Holding a microphone with a warm, friendly smile, Truong Van Canh, 28, Thang An Ward, Da Nang City passionately chats in English with children participating in an outdoor educational activity.

Looking at this energetic and cheerful young man, few would guess he endured an intensely difficult childhood. 

Canh was born in a poor rural area in Binh Dao Commune (Thang Binh District, former Quang Nam Province). Domestic violence and his mother’s departure left him withdrawn and unable to connect with friends. The boy often isolated himself in a corner of the house.

During the time his mother was away, Canh stayed with relatives. It was not until he was six years old, when his mother returned, that he began speaking and was finally able to attend school.

Those hard years continued until his school organized a trip to Da Nang. It was the first time Canh had ever left his poor village and seen a larger world.

But it was not until ninth grade that he realized that if he never stepped outside, his life would remain confined to the countryside. After the school year ended, he cycled more than four hours from Binh Dao to Hoi An to search for new experiences.

Despite the hardship and early labor, Canh excelled academically. But after graduating from high school, his father became seriously ill, forcing him to postpone university and work to support his mother.

A journey around the world

While working at a café, Canh met a boss who inspired him. The man encouraged him to continue studying and pursue his dreams.

Following that advice, he began learning English and enrolled in hotel and tourism management. Throughout university, he worked nights at a hotel in Da Nang.

On days off, he volunteered as a tour guide to practice English. Through this work, he learned about the international cruise industry, where employees could work while traveling around the world.

Canh then boldly applied to Royal Caribbean Group, one of the world’s largest cruise companies based in Miami, Florida. In 2019, he passed the interview process, obtained a US visa, and planned to depart the following year.

Then Covid-19 struck, freezing the tourism industry and putting his plans on hold. To make ends meet, he took manual labor jobs in Dong Nai and Hoi An while continuing to apply to foreign companies.

Eventually, Canh was accepted by Concentrix Malaysia, a subsidiary of the US-based technology services group Concentrix. After more than a year living and working in Malaysia, his application with the American cruise company was reactivated.

He resigned from his job to join the five-star cruise ship Voyager of the Seas operated by Royal Caribbean International, beginning his journey around the world.

On board, Canh worked in the food and beverage department, serving buffet meals, pizza, and room service for passengers and about 1,400 crew members. His shifts often ran from 10:30am. until 1:30am. the next day.

“The work was truly demanding and required many sacrifices. One of the hardest things was the loneliness, because life revolved almost entirely around the ship and felt separated from the outside world. In return, I gained so much,” he recalled.

After five years living and working abroad, Canh realized that the farther he traveled, the more he wanted to return home. In 2025, he completed a 40-day motorbike journey around Vietnam before deciding to settle and work in his homeland.

In 2026, Canh launched his own experiential education and school tourism center in Da Nang, serving as founder and director.

“I went through periods of depression and low self-esteem. I lacked soft skills and lacked an environment for personal growth. So I understand how children in rural areas can feel when they have no opportunity to see the world beyond their village.

That is why I built an experiential educational tourism model that takes students out of the classroom and lets them touch history, culture, and nature through real outdoor trips,” he said.

Here, English becomes a tool that helps children confidently communicate with international volunteers at historical sites, museums, and scenic attractions in Da Nang.

“By combining soft skills training, critical thinking, and independence, I hope to create a positive educational environment that gives children inner strength and the confidence they need as future citizens,” he said.

Ha Nguyen