Growing together as a community
Growing together as a community
Minh Khoi DoDom’s Residence
Minh Khoi Do — Dom’s Residence
📍Hanoi, Vietnam

When Khoi first tried hosting on Airbnb, he was simply experimenting to find a more flexible way to make use of his family apartment in Hanoi. However, it did not occur to him that his experiment would soon become something meaningful and much bigger than himself. Today, Khoi is hosting on Airbnb full-time and his work supports a wider network of local suppliers, cafés, spas, and artisans.
Check out Khoi’s listing in Hanoi
For me, success is not just about how many rooms we have. It’s about how many people can grow together within the community and the ecosystem we are building. That’s something I’m truly proud of.
A family home that grew into an ecosystem

Khoi was born and raised in Hanoi, and his early career took him through corporate roles in Vietnam and abroad before starting his own business in 2017. That was also when he discovered Airbnb. At first, his family had been renting out an apartment long-term, but the income was limited and they had little flexibility to use the space themselves.Airbnb changed that. Within a few months, Khoi saw that hosting was the path forward. More importantly, he began to see the possibility of building a hospitality service and experience that benefits more than just him and his family.

At the beginning, it was about income and flexibility. But over time, it became something much more meaningful to me. Somewhere in the middle, I realised that hosting is not simply renting out rooms. It’s about creating experiences, making people feel welcomed in Vietnam, and helping them build memories they will carry for the rest of their lives.
Helping guests discover the neighbourhood
Helping guests discover the neighbourhood
Khoi sees hosting as an opportunity to introduce guests to the people and places that give his neighbourhood its character. As a host, he often shares recommendations for local businesses such as Kafebean, Amora Spa, and Pho Khoi, helping guests discover places they might otherwise miss.Those recommendations often become part of his guests’ daily routine. Someone staying at his Airbnb listing may return to the same neighbourhood café every morning, bringing steady business and building a familiar connection with the people who work there.Khoi also features products and workshops from local artisans in his spaces. Guests can learn how coffee is grown in Dalat before enjoying a cup, or hear the story behind a handcrafted mosaic before taking one home. For the artisans, this creates opportunities to gain customers, reach international visitors, and share the meaning behind their work.

Guests do not simply drink coffee or buy a piece of art. They hear the story behind it, and the experience feels much more real.
Guests do not simply drink coffee or buy a piece of art. They hear the story behind it, and the experience feels much more real.
Making a young man’s dream come true
Making a young man’s dream come true

Khoi’s positive impact as a host extends to the people he employs at his Airbnb listing too. The clearest example of this impact is Dong.Dong comes from the San Chi ethnic minority community in Vietnam’s mountains. When Khoi first met him in 2017, Dong had just finished secondary school and had no formal experience. What he did have was a willingness to learn. Khoi first brought him into his restaurant business, then later into the Airbnb listing he is hosting.Over time, Dong learned housekeeping, technical work, building systems, and guest services. Guests came to know him for his warmth, attitude, and smile. When Dong’s father passed away in a tragic accident in 2025, Khoi decided to give him a bonus. With that, Dong was able to rebuild his family home – a dream he had carried for years.

It was a very difficult time for him, he carries the whole family on his back. His dream was to rebuild his family home and now he has done it. He truly deserves it.

Hosting responsibly in the neighbourhood
As his hosting business grew, Khoi never forgets the cornerstone of hosting which is being a responsible host. He believes responsible hosting starts with respect for the neighbourhood. His team informs guests about house rules before check-in, manages quiet hours strictly, keeps staff available around the clock, and maintains security cameras in external common areas and fire safety equipment on every floor.For Khoi, the goal is to prevent problems before they happen. That means being transparent with neighbours, maintaining consistent standards, supporting local businesses and community activities, and remembering that the neighbourhood is home to others first.

We always remind ourselves: this is their home first, and our business comes second. When you respect the community, they will support you back.
We always remind ourselves: this is their home first, and our business comes second. When you respect the community, they will support you back.
Building a stronger hosting ecosystem
Khoi’s vision now extends beyond his own Airbnb listing. More hosts in Hanoi have begun turning to him for advice on how to start, improve operations, reduce costs, and create better guest experiences. He wants to build support systems that help other hosts with services such as technical support, luggage storage, transportation, local recommendations, and guest services.His belief is simple: when more hosts improve, the whole ecosystem becomes stronger. Better hosting creates better guest experiences and supports more local businesses. Stronger local businesses help tourism deliver broader value to the community.
Check out Khoi’s listing in Hanoi
What I’m most proud of is not just the business itself but the system of people and value that has grown around it. From my own team, where many people started with very basic roles and now have stable careers, to local partners like coffee shops, spas, and artisans who benefit from our guests every day. And now, even other hosts in the city, including many new ones, are coming to me for advice and support. I share openly everything I’ve learned, because I believe when they grow, we all grow.





