Written on January 3, 2020 - Updated on November, 2023
In November 2019, Mr. Linh received an invitation to a meeting at the Tourism Advisory Board of Vietnam. Although the purpose of the meeting was unclear, it was an invitation he could not refuse.
Here is the story...
During the meeting, he was asked if he could be the tour guide for Greg Norman on his next visit to Hanoi. Mr. Linh was ecstatic to hear that he would have the privilege of spending some quality time nearly one-on-one with the golf legend, Greg ‘The Great White Shark’ Norman, who has won more than 90 tournaments worldwide, including two Open Championships. He was also ranked No. 1 in the world golf rankings for 331 weeks, the second-longest reign in history, and entered the World Golf Hall of Fame with a higher percentage of votes than any other inductee in history. Nowadays, Greg Norman owns over a dozen companies around the world bearing his name and the iconic shark logo as part of the Greg Norman Company. With more than 100 golf course designs across six continents, a global real estate collection, award-winning wine, and a golf-inspired lifestyle apparel, the Greg Norman Brand consistently delivers the quality that his name is synonymous with and continues to inspire people to attack life.
After several meetings, Mr. Linh agreed to be the tour guide for Greg Norman on his next visit to Hanoi. The program was finally decided to show Greg Norman as much as possible of what makes Hanoi so special in a limited amount of time. They started the day with a cyclo tour around the Old Quarter, joking around, sharing knowledge and anecdotes about the history of these ancient streets, even riding the cyclo themselves, relieving the owners from their duties for a short while. It was a great, simple, and easy way to chat, exchange information, and appreciate the city in the autumn season.
Xich Lo tour for The White Shark and Mr Linh
The second activity was much tastier as Greg Norman tried a Hanoi specialty, the egg coffee. Obtained from a dense Vietnamese coffee, on top of which is placed a creamy soft, meringue-like-egg white foam, egg coffee is a must-try for visitors to Vietnam. The views from the café’s balcony also participated in making the non-romantic date special, facing the historical Saint Joseph’s Cathedral, built in the late 19th century under the French colonial government settled in Hanoi, attempting to resemble the famous Notre-Dame de Paris.
This coffee break allowed Greg Norman and Mr. Linh to get acquainted and know each other better. The connection was very easy between them as they both share similar core values as self-made men from different continents, making their way to the top. Greg Norman is currently an official Vietnam Tourism Ambassador since October 2018, and his interest for the country has only grown stronger as this magical land offers some of the best golf courses in the world. His curiosity was rewarded by Mr. Linh’s undying enthusiasm about his country and his pride to be part of this strong, big-hearted community.
Greg Norman & Mr Linh at the Pagoda
The rest of the day was spent in spiritualism and answering Greg Norman's queries on Vietnamese culture. He takes his duty as Vietnam Tourism Ambassador seriously and is constantly ready to learn more about this one-of-a-kind people.
Greg Norman and Mr Linh drank another coffee, this time coconut-flavored, after lighting incense at Ba Da pagoda and learning more about the importance of spiritual values in the daily lives of Vietnamese people. The Shark revealed that he intends to create a Starbucks-like brand based on Vietnamese coffee, with the goal of introducing these coffee beans to the rest of the world.
When you think about it, not many people are aware that Vietnam produces some of the best coffee in the world and is the world's second largest exporter of coffee beans.
Because every initiative this man has undertaken has been a success, we can only wish him the best of luck with this delectable local product. His assistance is tremendously appreciated, and we hope that Vietnamese coffee beans will achieve the same global acclaim.
A memorable conclusion to such a special day!
To cap off this memorable day, Greg Norman and Mr Linh exchanged a forceful handshake full of promises in front of the Memorial of King Ly Thai To, the first of Vietnam's Ly dynasty and the creator of Thang Long in 1010, which subsequently became Hanoi. To round out this historical portrait, these two free-spirited men shook hands in the middle of the street, as nothing beats Hanoi traffic. A memorable conclusion to such a special day!
And keep in mind that whether you are a celebrity or a regular person, Vietnam has a lot to offer. Its folks will help you regardless of your background.