Nguyen Noah, 37, runs the Lai Ngua Chan (Itchy Feet) channel with over 864,000 subscribers, where he documents journeys to some of the world’s most remote places. On June 19 he reached a milestone by visiting all 195 United Nations member countries.
He says: “It was a long and difficult journey. So crossing the finish line brought me real relief.”
After years of traveling he returned home to his family, but the hiatus lasted only a few weeks before he was planning the next trip.
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Noah Nguyen in Mongolia, the 195th country he visited. Photo courtesy of Noah Nguyen |
Originally from Hai Phong, Noah’s passion for travel took root during his university years in Hanoi around 2007.
His first trip was to China but he had only tourism on his mind and not content creation.
After graduation, he spent four years studying languages in Germany, stayed on there to work and saved up for longer trips.
What began as a goal to visit 100 countries soon grew. By 2016 he realized a dream of seeing the entire world was within reach and began planning in earnest.
Unlike many travelers, he chose less-traveled routes, like remote parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Mongolia.
He has slept and shared meals with tribal villagers, and witnessed cultural rites he had only ever seen in films.
These experiences changed the way he saw Africa.
“People often portray African tribes as wild or bizarre, but after living with them I realized they are just like us, with different customs and conditions.”
One of his videos, showing him immersed in tribal life, has garnered over five million views and remains a fan favorite.
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Noah Nguyen (R) with a villager in Africa. Photo courtesy of Noah Nguyen |
He has spent time with tribal communities not only in Ethiopia but also in Cameroon, where people wear leaves, and in Angola, where some mark identity through facial tattoos or by weaving their hair with cow dung.
In 2022, while visiting a tribe in Indonesia, he spoke with members whose ancestors practiced cannibalism.
But not all encounters have been as authentic. In recent years he says some tribes have commercialized their traditions, turning interactions into staged performances in exchange for money.
“I want to understand real life. But sometimes it just becomes a paid show. Such as Ethiopia’s Mursi tribe, known for wearing large lip plates.”
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Noah Nguyen drinking tea and eating dates in Libya. Photo courtesy of Noah Nguyen |
In 2019 Noah was robbed in broad daylight in Bogota, Colombia, losing his camera and laptop and staying in the hospital for a week. In Madagascar, a 60 km trip took over 10 hours because of flooded roads during the rainy season.
Getting visas has also been difficult in some countries due to bureaucracy, corruption and long waits.
But the tougher the journey, the more he grew. Every setback, he says, taught him patience, and how to value safety while maintaining a positive outlook.
“Even after getting robbed in Colombia, I told myself, I’m still alive, and I can keep going.”
Noah says he comes from a regular family and believes you don’t have to be rich to travel. He studied, freelanced and saved money to indulge his passion.
In return, he gave up a stable life, often being on the move every two or three weeks with little time for personal life or daily routines.
Now that he has achieved his 195-country goal, Noah is resting at home while mapping out his next chapter, exploring the Arctic and Antarctic.
He also plans to revisit places that left a lasting impression, like Ethiopia, Kenya and Bhutan.
“I don’t travel just to take check-in photos. I want people to see how much there is to discover in the world, and to find the courage to step out of their comfort zones.
“Go anywhere you want, but go deeply, and bring back something more meaningful than just a few pictures.”