Have you been dreaming about Lisbon? Then meet Lisbon City Host, Nyah Pham, who’s making a wonderful impact in Lisbon. She has a love for community building and making others feel at ease and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you! Read her story below, it’ll be sure to spark your wanderlust for Lisbon.
Tell us about yourself and your love for travel…
My name is Nyah (pronounced NA-JA, not NY-AH). I’m originally from Vietnam but grew up in Denmark and have lived in the US, France, China, Spain, Germany and Portugal. Growing up as an immigrant child in Denmark, I always had an urge to discover new cultures and countries from a very young age. My parents took me around the world to visit relatives, so I developed an early curiosity for travel. The first time I traveled on my own I was 15. I remember how excited I was to head to the US and visit my sister by myself. Terrified, but also full of hopes and dreams. Ever since, I’ve travelled to more than 50 countries and I am still discovering. Travel is the fuel to my being. I don’t think I will ever stop travelling. As the Danish writer HC. Andersen put it, “To travel is to live”.
What do you do when you’re not helping the community in Lisbon?
I am a independent Business Consultant and Life Coach. Half my time, I’m dedicated to event concepts for different kind of clients. This means conferences, exhibitions, festivals, launches etc. My job is to put a great programme together to make the event unforgettable.
The other half of my time, I help clients overcome challenges and struggles in their everyday lives and transform into better versions of themselves. This can be within their careers, relationships or health. In most cases, these three are highly related.
I like the combination of my jobs, since they allow me to be creative as well as reflective. Creating concepts and hosting events feels natural to me. I’m at my best when I see an event come together, with people connecting with each other and enjoying the content. Helping others transform and change is the best gift that has been given to me. Not only does it feel impactful and purposeful, but making a change and difference in others lives is a true blessing.
Why is community so important to you and what do you love about the community you’ve created in Lisbon?
I’m community builder at heart. I love to see people come together, whether it’s because they share the same interests or not. Something magical happens, when people come together, connect and eventually build something beautiful. I always say, “It’s not the place you fall in love with, it’s the community”. I live by that. You can go to the most magical places; tropical
Lisbon was number one on my list and I’ve ended up staying here for about a year. I fell in love with the community from day one and started hosting weekly Digital Nomad Meetups. Before I knew it, we grew the community from 1000 to almost 3000 members in less than a year. That’s incredible. The Digital Nomad scene here is huge and I keep seeing new faces all the time. But what makes the community in Lisbon unique is, that nomads who come here tend to stay – we’ve simply become “slowmads” because we love this place and community so much.
What makes Lisbon so special?
Lisbon is the city of seven hills. It’s what makes it so charming. I love walking through the city and admiring the beautiful tiles and cobblestones. It’s so beautiful yet, historical at the same time. I feel majestic walking around here. Plus, with 300 sunny days a year, and the ocean nearby, Lisbon ticks most of the boxes for a fantastic place to stay.
To explore Lisbon like a local, get started with Behere below!
Photos and words courtesy of Nyah Pham.
