From Vietnam Village Life to Saigon | Thinh Dang S11 E1

Vietnam Podcast: Culture, Community & Conversations

"It’s not about defying my family—it’s about choosing a life that fits who I am."

Niall Mackay sits down with Thinh Dang, a young personal trainer from Vietnam with a fascinating story. Thinh shares his journey from growing up in Dak Lak, moving to Da Nang for education, and ultimately ending up in Saigon, where he has built a successful career as a personal trainer—despite his family’s traditional expectations for him to follow a more conventional career path.

Thinh reveals how his family worked tirelessly to provide him and his siblings with better educational opportunities. Despite the pressure to conform to the typical expectations of a stable office job, Thinh followed his passion for fitness, which has not only given him personal fulfillment but also allowed him to carve out a successful business. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the crossroads between family expectations and personal dreams.

Key Takeaways:

• Growing Up in Dak Lak - Thinh describes the tough environment of his hometown, highlighting the poor education system and his family’s struggles with work.
• The Importance of Education in Vietnamese Culture - Thinh’s parents sacrificed a lot to ensure their children had better educational opportunities in the city of Da Nang.
• Breaking Free from Family Expectations - Despite graduating with a business degree, Thinh chose to follow his passion for fitness and became a personal trainer.
• The Cultural Clash of Career Choices - Thinh shares how difficult it was to tell his traditional family that he wasn’t pursuing a stable, conventional career.
• Building a Fitness Business in Saigon - Thinh’s vision for the future includes scaling his personal training business by mentoring other trainers and eventually opening his own gym.

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Episode Sponsors:

7 Bridges Brewing Co. - An award winning Vietnamese craft brewery from Da Nang, with breweries across Vietnam!
Tenzing Pacific - I highly recommend them for their professional advice related to personal, family, and business insurance.

The full list of winners is here.

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章

1. Growing Up in Dak Lak (00:00:00)

2. Introduction to the Podcast (00:01:18)

3. Meet the Youngest Guest: Tan Dang (00:03:02)

4. Tan's Early Life and Education (00:04:04)

5. Moving to Da Nang (00:05:59)

6. Marker (00:10:41)

7. Life in Da Nang and Learning English (00:10:55)

8. The Role of Head Student (00:20:49)

9. Perceptions of Foreigners in Vietnam (00:28:22)

10. Challenging Stereotypes (00:37:59)

11. Life in Ho Chi Minh City (00:40:27)

12. The Big Reveal: Personal Trainer (00:44:11)

13. Family Reactions and Support (00:48:27)

14. Conclusion and Podcast Wrap-Up (00:57:49)