With only a smartphone in hand, the barefoot man glides his phone from high to low, zooming in and out with remarkable control to capture not just smiling faces, but sweeping skies and waterfalls.

Video footage shared online shows the ice cream man in action, filming with precision and joy. Source: Hon Son Island

His camera work has been praised as “professional-level” by visitors, who say he films like a seasoned videographer. After each clip, he nods warmly, puts his phone away, and returns to his cart to scoop out more ice cream for waiting customers.

Short clips of this barefoot vendor - filming tourists with care and artistry - have been spreading across social media. The man is a local icon of Hon Son island, part of Kien Hai district in An Giang province (formerly part of Kien Giang).

Travelers now say that meeting him is a must-do experience on the island.

The video clip the vendor filmed for Thao and her group during their December trip to Hon Son.

Thao, a tourist from Tay Ninh, shared her story: “My colleagues and I came to Hon Son for a two-day trip. I had seen his videos on TikTok, so I asked if he could film for us. He was cheerful and passionate - no stabilizer, no tripod - yet the footage came out so smooth and steady.”

She added, “He refused to take any payment. He was so focused on filming that he sometimes forgot he was actually there to sell ice cream.”

“He helps anyone who asks,” Thao said. “We bought his ice cream to show support - it was only about 40 cents a scoop (USD 0.40), homemade, and incredibly delicious. Real traditional flavors.”

The man creating all this buzz is Tran Van Tuan, 40, a resident of Hon Son island. He said his videography hobby was self-taught, born out of a simple desire to help visitors enjoy their stay.

“I often see tourists fumbling with how to pose or shoot their videos. It’s a shame when they come all the way here and leave without capturing the beauty of this place. Since I’m from the island, I know the best spots,” Tuan shared.

He’s been filming for guests for the past 3–4 years and is now fluent with any smartphone camera. He even guides tourists on how to pose or wave to match his camera movements perfectly.

“I don’t charge anything. I just enjoy helping people. If they’re happy and share the video online, that’s even better - more people get to know about Hon Son, and that makes me happy too,” he said.

Tuan’s main job is selling homemade ice cream. You’ll often find him near the “nameless waterfall” or at Bai Bang beach. His recipes were passed down from his father, who started selling ice cream on the island in 1984.

“Our ice cream is handmade using milk, sugar, and coconut. It takes over 10 hours to make a single batch. We have coconut, durian, chocolate, red bean, and black bean flavors. Coconut is the best-seller. I used to only sell to locals, which was enough to support my family, but now with more tourists, things are even better,” he said.

His busiest season runs from May to October, during peak tourism. Tuan admits that sometimes he gets so absorbed in filming that he forgets to sell ice cream, leaving customers waiting - or ending up with unsold stock.

He isn’t concerned about his online fame. What matters to him is helping tourists feel welcomed and happy. For Tuan, this is his way of giving back and putting Hon Son on the map.

Often dubbed the “untouched gem” of An Giang, Hon Son is an 11-square-kilometer island ringed by six pristine beaches. It draws visitors with its wild natural beauty, clear air, fresh seafood, and warm-hearted locals. The population is modest, consisting mainly of fishermen and gardeners.

Tourists to Hon Son often swim at Bai Bang, hike to catch the sunrise on Ma Thien Lanh peak, explore coastal fishing villages, and feast on freshly caught seafood.

The seafood here is especially renowned - plump fish, squid, shrimp, crabs, and sea urchins are caught fresh daily. At Thien Tue market, visitors can buy the catch of the day for just two-thirds the price found at other island destinations.

Linh Trang