Orphan Overcomes Hardship to Graduate Chulalongkorn, Fulfills World Travel Dream
An orphan from Kalasin Province who worked his way through Chulalongkorn University on a scholarship has become a travel content creator with millions of followers, documenting his solo journeys across more than 50 countries on a shoestring
Hlun Solo, a travel content creator with a following of 2.6 million on Facebook and 927,000 on YouTube, has lost contact with relatives while traveling in Georgia. The young YouTuber, who backpacks solo around the world, has inspired millions by sharing his journey across more than 50 countries.
Hlun grew up as an orphan in Kalasin Province after his father died in an accident when he was about four years old, leaving him in his grandmother's care. His family lived in poverty, farming rice with no money for education or regular meals. Determined to escape this life, he excelled in school, ranking first in his district high school. Unable to afford university, he worked at a Bangkok factory earning only 300 baht per day while renting a modest room for 2,000 baht monthly.
His persistence paid off when he won a scholarship to Chulalongkorn University. During his four years of study, the scholarship covered all expenses, allowing him to save 400,000 baht from part-time work including flyer distribution, tutoring, and online sales. After graduation, he used these savings to travel solo for over a year, visiting 17 countries initially and eventually more than 50 nations. His travel style is famously budget-conscious—using public transport, staying in cheap accommodations, and eating with locals. He now documents these adventures for his millions of online followers.
