Creators in Vietnam

In this second part of Fred Le’s Interview, we explore how his style challenges stereotypes and empowers Vietnamese Americans to embrace their cultural identity. Le's humor brings attention to the struggles faced by this community and creates positive representation. His work in comedy plays a significant role in shaping Vietnamese American cultural identity by addressing overlooked issues and empowering the community. Follow our guest:

Meet Fred Le, a talented Vietnamese American stand-up comedian, and filmmaker. He has an exciting documentary on the horizon called "The Empathizer," where he's exploring the stories of "young" Viet Kieus who have chosen to “come back” to live in Vietnam despite their parents' disapproval at times. Fred himself lived in Vietnam from 2017 to 2020 and is passionate about uncovering what it truly means to be Vietnamese.

Through his interviews with other Vietnamese individuals born outside of Vietnam, who are now living there, Fred hopes to find common ground and gain valuable insights into his own identity, and maybe a way to convince his mother that Vietnam is not what it used to be.

In this conversation, we explore some deep, introspective thoughts about the meaning of being Viet Kieu and the role we play in shaping new cultures!

This conversation truly holds a special place for me and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did recording it.

Note: This was actually a long conversation so we had to cut it into 2 episodes. Episode 2 will come out next week! and will talk about the place of Stand Up Comedy here in Vietnam!

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For this episode back from a long break, I am inviting our former host Nico to talk about a topic that is really important for both of us: Acceptance. It is something that we have been practicing diligently for the past couple of years (and still actively practicing) as it is an important step when facing the many transitions in life.

Without further ado, I am inviting you to listen to this two-part episode where I am also giving an update on where the podcast will go in the next few months.

In this episode, we are truly exploring the meaning of better late than never! We recorded this episode at the beginning of June hoping to release it before one big transitional break with Tue-Si going back to Canada for the summer and Moni deciding to step away from the podcast to focus on other areas of her life.

Unfortunately, as it often happens life got a bit overwhelming and this episode stayed on the shelves until today.

So better late than never, here is an interesting team introspection on how we handle doubts and transitions in life.

I (Tue-Si) am very excited to continue the podcast and will soon be looking for another co-host but until then I cannot wait to record the next episode in order to catch y’all up with what truly happened during our break and get back to connect with the extraordinary Creators in Vietnam!

Soline is a university lecturer and the project lead for Gender Equality Across Vietnam Industries and for the Women Empower Club. She came back to Vietnam in 2015 after living overseas in Switzerland, Singapore and Uganda.

In this episode:

🎙️ How her overseas experience in Switzerland, Singapore and Uganda shaped her perspective about gender roles and equality

🎙️ How the mentorship program of the Women Empowerment Club have transformed the life of women in management positions

🎙️ As a project lead of Gender Equality Across Vietnam Industries, how they tackle the gender inequality in different industries such as education and the beauty industry

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Van Trinh is a French-Vietnamese who is the School Director of the French Bakery (La Boulangerie Francaise) which is a vocational training center funded by a French NGO called IECD.

They’ve already trained over 60 young Vietnamese from a vulnerable background through this non-profit initiative.

They also sell their amazing pastries around Saigon!

Do you want to support them and have a delicious pastry with your coffee at the same time?

Use this discount code to get 20% off your order until June 2: CIVLBF

In this episode:

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In this episode, we talk about how sex is perceived in Vietnam through the lens of a Saigonese Gen Z, Selena Luong.

Selena was raised in a conservative and religious family without a proper sex education.  After a lot of struggles with her sex life, now she’s on the mission to become a sex, love, relationship coach to encourage more open conversations about sex and pleasure.

She also wants to give the young Vietnamese a different perspective about sex and unlearn everything the patriarchal society has taught.

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Our Guest Ricardo needs very little introduction! A creative force in the queer scene of Vietnam since 2017. Ricardo is the founder of GenderFunk, the largest alt. drag queer collective in VietNam. He also teaches sexuality/gender/consent workshops in schools.

It was with great pleasure that we welcomed all his wisdom and fabulous energy on the podcast and wished this episode would have lasted 3 hours as we covered so many important and deep topics.

In this episode:

🎙️ Growing Up Disconnected & Traumatized

🎙️ Expressing His Queerness through Radical Acceptance & Anger

🎙️ Finding Emotional & Spiritual Maturity And Redefining Queerness.

🎙️ And so SO much more!

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🎉New episode with the amazing Nam Den from Afro Viet TV who’s on a the mission to bridge the gap between the Vietnamese and African culture, and also to show Vietnam to the world form a different perspective.

In this episode:

🎙️ How an actor became a business man in Vietnam and what led him to start his YouTube channel, Afro Viet TV

🎙️ What makes him feel more at home in Vietnam than in Nigeria

🎙️ How he wants to change the narrative about Nigeria and black people, and the representation of Vietnam

❣️  Follow Afro Viet On Social Media:

🔈 Fascinating is the word that keeps on popping into my mind since I’ve recorded this interview and throughout the whole editing process of this episode. 

💖 It is fascinating to be able to meet such an incredible human in Jk Hobson that has seemingly lived so many lives and yet each one of them so uniquely and authentically him, in all the ups and the many downs.

➡️  In this episode, we cover among many other things: 

🎙️ His insights & wisdom on his active practice of Nichiren Buddhism

🎙️ His creative upbringing in New York City as a “latchkey Kid”.

🎙️ His music adventures! All the highs and all the lows! And how music brought a deeper meaning to his life and his spirituality

🎙️ How Education and Comedy are, nowadays, his tools for compassionate connections with others.

Without further ado I invite you to dive into this episode and discover our guest, Jk Hobson! And I hope that you will find him, just like we did,...fascinating!

In this episode, we invited Quynh, a previous co-host & guest and Spiritual Teacher to join our roundtable discussion on spirituality.

We want to demystify the meaning of spirituality and explain why spirituality is actually very practical. In essence, spirituality is about knowing your spirit - who you truly are.

We honestly share about events in our life that led us on a spiritual path and how we practice it every day.

In this episode:

🎙️ How spirituality allows you to create the future you desire and how to tap into that power

🎙️ Why we often need to hit rock bottom to reconnect with our authentic self again

🎙️ The importance of experiencing our emotions

🎙️ How spirituality empowers you to take responsibility over your life

Follow The Guest:

Chúc mừng năm mới!

Ania has a YouTube and Tiktok channel called Bananoi where she addresses taboo topics in Vietnam such as mental health and gender equality (in Vietnamese).

She has a very interesting upbringing: She was born in Poland where she attended French school since first grade, then she moved to Vietnam at the age of 16 to finish French high school in Hanoi.

In today’s episode:

🧒🏻 What does it really mean to be a third culture kid and how she’s trying to define the meaning of home

🤐 How she addresses taboo topics in Vietnam such as mental health or gender equality through her channel Bananoi

⚡Her struggles as a creator and the impact she wants to make.

Follow Bananoi:

🔈 Denise is the CEO and co-founder of Vietnam's fastest-growing AI social & dating app Fika, with over 1M downloads globally, only 1 year after its soft launch in November 2020.

🤗  Denise already has a wide catalog of inspiring and moving stories and we invite you to discover these stories in some of the other interviews she has given.

🎙️ In this episode, we decided to focus on the unfortunate passing of her adoptive mother at the age of 9 and the repercussion that it had on her life, how only now she is learning to express her more vulnerable side and how that impacted/is impacting her relationships.

We also talk then about the challenges of having a relationship and how FIKA wants to approach it differently, by hoping to be a supportive third party in growing relationships.

🙏 We are grateful that Denise allowed us to share this intimate moment where she practiced vulnerability and that in itself shows her incredible inner strength and experience.

Download and Follow Fika: 

Website: https://fikaconnects.com/vi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fikaconnects

We had the pleasure to sit down with Laurent Du Owner of Bento Bistro & Oliver’s Pizza, originally from France Laurent hopes to bring a fresher look of French cuisine to Vietnam and introduce another Paris to his Asian counterparts - the Paris that he grew up in, with familiar yet exciting tastes.

In this episode:

🎙️ How he followed his passion and traded a good salary in Paris for minimum Vietnamese wage in order to gain F&B experiences

🎙️ How Covid 19 gave him the opportunity to launch his own F&B business

🎙️ His constant growth by staying curious, diligent, while taking advantage of the opportunities Vietnam offers

Visit Laurent at his restaurants:

Let’s welcome the amazing Micka Chu, a Russian French MC, actress and media personality in Vietnam. She speaks 5 languages, including Vietnamese, and participates regularly in major Vietnamese National TV shows and YouTube.

You’ve probably seen her a lot, but today we have a chance to learn more about her challenging upbringing and how that experience helped her become that positive and resilient woman that you see today.

Her story is about sacrifice, resilience, grit and finding the silver lining in any situation. She’s a true example that you’re not a the victim of your circumstances, and you can blossom once you accept and let go of the past, and start loving yourself. 💕

In this episode:

🇷🇺 Growing up in Russia in a household impacted by alcoholism

🇫🇷 How her open-minded and resilient personality helped her adapt to a new life in France at the age of 10

🇻🇳 Her journey to Vietnam: what (& who) motivated her to learn Vietnamese and how she got into the show business in Vietnam

💃 How she empowers women with “the art of asking for things”

🧘‍♀️Her daily practice to reconnect with herself and support her mental health

It’s time to review 2021! 🎉

🎙️ In this episode, Tue-Si and Moni reflect on their learnings and growth through Creators in Vietnam, and what they wish for the podcast in 2022.

🌟 They share their biggest achievements and lessons in 2021 both in their personal and professsional life such as working on their mindset about money, their success as a coach, and building a system for accountability and measurable progress.

🙏🏽Then they set their intentions for 2022.

We hope you enjoy the holiday season and take some well deserved rest, see you next year! 💕

💕 In this episode, we have the pleasure to welcome Cam Van the creator of “From Saigon To Saigon”, a charity that saw the light of day during the intense Saigon Lockdown in the middle of 2021.

The Charity was organically created and meant as an emergency response to provide food for the impoverished neighborhood of Saigon, the team went from only her to 40 people volunteering full-time their kind heart and energy for more than 3 months!

🤝 This emotional retelling of her charitable journey really reflects the sense of community that Vietnam has displayed throughout this pandemic and we follow her sentiment in wishing that Vietnam never gets to experience a lockdown like this ever again.

We invite you to dive deeper and discover Cam Van’s incredible and candid life story in this emotional episode full of good vibes and laughter!

In This Episode:

🎙️ Her upbringing & studying abroad in the US and South Africa

🎙️ How she discovered her passion to help others through education

🎙️ Her dedicated quest to financial independence

🎙️ The “From Saigon To Saigon” emotional adventure helping thousands during lockdown

🔊 Get to know Niall Mackay, the amazing person behind Seven Million Bikes that provides English entertainment through A Vietnam Podcast, comedy shows and events.

🕺Niall, originally from Glasgow, Scotland, has lived in Saigon since 2016 with his wife, Adrie, and the Seven Million Bikes mascot, Biscuit.

🎉 In this episode, we learn more about the real person behind the scenes and how he has the super power to make the most out of any situation and think positive at all times.

In this episode:

🎙️ How a shy kid turned into a stand-up comedian

🎙️ Gaining courage to get on stage and start doing stand-up comedy in Vietnam

🎙️ How his high energy, doer personality and his love for connecting with people led him to start a podcast and organize events for the community

🔈 In this episode, we are taking the time to have a meaningful conversation with Kitty from Tutu.House

She shares with us her journey in understanding and accepting her own rhythm through her life's tribulations while strongly following her own inner voices and guidance.

In this episode, we are joined by the amazing Denise Truong, coach & Trainer, and the founder of Tyde Consulting.

🫂 She shares her journey on how she overcame her childhood traumas of being sexually harassed at a young age and the process of deep self-exploration that she had to take (and is still taking) in order to heal and grow into her authentic self.

🎉  Today she'd like to inspire others on their journey from trauma to triumph through her coaching and her consulting company. In her own words: "Growing out of trauma is possible. I have no regret on what happened as it made me who I am today. It pushed me to explore myself at the deepest level. Today, I use this exploration and my people skills to help others explore themselves, strengthen their confidence and self-esteem. Both in their professional life and personal life."

❤️  Her vulnerability and her willingness to share about this part of her life really resonated deeply in our hearts and we hope will resonate in yours.

In This Episode:

🎙️  Growing up Asian In France and the effect of loneliness.

🎙️  Experiencing Sexual Harassment at a young age and the traumatic impact it had in her life.

🎙️  Her Self-Development Journey and how she found healing.

🎙️  How Tyde Consulting is putting employees' growth and wellbeing at the center of any business growth.

In this episode, we have the pleasure to talk with Rosi Happi, the founder of the Social Changemakers and the Happi Event.

💃🏼 She shares her journey as an "untypical Vietnamese" who promotes gender equality, goes against outdated norms and always finds ways to follow what she wants even if it's challenging by stretching her capabilities.

🌻 We believe her story is a great inspiration for the young generation and anyone who wants to make an impact in Vietnam.

In this episode:

🎙️ Despite her challenging upbringing, how she found strength by always looking at the bright side

🎙️ Her courage to follow her heart and get out of her comfort zone for personal and professional growth

🎙️ Gender equality and women empowerment in Vietnam

🎙️ How she takes on the challenge to bring more creativity and fun to philanthropy in Vietnam

Her confidence and enthusiasm toward social change are contagious! We hope this episode will inspire you to make the change you want in your life by any means.

Have you ever had challenges talking about mental health, especially about depression and suicide? In this episode, we have an honest and vulnerable conversation on this topic with our guest, Conor Kelly, the founder and host of the ComebaCK podcast.

We talk about:

🎙️How he gained a strong will to overcome depression and suicidal thoughts

🎙️The system he built to support his mental health and personal growth.

🎙️How he got out of his comfort zone by moving to Vietnam and founding his own podcast named Comeback

🎙️The purpose of his podcast, ComebaCK, where he interviews guests who have overcome adversity and started creative projects

If you've ever struggled with mental health or want to learn more about it, this episode is for you!

🎙️ A Talk With Moni Lê, Vietnamese-Hungarian, on Identity, Finding Purpose and Being the New Host Of The Podcast

In this episode, we are giving our New Co-Host Moni Lê The Full Creators In Vietnam Experience! We learn more about her particular upbringing in Europe and how she handled the very sensitive question of Identity that many Vietnamese overseas struggles with.

👏 Her Interview is also an important reminder that being able to be vulnerable around the proper support system is key to emotional maturity and growth.

🔊 BIG ANNOUCEMENTS🔊

🎊 We're finally out of a heavy lockdown here in Saigon so we lost no time to get the team physically back together in order to record this special transition episode and give you some updates!

We had to say goodbye to our incredible leader Dana this month and this ushered a few changes in the podcast.

1️⃣ Let's start with the "sad" one first. No other way to say it but Nico is also leaving us! He goes into detail in this episode on the reasons behind his decision and his desire to re-focus his time & intention on writing incredible content for entrepreneurs on his blog.

2️⃣ But do not worry the podcast will carry on with Tue-Si and also.....our NEW co-host Moni! 🎉

Moni is a Life Purpose Coach and a first-generation Vietnamese-Hungarian. We will have a full episode introducing Moni next week and we cannot wait for you to discover her incredible personality! She is super excited to join the podcast and we hope that the new duo of hosts will keep the spirit of the podcast going strong and bring the same valuable interviews to you all!

3️⃣ And Finally the Big Announcement .🥁🥁🥁... Creators In Saigon becomes Creators in Vietnam 🎊

While we remain fans of a good old physical interview, the lockdown really showed us that it was possible to still produce valuable content with online recording so we decided to broaden our horizons and highlight the incredible creators in all of Vietnam!

We're excited about all these changes and while the team is (for now) just a duo, the Creators In Saigon Family just got a bit bigger 💕

Quynh Le is a Feminine Embodiment Coach, Spiritual Teacher and Speaker (she is also a former co-host of the Creators in Saigon podcast!). She guides women and men on how to balance both the masculine and feminine energies within them, for better relationships with themselves and with others. 

Quynh says, "If you’re a woman having trouble forming or sustaining deep connection with other women and constantly feel “threatened, superior/inferior, suspicious, competitive, jealous” around them, you probably have not yet acknowledged and embraced the feminine side within yourself. If you’re a man having issues with the women around you and find “women are so difficult to understand”, the high chance would be that you haven’t been to the feminine side of yourself and explored it deeply enough."

In this episode, Quynh shares her top rituals and practices to fully embody both your masculine and feminine energies, and shares her personal healing journey in doing this work.

Yes, it's true, Dana has made the difficult decision to move on from Vietnam and go back to the US (at least for now). So what's next? In this episode, we get updates from Dana, Nico, and Tue Si about what they've been working on the past few months and how they've been handling the lockdowns that keep getting more and more strict. Dana shares why she's leaving and her decision process full of emotional ups and downs, and what's next for her. Finally the team shares that we are looking for a female co-host to replace Dana so that the podcast can live on, so if you're interested, please apply at the link below!

Do you have a big idea, something you've always wanted to try, but fears are holding you back from taking the leap? This one is for you! 

Tam Nguyen is Saigonese and the Founder and Host of Vietnam Rising - a business podcast that focuses on stories from up and coming entrepreneurs and names in Vietnam and why this is the place to be. The show is being broadcast across more than 7 platforms, including Youtube, and is listened to by audiences worldwide. 

It took Tam 6 months from having the initial idea to start the podcast, to actually doing it, because she had to overcome a lot of mental roadblocks and fears. In this episode she discusses with us how she overcame those fears, why she decided to start this podcast with this niche, and lessons she's learned about confidence, being a good host, and finding her passion along the way.

✨ In This Episode, we are interviewing Aiyetoro Hinds (Toro), the compassionate creator of UPP Global a charity where he and his team provide sporting and educational opportunities for disadvantaged young people.

👏  It was a pleasure to hear him talk about his passions, his beliefs, and how his deep empathy and pure intentions are fueling his desire to make the world a better place.

🤗 The Team truly hopes that everyone who is experiencing lockdown is keeping safe and we send all our support & love!

In this episode:

🎙️His upbringing in Bermuda and studies in England

🎙️Helping homeless youth in England and living with deep emotional empathy

🎙️Coming to Vietnam and the creation of UPP Global

🎙️The future of UPP Global and how he is taking care of himself during this lockdown

From a very young age, Greg Dolezal has learned how beneficial it could be to contribute to others in need and to stay active. He was a boyscoot, he is a musician playing with The Young Buffalos, he is involved in the Democratic Party Abroad, coaching and teaching as well, etc.

But, something was missing to Greg for all these years of devoting his time to good causes and his energy to change the world...

He was always frustrated of following someone else's idea.

Have that ever happen to you?... this moment where you realise, you've been so passionate about this particular thing, and you left all the rest aside?

How many of us forgot to sleep while spending the whole night playing video games? How many of us are so "passionate" about our jobs that we don't take the time to eat healthy or go to the gym? And even if we know all that, how can we change?

To us, Wes Jackson is one of these passionate entrepreneurs driven by a mission where he could spend countless hours on it while forgetting all the rest.

But Wes has realized that although "passion" would help him to keep his motivation high, he would need knowledge and discipline to keep his mind and body healthy... if he wanted to make an long lasting impact.

So in this episode, Wes explains us more about his system. He shares how he manage to maintain his mental and physical health while being an entrepreneur and in a relationship.

Loan Tran is one of those people who makes you wonder, "How does she do it all?!" 

Loan is a leadership coach and business development strategist. She's also writing a book all about the lessons she's learned about leadership and sharing her personal development journey. She volunteers with Little Rose Shelter, and posts daily inspirational and educational content on her Facebook and Instagram pages.

In this episode we discuss:
🎙How she manages to be involved in so many things at once without burning out

🎙How she utilizes her feminine traits as strengths in a traditionally masculine career field 

🎙Her top tips on how to be a good leader

🎙How she overcame her imposter syndrome and started writing her book

✨ In This Episode, we are interviewing Thuyen Vo, a passionate entrepreneur, founder of Easy English and Easy Vietnamese. She is also a co-host on the Best Ever Food Review Show on Youtube with some of her episodes gaining more than 2 million views!

🎉 She shares with us her passionate journey in education and her hopes of providing quality choices and support for the younger generations.

👏  It was with great pleasure to be able to pick her brain on interesting topics like family expectations, mental health, and self-awareness in Vietnam and we hope to meet her physically soon!

In this episode:

🎙️ Juggling early independence and family expectations

🎙️ Her journey founding Easy English and Easy Vietnamese & her vision on education in Vietnam

🎙️ How she handles her recent fame and the pressure of content creation

🎙️ How self-awareness keeps her balance and the importance of mental health

As creators and entrepreneurs, we do what we do because we desire freedom, and variety, and control over our own lives. But as wonderful as having these things can be, they come at a cost. Entrepreneurship is lonely, and unstable at times. And if you're not careful, it will really take a toll on your physical and mental health, which is just not sustainable in the long run. But, there are ways to safeguard yourself against these common pitfalls of entrepreneurship. 

Our guest today, Darren Joe, has recently achieved a life-long dream to write a book. Darren's book is the culmination of his personal lessons learned over his own 10-year entrepreneurial journey about mental health and well-being as a solopreneur, that you can put into action immediately. 

In this episode we dig into a few golden nuggets of wisdom from his book and share a lot of personal stories from our own entrepreneurial journeys. 

Darren Joe was born and raised in Southern California, and studied Public Policy and International Affairs at Princeton University. He's been living and working in several different countries in Southeast Asia for the past 10 years.  His business and podcast "Touch MBA" helps MBA applicants match with and get into the world's top business schools. He has just published his first book, The Fail-Safe Solopreneur: 6 Essential Practices to Manage Your Well-Being, Working For Yourself, which was ranked #1 on Amazon for Work-Related Health Books. He's also the host of his podcast ASE, which is about entrepreneurial well-being. In his free time he enjoys Afro-Cuban Dancing & Salsa.

✨ In This Episode, We have the pleasure to speak to Tuyen Vo, the incredible host, and creator of the "Dear Our Community" Podcast!

🎉 She shares with us her journey of resilience that led her to pursue her passion for connecting people through philanthropy and her desire to inspire the younger Vietnamese generation into creating positive changes & social impact.

👏  The team is already fan of her first Podcast Dear Our Community and cannot wait to listen to the new one that she is creating at the moment for an English-speaking audience!  Count on us to offer all the support we can, Tuyen!

In this episode:

🎙️ Her difficult upbringing and how her resilience made her thrive for better education.

🎙️ Her work and deep knowledge of philanthropy in Vietnam.

🎙️ Her aspirations for creating social impact in the younger Vietnamese generation

🎙️ The mission behind Dear Our Community Podcast

🎙️ What are her plans in the near future including the creation of a new Podcast

Giuliano Cricenti is a 25 year old plant-based nutritionist and personal trainer with a Bachelor's degree in Biomedicine. He's currently working with clients for weight loss and for healing particular ailments. He is partnered with Planta, a meal-based restaurant in Thao Dien, to provide high protein vegan meal plans. Giuliano was born in Australia but has been living in Saigon since he was 14 years old.

We discuss all things gut health, nutrition, and debunk common myths and worries around vegan diet and lifestyle. 

Connect with Giuliano:

✨ This Episode is quite special as it is a long-due catch-up episode with the whole team!

🎉 BUT First, We want to thanks The Hive Saigon for sponsoring us with their amazing co-working space for our team recording (...and more recordings to come)! We are beyond grateful! 🙏🏼

😆 We had not done an episode together in so long and the excitement got us quite carried away as we caught up on so many different topics!  So saddle up and get ready for some fun updates, a few laughs, and multitudes of shout-outs!

📖 In this episode:

🎙️ The team reflections on our past guests & the value we are getting out of podcasting

🎙️ Nicolas' experience with doing his "Lifebook"

🎙️ The team reflections on mental health, handling criticism & our hopes for the podcasts

🎙️ Dana's life update on her amazing work in Women's Health & Cycle Syncing

🎙️ The team discusses Plant-based Diet in Vietnam

Marc Nguyen is half Vietnamese, half Mexican, born in California, and spent his teenage years in Italy. Throughout his younger years he felt a sense of incompleteness due to the Vietnamese side of his culture being somewhat of a mystery. He felt compelled to learn to speak the language and get answers to the questions he had, and so came to Vietnam as an NGO volunteer in 2013. 

Marc is also a professional Latin dancer and choreographer and is passionate about bringing Salsa and Bachata to anyone willing to learn in Saigon. He is currently training a team for the Saigon Latin Cup--a night of dance competition, social dancing, and delicious Latin American and Caribbean food!

In this episode, we discuss how he finds a sense of belonging in the midst of multiple cultures colliding, his Latin dance journey, and how he thought a broken collarbone would be the end of everything, but was actually the start of something new and better.

🥗 Vegan and Plant-based lifestyles are popular in western countries where it is nowadays quite accessible, supported, and understood.

But what about Vietnam? 

🗣️ We are trying to answer this question in this episode with our guest Giang Chu. A young and modern Vietnamese professional that aspires to be the next voice of the Vietnam Vegan Lifestyle.

🔈 From generational misunderstanding, modernizing the already present Vietnamese Vegetarian "Chay" Culture and the deep struggle to maintain the lifestyle without proper support in a country full of delicious meat-dishes...Giang offers us a first glimpse into what could be Vietnam's Vegan life in the coming years.

In this episode:

🎙️ Traveling the world and her move from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

🎙️ How she discovered Veganism and her first attempts at adopting the lifestyle

🎙️ The Difference between Veganism in Vietnam and  the western world

🎙️ Her motivations behind wanting to become Vegans and some of her struggles

Books Mentioned in this episode:

If you met Tony Fornaro in his 20's or 30's, you would have met a completely different person than the Tony of today.

When Tony reflects on his 20's and 30's, he's the first to say he was honestly, a total a$$hole. He had a series of relationships and each one didn't end so well. But this is all in retrospect...at the time, he thought he was a pretty good, normal guy. He had a well paying job, on paper he was "adulting" but he never really felt like an adult. He was just going through the motions.

Every relationship blew up in disaster, and eventually in his mid-30's, he sought the help of a therapist. He also started to travel internationally. This is when he was able to see life from a different perspective, to self-reflect, to question his behaviors and dig deeper into past trauma in order to become more self aware.

Finally, he made the decision to quit life in the US and move to Vietnam at the age of 41. What happened? Tune in to find out:)

Connect with Tony:

🔈 This week, the crew at Creators in Saigon did something new and special! Armed with our brand new equipment and our trusted cellphones, we decided to travel to our guest and interview him in his element!

So we have a shorter episode for you that especially goes in tandem with a video on our Instagram page so be sure to check it out!

🍰 Our guest, Robin Mouquet is a pastry chef that has worked very closely with the world-renown & legendary Pierre Hermé, the "Picasso of Pastry".

He has now chosen Vietnam to settle and develop his own brand and wishes for all of Vietnam to discover his pastries! He actually rented a whole house in district 10 and re-designed the whole ground floor to be his pastry kitchen & shop so do not hesitate to go and visit him there.

It is hard to sit with Robin and not feel the overflowing passion he has for his craft and creations and it was quite invigorating to share a moment with him. The whole team wishes him the very best and we will come back for more eating 😋 

In this episode we discuss:

🎙️ His journey from France to Vietnam

🎙️ His relationship with Pierre Hermé "The Picasso of Pastry"

🎙️ His care and patience for every customers' pastry creation

🎙️ His wishes to make all of Vietnam try his creations and what he hopes for in the near future!

Get in touch with Robin:

It is quite hard to walk away from any discussions with Will without thinking: "What a nice, genuine guy!"

Being in hospitality for half of his life working for Michelin-starred restaurants, Will is now an entrepreneur in his own right and the proud owner of Luu Bar and soon to open Bento Bistro.

Will is an encyclopedia of good and candid stories written in the sweat of his past mistakes and successes.

His creative entrepreneurial journey is far from being over and It was very refreshing to get his experience and point of view on the F&B industry in Vietnam and how he attempts to live a balanced lifestyle while being the owner of a bar!

In this episode, we discuss:

🎙️ His F&B Journey that lead him to travel the world and working for Michelin-starred restaurants

🎙️ How he settled and fell in love with Vietnam in 10 min

🎙️ His first few businesses in Vietnam and how he learnt from his mistakes

🎙️ Opening and owning his own bar and his successes & struggles after being open for a year and half

🎙️ How he attempts to find balance in his life

⁣

Get in touch with Will:

Jana Van Beek's favorite toy as a child was...a comb! Not the usual toy, but it makes perfect sense when you meet Jana today, who followed her passion of hair styling to become a Professional Hair Stylist, and creator of Earthy Blonde, an all-natural shampoo product to protect blonde hair from pollution and coloring.

Jana started her first very successful hair salon in South Africa at just 23 years old and was styling hair for fashion week and Miss South Africa. After some unfortunate events, she had to close the business and made her way to Asia. She re-built her business in Saigon from scratch, all while juggling full time school and a teaching job, and now has over 30K followers on her Facebook business page!

In this episode, we discuss:

Lua Le, in her previous life, was a promising Vietnamese female office-worker who was recognized by her co-workers and praised by her family. But she also felt deep down that something was missing. She was bored and frustrated about her day to day.

So she started to go dancing and meet some international friends in Saigon. That is how she met some digital nomads and started to question more about her career. But still, she needed to go see the world for herself.

So, at 30+ year-old, after many moments of thinking and doubts, she decides to quit her job, leave her family for a moment, take her savings and travel the world on her own.

This decision changed her life.

And in this episode, we cover the many difficulties coming along such a big decision. Lua Le shares how her family reacted to it, her travel adventures, how « not-perfect » this adventure was and how she found herself.

You will also learn about how she started her cooking class business and why it’s now rated as a top-experience on Airbnb or TripAdvisor. She explains us all the journey toward her current success, with all the ups and downs; including how she pivoted during the pandemic.

At the end of the episode we have a really insightful conversation about « getting out of your comfort-zone ». We really hope you learn a lot and enjoy this episode!

Tôn Nữ Thiên An has stories that likely many Vietnamese Millennials can relate to, but very few of which have talked about out loud. We hope this episode opens up a conversation for young Vietnamese to discuss mental health, body image, and bullying.

An bravely shares, for the first time, her experience being bullied as a child by both her classmates and her teacher. She felt worthless, until her Literature teacher stepped in and believed in her. It was a turning point for An to realize that all we need is someone to believe in us. This has led An to become an English teacher, passionate about creating a safe and inclusive environment for her students, in the hopes that none of them will have to go through what she did. She introduces her students to taboo topics like racism, sexism, and LGBTQ+ issues.

She also opens up about her battle with body image, leading to an eating disorder and subsequent health problems, due to being mocked by her family about her weight and unrealistic beauty standards upheld in Vietnam and globally.

In Vietnam, it's considered "weak" to share about your problems. We hope to change this narrative, to encourage people to openly share and express your emotions. You are NOT alone.

From now, once a month we will be only the three of us recording a « team episode » were we can expand on more topics and choose a different angle to our conversations. This one is our first episode as a team … And it was really fun!

It was great because we had some questions about the way we manage the podcast of course and how is Vietnam for « creative people » but also some questions about self development, relationship management and more!

Dana, Tue-si and Nico are sharing a vulnerable moment spent together with you, thanks to your questions. This episode is the first of its kind so if you like it, please share it with people who may be interested in our podcast!

And if you have other questions, feel free to write them down the comments below. Actually we would like to know if you guys like our content and if you see anything we could improve… so feel free to comment about this as well!

Thank you all for listening, stay creative!

Co-hosted by Dana Drahos, Nicolas Thành and Tuê-Si Nguyen

Before COVID hit, Nicolas Thành was enjoying the fruits of his four years of labor put into his hostel DaBlend in Saigon, Vietnam. Da Blend Hostel was ranking number one on platforms such as HostelWorld and Trip Advisor. Nico had plans to expand the business and get involved in other tourism business opportunities.

As you can imagine, this all came crashing down with the closing of the Vietnam borders due to the pandemic. It was hard for Nico to accept that it was all over, and that he had to figure something else out--and fast, before he ran out of his savings. At the same time, he was grateful for the chance to actually slow down and have time back to himself. Having spent 10 days in the hospital in 2018 due to overworking, not eating, stress, and lack of sleep..Nico welcomed the opportunity to learn how to install better systems and habits. 

Now, he is a full time business consultant for the company IzyViet, a paperwork service for visas, work permits, licenses, etc. for foreigners in and entering Vietnam. He is also a co-host of our podcast, Creators in Saigon! He also founded a Facebook group community for French Expats in Vietnam (link below). When there aren't government-mandated restrictions, Nico hosts meet ups for entrepreneurs to learn and network.

In this episode we discuss Nico's upbringing, including being a child of divorce, and being a minority in France. We get into his journey coming to Vietnam when he was just 20 years old, starting up two businesses here in his early 20's, and the failures and lessons that came with them. We discuss his relationship with his Vietnamese wife, and how they've managed to stay a strong couple through the ups and downs.

Since moving to Vietnam in early 2018, Kimmie discovered the joy of custom made clothing. From the challenge of finding the perfect print in a delightfully disorganized marketplace to seeking the Holy Grail of tailors, each experience pushed her to where she is now: creating and expanding a platform to share her vision of vibrant and expressive clothing. She is the Founder and Designer at Dynasty the Label, an ethical, handmade, slow fashion brand. 

In this episode we talk about her Vietnamese-Ethiopian roots and what it was like growing up in a Vietnamese home while living in Australia. She shares with us the problems with the majority of the fashion industry today and how we can all be more conscious consumers. We talk about how moving to Vietnam has allowed her to finally feel at home and what her hopes and dreams for the future are.

"Everyone wants to be the sun that lights up your life. But I'd rather be your moon, so I can shine on you during your darkest hour when your sun isn't around." - Unknown

This is the quote that our latest guest Crystal Osuji left us with. Giving us the perfect way to describe her role as a wellness coach and the essential presence that she wants to be in her own life and the people she cares about.

It was with great pleasure that we welcomed her on the podcast and a lot of the interview had to be cut off because of the constant laughter!

She still managed to give us a glimpse into the life of a Nigerian-American living and creating her best life in Vietnam and I was very excited to be able to experience her point of view of Vietnam and Saigon.

How she uses all of her experiences as a Massage Therapist, Yoga instructor, Pole-dancer competitor & Wellness Coach to do her own internal work & find her own balance in order to be of service to others is truly inspiring and commands respect.

Thúy Uong has loved bringing people together through the power of music since she was a child (so much so that she used to practice playing piano by drawing the keys on pillows!). She grew up in a time where Vietnam was dark and quiet, but MTV music videos of the 90's brought Thuy a sense of hope for her future. 

Pham Thi Thuy Lien is a travel blogger, marathon runner, and voice over talent. What she DOES, is impressive, but it's even more inspiring the type of person she IS. When she doesn't know how to do something, she doesn't let it stop her, she works hard to learn how to do it. For example, she has taught herself English, taught herself how to successfully make money from her travel blog, and never took formal lessons for voice over work. She sees what she wants, and goes for it, practicing and staying consistent until she reaches her goal.

Lien was previously a broadcaster at 97.5 MHz FM of Dong Nai Radio and Television Station. Currently she is a travel writer for a number of newspapers: Thanh Nien, Tien Phong, Sai Gon Tiep Thi, Dan Tri. Plus, she's doing a full-time job in marketing!

We hope you will gain inspiration from this episode to go for your dreams even if you don't YET have the knowledge, skills, or money. What you DO have is your willingness to put in the work, your "why", and if you're having trouble setting up the habits and systems for success, reach out to Tue Si or Nico!

Connect with Lien

Dana, Tue Si and Nico reflect on their 2020's, including their proudest moments, lowest moments, key lessons learned, and then share their hopes, dreams and goals for 2021. Happy New Year!!

Resources Mentioned:

"I looked at myself and I was like, okay, I'm living in this beautiful apartment downtown, I have a very high paying job, I have a very beautiful fiance, and yet I'm doing drugs every single day to sustain my mental stability."

For Tue Si, born and raised in France with Vietnamese heritage, moving to Vietnam was a life or death decision.

He knew that he had to get out of the environment where his meth addiction started and was sustained. He knew he had to start fresh.

With over a year of sobriety, Tue Si has learned a lot about the childhood trauma that planted the seeds for a multitude of addictions later in life, how to heal from the trauma and cope in a healthy way, and how to help others get their lives on track through what he calls a "life operating system."

Learn about Tue Si's past, his story of overcoming addiction in Saigon, what he means by "life operating system", and more.

"A year after knowing (my girlfriend), we did a yearly review: to see what was good this year and what was not good? And I ended up writing on a piece of paper that I don't want to do what I'm doing anymore."

Tune in to find out more about Guillaume Rondan's transition from digital nomadness to content creation fueled by his desire to help people Move to Asia.

He shares his experiences, struggles & point of views on the importance of knowing yourself, finding fullfillment through the creative process, the importance of a good support system and what's next after "making it" as a digital nomad.

BONUS episode!! The day has finally come when it is time to interview the creator of this podcast, Dana Drahos!!

Nico and Tue SI dig in to how Dana ended up in Vietnam, her meandering very non-linear entrepreneurial path from teaching, to podcast producing, to life coaching, and now moving more towards health coaching.

Tran is a proud Saigonese with experiences in performing poetry and leading writing workshops in the US. She is a firm believer in the power of creative writing, poetry in particular, as an accessible tool to build meaningful connection with oneself and the world. She started Wordlust in March 2020 to roll that belief into action - a space where people can explore their truest thoughts and feelings through contemplative and creative practices. Outside of Wordlust, she juggles between being an English teacher, a full-time learner and a forgetful friend.

We discuss Tran's struggle to reconcile two cultures and languages, and how poetry and creative writing has helped her to express herself. We learn more about her creative writing workshop WordLust, how and why she started it, and her vision for the future. 

Well hello! Lam and I are back. We took a (long) hiatus. We were both feeling low energy and burnt out with everything going on, plus our recording studio was closed of course:(

SO we decided, just the two of us to have a catch-up episode where we discuss what went on in our lives the past two months, because both of us have had MAJOR shifts and realizations about our lives and our purpose.

Listen in to hear:

“You’re never gonna think your way to your purpose and passion.” -Dana

“I don’t go for good, or almost good, I go for the best.” -Lam

Resources mentioned:

In this episode, we talk with Tarek about perfection and how it works against ourselves mentally and professionally. We kick off talking about Tarek’s passions for trying new things and how it led to the start of his channel. He, Lam, and Dana each mention how aiming for perfection actually held them and those they know back from their goals and how they worked to overcome those feelings. Finally, we talk about our top tips for addressing your fears for putting yourself out there without aiming for perfectionism so that you can gain the confidence to do whatever you put your mind to!

TRIGGER WARNING AND EXPLICIT CONTENT.

WARNING: Do not listen to this episode with children. Do not listen if you are triggered by discussions of rape or sexual abuse. We discuss explicit topics around sex and sexual activity. This episode is intended for educational purposes and is done in a tasteful and serious manner. It is not intended to offend anyone.

ALSO: You will hear "beeps" in the beginning. This is beeping out our guests name because she prefers to remain anonymous for now:)

In this episode we've got three girls talkin about SEX BABYYYY. We talk about the disconnect between the perception and the reality of the sexuality of Vietnamese women. We discuss the differences of sex education in Vietnamese vs. other Western cultures and what impacts it has had, particularly for women. Dana talks about why she hasn't had sex in...a really long time. Lam talks about her recent sexual awakening and our special anonymous guest shares her sexual journey, stressing the importance of loving yourself and female empowerment. Our guest also gives us a REAL sex education on masturbation, orgasms, porn, and the non-verbal signs to look out for when you're on a date with a guy to know if he actually respects you.

Our anonymous guest was born and raised in Hanoi. She's a tiny woman striving to make love the universal language. She writes about stuff we are often scared to talk about like pain and guilt. She also coaches women who struggle to find the love within them, hoping that we can all lead a more positive and fulfilling life.

TRIGGER WARNING: Light discussion of rape and sexual abuse in the context of healing traumatic experiences.

Do you ever start panicking or feeling anxiety and have absolutely no idea why? Or maybe you keep getting caught in the cycle of unsuccessful and unfulfilling relationships?

In this episode we learn how one man couldn't understand why every time he went to the gym, he'd have a panic attack. After two sessions with our guest Rachel, he found the specific event where it all started, healed that wound, and enjoys life anxiety/stress free. We also hear about a woman who couldn't fully connect in romantic relationships, uncovered a repressed trauma with Rachel and healed after two sessions, and is now happily in a relationship.

Rachel Jones works predominantly with two therapeutic healing modalities called Transpersonal Regression Therapy (TRT) and Integrated Clinical Hypnotherapy (ICH). In this episode, you will learn about two of the most cutting edge and effective  healing modalities available today. That's because, unlike other types of therapies that are treating the symptoms, TRT and ICH go directly to the source, to heal the root cause, so you are permanently liberated from suffering. What takes years in talk therapy can take only two or three sessions with Rachel!

We also get a deep understanding of what a session with Rachel looks like and why she considers it is a form of art, with concrete case study examples to help you visualize. We discuss how NOT healing means you can be passing your trauma down to future generations. Relative to that, we discuss traumas that have been passed down the generations in Vietnamese families due to the war, and how it is presenting in the young adults of Vietnam today. Lam shares with us this situation in her own life, how she healed, and how she helps her clients heal.

Rachel is available for one-on-one therapy sessions and can be contacted directly by phone or email at:

As promised, this is a BONUS episode for season 1 to give you a glimpse into the new format and to introduce our new co-host!!

I had sooo much fun recording this with my soul sista Millette of @thenextsomewhere (seriously, we found so many parallels in our lives and personalities it’s freaky!!) and my bestie and now co-host @lam_tarot_into_clarity.

Millette lived in Saigon 2.5 years ago and now lives back in the States with her husband (props to her hubs who spent their first Thanksgiving without her!). I was introduced to Millette by another @creatorsinsaigon alumni guest, Frances, of @so_theadventurebegins (thank you for introducing me to this GEM Frances!!)

When Millette introduced herself, she said that she was back in Vietnam for a “creative immersion”. Vietnam was a place where her creativity really blossomed and where she feels the most at home (away from home).

Her purpose in coming here really struck me. Some people go on vacation and don’t really put much thought into the purpose. Many of us go through LIFE this way- lost, living day by day not really knowing why they do what they do. Millette had a totally different approach and I was really inspired by it and think you will be too!

Take a listen, share on your social media and let us know what you think! It really means so much when I hear from you guys:)

To follow and support Millette:

In the FINAL episode for season 1 of Creators in Saigon, I sit down with Will Snyder, Sean Lambe, and Mateu Perpinya, the filmmakers behind "Irregular Film".

Irregular Film is an independent film production company focused on making documentaries highlighting the intersection between eastern and western cultures in Vietnam. The company was started by Will Synder and Sean Lambe, who met while teaching English at ILA, and they have since been joined by their talented film editor Matt.

Their first film, Faces You Forget: Nights Out in Saigon (Bui Vien Documentary) was released in 2016 and has since garnered over 43K views on Youtube and over 250K views on Facebook. Vietnamese locals and Westerners alike love the film for it's ability to uncover the stories of the Vietnamese people on this famous backpacker street, amidst all of the lights and beers and EDM music.

Three years later, the boys are taking it a huge step further by creating their first length feature film documentary. This one is called Saigon Metalhood, and it uncovers the underground metal rock scene in Saigon. If you are not a metal rock fan, not to worry. This film is not about metal rock as a music genre, but it's about the fascinating history of metal rock in Vietnam and about the Vietnamese people who are part of this culture today.

In this interview we discuss how they got started making films with zero budget, simple equipment and minimal experience, we talk about the behind-the-scenes making of both their films, and what advice they have for aspiring filmmakers. 

To follow Irregular Film and find their documentaries visit:

Full episode releases on 11/25! In the FINAL episode of the first season of Creators in Saigon, I sit down with Will Snyder, Sean Lambe, and Mateu Perpinya, the filmmakers behind the independent documentary film production company named Irregular Film.

Irregular Film focuses on telling stories highlighting the intersection of Vietnamese culture and Western culture. They released their first documentary "Faces You Forget: Nights Out in Saigon (Bui Vien Documentary)" in 2016, and since then it has reached over 43K views on Youtube and over 250K views on Facebook.

They are now taking it a step further by creating their first feature-length documentary called Saigon Metalhood, which tells the history of metal rock in Vietnam as well as interviews with the Vietnamese musicians leading the metal rock scene in Saigon.

Saigon Metalhood is not released yet but to stay updated, follow Irregular Film on Facebook:

GO WITH FULL CONFIDENCE, BE YOURSELF, AND ROAR.

This is the mantra of the Lionheart Skincare brand, created by our next guest, Viktoriya Gorodetska. In this interview we find out how a girl from the Ukraine, whose only experience with skincare was watching her grandmother make her own facial masks, started a natural skin care brand in Bali and is now selling products all over the world. In our conversation we get real about the emotional rollercoaster that is starting a business. This interview is PACKED with personal growth and mindset tips/resources for creators and entrepreneurs. You’ll also found out how YOU as a listener of Creators in Saigon can get 10% off your Lionheart Skincare purchase!!

During this interview I was shocked to discover the ways I’ve been doing skin care all wrong. Viktoriya shares with us the ideal skin care routine especially for this Ho Chi Minh City climate.

Not only do we talk skin care, but also about how she’s networked her way to putting her business together in Ho Chi Minh City from scratch. This girl has so much to be proud of- in less than a year she created the packaging, social media, website for the brand, got the product into the #1 Luxury Spa in HCMC on TripAdvisor, and so much more. Viktoriya was also recently featured in Bliss Saigon magazine and has had a booth at events in HCMC such as the Fexpats 5 Year Anniversary community fundraiser.

We also talk about how she gets through her lowest moments that we all have when on an entrepreneurial journey, how she creates balance in her life, her advice on how not to get overwhelmed with all the ideas and things to do for your business, and how to discover what you love to do.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Water Magic: Healing Bath Recipes for the Body, Spirit, and Soul by Mary Muryn

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING YOUR OWN HAPPINESS.

"The 'I don't know' mind is where you can start to receive wisdom." -Lam Tue

If you’ve been feeling lately like you’ve totally hit a wall, and you’re wondering when things will get better, it’s no coincidence that you have found this podcast episode.

Our guest Lam Tue, a Saigon local, works with clients in Vietnam and all around the world who are ready to take the responsibility to heal their childhood wounds and grow into the highest version of themselves.

There’s a reason why you feel frustrated and stuck. Why none of your relationships work out. Why you don’t feel confident at work. Why you thought moving abroad would solve all your problems and it didn’t. Lam is here to help you see and live in your truth, which means being who you really are, not who you think you should or shouldn’t be. Ignoring your negative feelings, keeping busy all the time, chasing highs, and blaming others for your problems are all what keep you from uncovering your authentic creative self. We all want to create an amazing life for ourselves and that has to start internally, not externally, which is a lesson I’ve personally had to learn over and over again. But where do we start? You’ll learn this and more in episode number 3 of the Creators in Saigon podcast.

As always, share this episode with a friend who you think can benefit from hearing this message and please share on your social media. Don't forget to tag @lam_tarot_into_clarity and @creatorsinsaigon.