Four countries, seven moves, four times from zero. The short way through our story — and why we know exactly where you are stuck right now.
Benjamin has been in Thailand for three days, just arrived from Cologne. That week he meets Laddawan. There is no photograph of it.
A month later they are living in another country. For one year Sihanoukville is home — here a breakfast on the beach, the date burnt into the frame.
The lease runs out. They move to Laddawan’s family in the countryside, between rice fields and water buffalo. From there they plan Europe.
They build it themselves. It is not beautiful. It works. The Internet Archive saved it on 25 October 2015 — the proof is still there.
Half a year apart: he works on the house in Croatia, she learns German and applies for a visa. In March they are together again, in June they marry.
It is finished at Christmas. Through the window lies the valley they bought for — over Skype, without ever setting foot in it.
In the years that follow there are three. Six years as hosts, then it ends: they sell and go back to Germany.
They start building again — for the fourth time. And they help the people who stand today where they stood in 2013.
Wonderful hostess, beautiful apartment, outstanding views — wifi is best we have had in Croatia.
Traumhafte Aussicht!!!! Freundliches und nettes junges Paar. Wir kommen sicher wieder.
Heavenly! The view from the sitting room and the upstairs balcony was beautiful day and night.
Bardzo polecam — wspaniały pobyt. Apartament i właścicielka urocza!
La vue sur les vignobles et la carafe de vin blanc au frigo.
We loved staying here! We will definitely be back — the views are stunning and Lisa is lovely.
„Thanks to all our @bookingcom guests for the great review scores!"
„Thanks to all our @airbnb guests for the great review scores!"
Best regards, Laddawan & Ben
Small hosts do not fail at their work. They fail at their visibility.
At the end of 2021 we sold and returned to Germany. In 2022 our daughter was born. We are renovating ourselves again — and today we help the people standing where we stood in 2016. Not from theory. From experience.
Free, no-obligation first conversation Watch our film
Every station of this story is archived — the Vineyard Villa website 2015–2021 in the Internet Archive, the guest voices in their original words. Nothing is claimed.
Fullstack developer & DevSecOps
Responsible for everything that has to work technically: websites, booking systems, software, security and operations. Has worked with small and medium-sized businesses in North Rhine-Westphalia and across Europe for over ten years.
Thai point of contact & technology bridge
The first point of contact for Thai businesses and creators. Connects language, culture and expectations in both directions, then turns the need into a clear handover to German technology, scope and delivery.
We want Thai entrepreneurs in Europe to have the same opportunities as everyone else — without language, technology or bureaucracy getting in the way. Not by taking it off their hands, but by explaining it and then doing it together.
German precision is not mistrust, it is habit. Thai politeness is not evasion, it is respect. Knowing both means translating more than words.
Advice, training and support in German, English and Thai. You do not have to explain what you need in a foreign language.
The sentence we hear most often: “My last developer is unreachable.” We work in a way that keeps that from happening — and that lets you carry on without us if it ever comes to that.
The fastest way to lose trust is selling somebody something that does nothing for them.
Domain, credentials, content, customer data. You get all of it and can leave at any time — no discussion.
Where we have no measurements, we say so. Invented success stories would be the easiest way to ruin this project.
No rotating project managers, no ticket system. You know who picks up.
Laddawan and Benjamin have told their path — the next step is yours. One conversation, twenty minutes, in your language.
