Two enterprising young men founded a non-profit digital technology website, one of Vietnam’s largest of its kind, to gather local buffs, and run a company which produces well-loved leather accessories for high-end smart tools.

Tran Manh Hiep, known among local netizens as Cuhiep, is one of the two co-founders of tinhte.vn, one of the country’s major non-profit websites on digital technology.

Hiep, a great enthusiast in hi-tech products, often felt stifled by the outdated information provided in the few local forums on digital technology several years ago.

He cherished the plan of building his own website, which now offers the latest information and news on hi-tech products.

Hiep then got to known Dinh Huu Thanh, known online as dihuta, who was jointly running a company in information technology with a friend.

In 2006, Thanh decided to withdraw from the company and jointly founded the tinhte.vn website with Hiep.

The free online ‘house’

Tinhte.vn is open and free to anyone, including non-members, who can visit and contribute writings to the website.

Hiep found many free videos online which demonstrated the uses and features of new hi-tech products in great detail and different languages.

He adopted the same approach for his website, which is now full of writings on new hi-tech products and video clips which vividly demonstrate their uses and features. 

“Hi-tech users, not producers, are who our website targets. So our writings aren’t financially affected or for advertising purposes,” Hiep affirmed.

Though Hiep and Thanh received several offers to buy the copyright to their website, they turned them all down, as they want their “brainchild” to be free from financial influence.

The “general headquarters” of tinhte.vn is Tinh Te Café on Vuon Chuoi Street in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 3.

In its early days, the café sustained monthly losses of some VND20 million (US$941), as most of its clients were hi-tech buffs who could have a drink and sit from morning till dusk. 

Now, after moving to a larger place in District 10 on February 3, the café enjoys higher profits, with many of its clientele being the tinhte.vn website readers.

Carving names on smart products’ accessories

While tinhte.vn is Hiep and Thanh’s playground, their business is elsewhere.

Tapping into the surging demand for carving personal names on accessories and hi-tech toys, as soon as their website was founded, the two young men also launched their business in designing and printing leather cases and sticky pads for hi-tech products.

Their other website, “khacten.com,” is also a favorite among local hi-tech aficionados.

Each design is custom-made dependent on the clients’ tastes and requirements.

With many of the twosome’s products highly appreciated by established international electronics firms, Hiep and Thanh now cherish their ambition to export their products to the U.S., UK and Japan.

Hiep also held charity trips, joined by the website members, and hi-tech product auctions to raise funds for locals in disaster-prone areas and to support needy kids’ education.

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