When I first stepped into Haga SmartTech years ago, I was just looking for someone to fix my phone. What I didn’t know was that behind the counter was someone with one of the most inspiring life stories I’ve ever heard.
My guest today is Hanh, the founder of Haga SmartTech, to learn more about her journey—from growing up in a small village, working in a factory at age 14, to becoming a successful business owner trusted by expats all over Vietnam.
Let’s figure out 5 reasons why you should choose Haga SmartTech and listen to her story of resilience, community, language, and the power of helping others.
Haga SmartTech – 5 Reasons To Choose
There are a lot of places in Ho Chi Minh City where you can get your phone or laptop fixed, but I keep coming back to Haga SmartTech, and I know I’m not the only one. After sitting down with Hanh, the founder, and hearing her full story, it’s even clearer why this place stands out.
1. They Speak English
This might sound simple, but if you’re a foreigner in Vietnam, you know how rare (and valuable) this is. Hanh and her team speak English confidently and clearly. Hanh learned English herself while working full-time and studying at night, and now she trains her staff to do the same. Communication is smooth, and you feel understood.
2. They’re Trained to Work with Expats
Located in Thao Dien, Haga SmartTech isn’t just about fixing devices—it’s about service. Hanh noticed that foreigners living in Vietnam need a place they can trust with their valuable tech. She brings her background in tourism and hospitality into the shop, making it feel welcoming and reliable. Her staff are trained to understand different accents and use body language and clear communication to help solve problems fast.
3. The Customer Service is Excellent
I’ve used Haga for years, and the customer service is honestly outstanding. They’re quick to respond, always polite, and they genuinely care. Hanh runs her business like a family, and that attitude shows in every interaction. Whether it’s something big or small, you know they’ll go the extra mile.
4. Used and Recommended by Me (Niall Mackay)
I’m just a happy customer who’s always had a great experience. And after hearing Hanh’s journey—from working 18-hour days at age 14 to becoming the CEO of this amazing business—I’ve got even more respect for what she’s built.
5. They Give Back to the Community
Haga SmartTech doesn’t just serve customers—they serve the community. During COVID, Hanh organized food donations for months. She also gives small loans to women to help start businesses and donates refurbished laptops to students who need them. When you support Haga, you’re also supporting local charity.
But what truly sets Haga SmartTech apart isn’t just the service or the skills—it’s the story behind it. Hanh’s journey to becoming a successful business owner is nothing short of remarkable. Before she was running a trusted tech repair shop for expats, she was a 14-year-old girl working in a factory to support her sick parents. What she’s built today is the result of years of hard work, determination, and a deep desire to help others. Here’s how it all began.
From Factory Work to Founding a Tech Company: Hanh’s Remarkable Journey
It surprised me how a 14-year-old girl left her village to work in a garment factory in Ho Chi Minh City.
Let that sink in. At 14, most kids are still in school, still being taken care of by their parents. Hanh, on the other hand, was working from 6:00 am until midnight, six or seven days a week. She wasn’t forced into it—she chose that life because her parents were sick and couldn’t support her. She wanted to help. She wanted to send money home. And she did.
She told me she earned 245,000 VND a month. That’s around $16 USD at the time. To most people, that sounds like nothing. But to her, back then, it was everything. It was the first time she could support her family, repay debts, and feel in control of her future.
That part really hit me. It reminded me how easy it is to judge something like child labor without fully understanding the bigger picture. Of course, we don’t want kids working in factories. It’s not ideal. But Hanh wasn’t being exploited—she was grabbing the only chance she had.
She worked, she saved, she sent nearly all her money home. She didn’t pay rent. She didn’t buy anything for herself. After six months, she went back to her village with 1.45 million VND—clothes for the family, money for the bank loan. Life-changing.
I asked her how she stayed so positive through all of it. How could she smile so brightly while talking about something so difficult? She simply said that people in Saigon were kind to her. They supported her. They gave her a chance when she needed it. And she’s never forgotten that.
It made me think—sometimes, we look at stories like this and only see the struggle. But people like Hanh also see the opportunity. She didn’t focus on how hard it was. She focused on how far it could take her.
Building Something Bigger Than Herself – Haga SmartTech and Charity Work during COVID
It’s hard to imagine that someone who started with nothing could one day run one of the most trusted tech repair shops in Ho Chi Minh City. But that’s exactly what Hanh has done. From earning 245,000 VND a month in a garment factory, she became the founder and CEO of Haga SmartTech—the very shop I’ve been going to for years.
She never stopped studying. Even while working in hotels and restaurants, she continued learning English. She went back to university and studied tourism. And through all this, she never lost sight of what she really wanted—to connect with people and build something meaningful.
That mindset is what makes Haga SmartTech special. It’s not just a repair shop. It’s a place where foreigners, like me, can go and feel taken care of. Where we know our laptops and phones—full of important data—are in safe hands. The service is personal. The staff speak English. And they always respond fast. That might sound like a small thing, but in Vietnam, that’s a big deal.
But what truly blew me away was how Hanh uses her business to give back. She hires young people who’ve dropped out of school and helps them return to education. She still stays in touch with her old teachers and even asks them to help her team.
She told me with a smile, “I’ve already lived the hard life. Now I want to help others.”
That generosity doesn’t stop there. During COVID, she spent months organizing food donations for people in need. She didn’t do it alone—she brought in friends, staff, and even customers. She became the connector, making sure help got where it needed to go.
And then there’s her work with women. Hanh believes in lifting other women up—especially those in difficult situations. She raises money to support them with small business loans, just like she once needed. Last year, she ran 160 kilometers to raise 10 million VND for a woman in her hometown battling cancer. That woman now runs a small coffee cart. It’s not just charity—it’s empowerment.
She told me something that stuck: “People need help now. Not in the future. Now.”
I’ve interviewed a lot of people on this podcast, but Hanh’s story has stayed with me. She’s living proof that your past doesn’t define you—your actions do. She built something from nothing. And she’s using it to change lives, one person at a time.
More Story: Bridging Worlds: Identity, Legacy, and Coming Home
Haga Smart Tech – Tips and Funny Stories about Fixing Tech Devices
“How often do you fix something just by turning it off and on again?” – I asked a very serious tech question.
You know what I mean. Every IT support line in the world starts with, “Have you tried turning it off and on again?” Whether it’s your laptop, your phone, or your WiFi box, it’s always the same.
Hanh laughed, of course. Most of her customers are smart enough to try that before coming in. But yes, she confirmed that “turn it off and on” is still the first check. It doesn’t solve everything, but it works more often than you’d think.
Forgetting Your Password
Then we got into the silly stuff. I asked her about the strangest problems people bring in. One of the funniest was when parents forget their phone passwords because their kids had played with them and accidentally locked them out. No backups. No access. Game over.
If you forget your phone password, and it hasn’t been backed up to Google Drive or iCloud, there’s no way back in.
No recovery. No second chance. The only option is to reset the phone and lose everything.
So yes, write down your passwords. I wanted to tell my wife Adrie this, because we literally have a laptop at home that we can’t use because she forgot the password. True story.
Water Damage
Then we talked about something that’s become almost a running joke in tech repairs: putting your wet phone in a bag of rice.
I had to ask her—does it actually work?
Her answer was clear: No.
In fact, putting a phone directly into rice can make things worse. The rice can get stuck in charging ports or vents, and that can cause more damage when you try to plug it in.
So what should you do if your phone gets wet?
- Do NOT turn it on.
- Do NOT plug it in.
- Dry the outside gently.
- Take it to a trusted phone repair shop immediately.
The biggest danger is turning the device on while there’s still water inside. That sends electricity through the motherboard and can fry everything. Hanh said even trying to check the phone (by pressing buttons) can do damage. So hands off—and let the experts open and clean it properly.
I laughed, telling her about a time in the Philippines when someone dropped their phone in the water. A tourist nearby said, “Don’t worry—just get some rice from the hotel.” It’s wild how far that myth has spread.
Accents, English, and the Art of Understanding Each Other
One of the most fun and eye-opening parts of my conversation with Hanh was when we started talking about language, accents, and how hard it can be—even between people who speak the same language.
Hanh is originally from Quảng Nam, near Hội An. She joked that people from her hometown speak with a strong “Quảng style” accent. And honestly, it’s true. Vietnamese has so many regional differences—Northern, Central, Southern—all with different pronunciation, speed, and even vocabulary. Sometimes, even two Vietnamese people can’t understand each other and end up switching to English!
Hanh told me a story from her early days in Saigon. No one could understand her accent, not even at school or work. When she applied to work at a restaurant, the owner rejected her at first, simply because of her accent. But Hanh didn’t give up. She said, “Give me two weeks. If I’m not good, don’t pay me.” Of course, she nailed it.
This really stuck with me. Language is more than grammar and vocabulary. It’s about confidence, practice, and connection. Hanh taught herself English by speaking with customers and studying every day. She still listens to English audiobooks every morning to improve herself and to train her staff.
Hanh made a great point: communication is about more than just words. It’s tone, body language, and facial expressions. She trains her staff not just to speak English, but to observe, ask questions, and stay confident—even if they don’t understand everything the first time.
Her journey learning English—and helping others do the same—is just another example of her resilience and her desire to connect. Whether it’s through tech repair, charity, or just everyday conversation, she makes people feel seen, heard, and supported.
Final Thoughts
What Hanh has built with Haga SmartTech is more than just a tech repair shop. It’s a space of trust, service, and quiet strength. Her journey from a teenager working long hours to a confident businesswoman helping others speaks volumes about what’s possible with grit, kindness, and community support.
If you’re an expat or even Vietnamese, consider Haga SmartTech when finding a hospital for your devices.