Travelers seeking authentic experiences often desire more than just typical guided tours. Tubudd, a Vietnam-based tech platform, bridges the gap between travelers and local buddies to offer unique, customizable adventures. Whether you are exploring the vibrant streets of Hanoi, the bustling charm of Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang City,… Tubudd has a solution for everyone who wants to take a self-guided approach with the added benefit of local expertise.
Launching a career with a passion for travel
Tubudd was founded in Manchester in 2017, inspired by a group of young, diverse, and passionate individuals who recognized the universal need for assistance in overcoming language barriers and other challenges during travel.
After returning to Vietnam, Tubudd evolved into a valuable travel app, offering distinctive and limitless services that link tourists with local buddies. Through Tubudd’s app, travelers can select, connect, and book a Local Buddy based on their preferences, allowing them to customize their travel experience.
Understanding that no one can offer a more authentic and immersive experience than locals, Tubudd has spent the last seven years providing travelers with unique, engaging, and meaningful journeys in Vietnam, enriched by the insights of local guides.
Planning a Trip?
Check Out These Helpful Services:
Find the best flight deals
This is the site I recommend, you can check all the different prices.
Best accommodation prices
I highly recommend this one, it’s the best option right now for Paris.
The best way to get around is by car
Check out this site to rent a car and go at your own pace.
Why Choose Tubudd for Your Local Adventure?
Unlike traditional tour services, Tubudd offers a unique platform that connects travelers with local guides, enhancing self-guided adventures with professional insights. You can either book a tour guide or opt for self-guided itineraries tailored by local experts. Tubudd covers everything from history and architecture to food and local culture, giving you complete freedom to explore at your own pace. Tubudd offers you a personalized journey with a complete package of services, including visa services, private transportation, fare services, accommodation services, and relaxing spa treatments.
Local guides on Tubudd are vetted for their expertise, offering a personalized touch to your journey. You can select the areas of the city you wish to explore on the Tubudd app using your personal phone or computer and the experiences that matter most to you. Tubudd’s flexibility lets you decide whether to meet local guides for specific insights or take your journey into your own hands with self-guided tours.
Another advantage of Tubudd compared to traditional travel companies is that tourists are not required to follow a pre-arranged tour with other people. Instead, local guides assist travelers in planning their itinerary or accompany them to the destinations they wish to explore. Moreover, local guides also act as friendly companions for family travel groups and serve as interpreters for corporate events, conferences, and more.
The Role of Local Buddies in Creating Authentic Experiences
The value of a personal tour guide cannot be overstated, especially for travelers seeking deeper insights into Vietnamese culture. Tubudd’s platform helps you find a local tour buddy with specialized knowledge about everything from the region’s history to its culinary offerings. Whether you are wondering how to become a tour guide yourself, or you want to book a professional for your trip, Tubudd has everything you need to ensure an unforgettable experience.
For those who love the idea of a self-guided tour but also crave the interaction with a local expert, Tubudd’s network of guides can help. You can easily book a local guide for a short tour or hire them for more immersive experiences, such as a day-long exploration of hidden places in Hanoi Old Quarter. Tubudd’s user-friendly interface allows travelers to find a local tour guide, book a tour guide, or even meet local tour guides for more spontaneous adventures.
In addition, local buddies can also share useful information with tourists such as money changer in hanoi with best rates, relaxing spa services, bus routes, travel methods, visa services, etc.
Don’t forget to get travel insurance for your trip—get coverage for:
• Medical emergencies
• Stolen or lost goods
• Canceled flights and more
I’ve been using VISITORS COVERAGE for years and highly recommend it!
Tubudd’s success
Like many other startups, Tubudd faced numerous challenges in its early days, including seeking support in legal matters, finance, human resources, and funding. However, through connections with friends, reaching out to startup support organizations, and participating in various competitions, Tubudd gradually built its own “astronaut.”
Starting with domestic awards such as the Most Voted Startup, Top 10 Innovation for the Community, and Top 3 Community Entrepreneurs at Techfest 2018, Tubudd began to expand internationally. It secured achievements like being in the Top 10 at Pitch@Palace, Top 30 at Pitch@RISE Hong Kong 2018, and most notably, reaching the Top 6 at Vietchallenge, which earned them a spot in the finals in Boston. Tubudd has also been featured in major media outlets such as Báo Nhân Dân, Báo Đầu Tư, and on TV programs like Quốc Gia Khởi Nghiệp, Cà phê sáng, as well as on MBC News in South Korea.
Currently, Tubudd boasts a network of more than 1000 local buddies across 20 cities in 5 countries, with 700 buddies located in Vietnam alone. Tubudd processes over 150 bookings per month, mostly from international tourists. On social media, the Tubudd Facebook Fanpage has garnered more than 10K likes, while its Instagram account has over 12K followers. Tubudd is also a development partner with travel startups like Covivu, Trip.social, Huuk, dayladau.com, providing comprehensive travel services to customers.
What sets Tubudd apart in the market is not only its dynamic CEO team with a clear and specific development strategy grounded in technology, but also its extensive network of local buddies—tour guides fluent in multiple languages such as English, Korean, Russian, and Japanese.
Tubudd’s mission: Development strategy based on Vietnamese talent.
Tubudd has always been oriented toward growth by leveraging the capabilities of the Vietnamese people. Tubudd has more clearly defined its mission to become a platform that gathers talented young Vietnamese, offering them an environment and job opportunities to “run their own business” with their skills and take control of their lives. Tubudd has outlined plans to categorize, train, and standardize professional criteria for this emerging career into three groups:
- Local Buddy: Wander around Vietnam like a local.
- The Business Buddy: Local assistants for business tasks.
- Health Buddy: Local health and wellness supporters.
Through this mission, Tubudd encourages young people to improve their language skills, deepen their knowledge of local culture, and enhance problem-solving abilities, with the goal of becoming specialized buddies in the future.
At the event announcing the new mission and goals, Annie Vu – CEO of Tubudd stated: “After COVID-19, Vietnam has become one of the best destinations worldwide for travel and tourism. To create a safer and more sustainable tourism environment in Vietnam, Tubudd must focus on two key tasks: classifying buddies to meet the diverse needs of tourists and standardizing their expertise through training programs so that they can be more professional and earn a better income. These are significant goals, and we need substantial support and collaboration to make Vietnamese tourism more appealing and convenient for visitors.
Explore Tubudd today and let your next adventure be one filled with authentic connections and unforgettable moments.
Tubudd revolutionizes the travel experience by combining the flexibility of self-guided tours with the richness of local knowledge. Instead of traditional tours, you’ll experience life like a local, wandering through the narrow alleys of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, savoring the street coffee culture of Saigon, and connecting with local friends who truly know their home. Whether you want to find a tour guide, book a professional, or embark on a self-guided walking tour in Vietnam’s most exciting cities, Tubudd has you covered. Explore the beauty of Vietnam with the freedom to create your own path, while benefiting from the expertise of local guides.
Tubudd is not just a platform—it’s your bridge to real local connections
Disclosure: This blog post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission for any purchases made through the links. Your trust is important to us, and we ensure that all products or services we recommend meet or exceed our editorial standards.
Last Updated on October 10, 2025
