vu Van Tuyen at his finest—strategic, passionate, and laser-focused on emotions. He didn’t just teach marketing and sales; he showed how to fill gaps and scratch itches, as he put it: “Product plus marketing fills the void; sales adapts to reality.” By tapping into the six senses and Tubudd’s digital strengths, he gave the team tools to make every pitch unforgettable. From Hanoi’s railway vibes to boutique hotel charm, his insights will shape how Tubudd connects travelers with Local Buddies.

“Thanks, Vu,” one employee said, “for making sales feel human.” With his challenge in play—craft a sensory pitch—the team’s ready to sell not just services but stories that linger. Here’s to marketing and sales that touch the heart, one Local Buddy at a time.

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