What do you normally do before going somewhere to eat? Search online for recommendations and reviews? That’s the reason why making reviews on restaurants and entertainment venues in Da Nang has become more exciting than ever. The most popular among them are Trung Bui, Thao Lu and Tiktoker Khanh Da Nang. Popular photo and video-sharing social networking services have quickly become a ‘food heaven’ for many food reviewers to introduce their works to the world.

Trung Bui shows up in his food review in Da Nang. Photo: NVCC

From love to work

On social networks, we easily come across channels specializing in promoting restaurants, dishes, tourist attractions and other related targets which are directly experienced and introduced by users. The authenticity, vividness, colour and personality of each reviewer help the introductory videos attract more and more viewers. Each 1-2 minute short clip can “lure’ millions of views and interactions.

Mr. Bui Minh Trung, 32, the owner of Tiktok, Facebook, Instagram channels Trung Bui specialising in introducing restaurants and eateries with tens of thousands of followers, has been in love with this job choice for 6 years. Born in Cam Ranh, Khanh Hoa Province, Trung Bui has been with Da Nang for nearly 10 years.

As a chef with more than 5 years of experience in cooking, learning the flavours of dishes, Trung Bui pursues the work of a content creator, specialising in reviewing and sharing interesting experiences about food, places and trips that he himself has experienced.

According to Trung Bui, to keep a strong passion for review work, you must first really love the job. Many people think that a review job just involved in going to restaurants, enjoying delicious food, taking a few photos to post them on social networks. However, when you do this job, you will realise that it encounters many difficulties and challenges.

“I am a chef, so I really like the food. However, I still have to constantly improve my knowledge, not only about food, but also about voices, writing styles and photographic techniques, to capture the best images and videos.”, Trung Bui said.

Similarly, Van Phuong Thao, 28, from Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam Province, the owner of Tiktok Lu Thao channel with 94,000 followers, has been with this job for nearly 4 years. Thao has worked in the hotel industry.

At the time of the COVID-19 outbreak, she had to quit her job because the hotel stopped operation. When at home, Thao Lu often goes to the kitchen, cooks her favorite dishes and records videos to post them on her personal Tiktok channel. She did not expect that the videos she shared were interested and loved by many people.

“At first, I just cooked and then recorded a clip and posted it on Tiktok just for fun. Unexpectedly, her voice imbued with the unique accent of the Quang Nam - Da Nang land attracted everyone's attention. I'm still very happy and proud of being cared for and supported by everyone. That my videos became "viral" really made me addicted to making clips", Thao Lu recalls the opportunity that brought her to the job of reviewing food and restaurants.

According to Thao Lu, review channels in Da Nang sprang up like mushrooms after the rain, the number of tiktokers and reviewers is on an upward trend.

In order for her products to spread on social networks and attract many people's attention, female tiktoker must regularly update trends, constantly innovate ways to keep social network users to stay in tune with their channels.

The pressure and challenges are increasing, but this is also what makes Thao Lu excited and eager to stick with this job that requires continuous creativity and innovation.

Spread the positivity

In Viet Nam, young people tend to put their trust in video reviews on social networks. Many people invited each other to eat and drink certain foods after watching these introductory clips.

However, according to professional tiktokers, the situation is gradually changing when many reviewers begin to sentence views and likes with negative actions, such as constantly criticizing the restaurant's food and drinks with exaggerated words and expressions. Even many emerging reviewers choose to make inaccurate content to attract viewers’ interaction.

Tikoker Trung Bui said, “I completely disagree and strongly condemn these deeds. I always want to spread positive and objective things. Don't use your own channel as an excuse to say whatever you want to say, or feel free to express your personal opinion. It's only true when you make the video private, but once it's posted on social networks it needs to be taken into account so as to avoid a negative impact on others’.

“If you praise too much, it will no longer be objective but become advertising, which can make followers feel like they would have been cheated when experiencing reality. On the contrary, if you criticize based on your personal point of view, it will become a scandal, no longer a review.”, Trung Bui added.

According to Tiktoker Mai Quang Khanh, 27, the owner of Tiktok Khanh Da Nang channel with 86,000 followers, in review work, objectivity and authenticity should be a top priority. “I am constantly creating new content, avoiding following the path ‘so many men, so many minds’ because sometimes the food I try feels really good but viewers can make complaints whilst they experience it due to different tastes. Despite difficulties and criticism from some views, I always think that I have to do my job with my heart, kindness and honesty. This is both a respect for my supporters, as well as my enthusiasm and love for my work," Khanh confided.

It can be said that in the era of burgeoning 4.0 Industry, Tiktok channels make a great contribution to promoting Da Nang's culture, cuisine, and tourism to local residents along with domestic and foreign tourists. In particular, with genuine tikkokers, they always want to share and spread positive things, with a collaborative relationship and mutual benefits.

Reporting by NGAN HA - Translating by A.THU