Creators in Saigon

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: Website: https://linktr.ee/fredle Support the podcast by buying us a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/creators.vietnam **Follow Creators in Vietnam:** Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creatorsinvietnam Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatorsinvietnam **Connect and Work with the Hosts:** Tue Si: https://tuesi.carrd.co/

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! Follow The Guest: Website: https://linktr.ee/fredle Check out Fred Le's document sizzle here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfoJ2fwnPTc&ab_channel=TheEmpathizer Support the podcast by buying us a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/creators.vietnam Follow Creators in Vietnam: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creatorsinvietnam Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatorsinvietnam Connect and Work with the Hosts: Tue Si: https://tuesi.carrd.co/

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. Support the podcast by buying us a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/creators.vietnam Follow Creators in Vietnam: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creatorsinvietnam Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatorsinvietnam Connect and Work with the Hosts: Tue Si: https://tuesi.carrd.co/

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! Support the podcast by buying us a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/creators.vietnam Follow Creators in Vietnam: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creatorsinvietnam Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatorsinvietnam Connect and Work with the Hosts: Moni: https://linktr.ee/coachmonile Tue Si: https://tuesi.carrd.co/

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:

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: How Van transitioned from working at traditional corporate industries to a social enterprise How La Boulangerie Francaise can sustain the free vocational training for young Vietnamese students The future the bakery provides for their students Follow The Guest: Website: https://shop.laboulangeriefrancaise.org/?fbclid=IwAR1TNemPSA47HYNUlIW9b3AbCcCwe4wfSlLry_bll4MZBEsk1P-KxMXJb8o Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laboulangeriefrancaise.hcmc/ Support the podcast by buying us a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/creators.vietnam Follow Creators in Vietnam: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creatorsinvietnam Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatorsinvietnam Connect and Work with the Hosts: Moni: https://linktr.ee/coachmonile Tue Si: https://tuesi.carrd.co/

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. Follow The Guest: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sexcoachingbyselenaluong Support the podcast by buying us a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/creators.vietnam Follow Creators in Vietnam: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creatorsinvietnam Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatorsinvietnam Connect and Work with the Hosts: Moni: https://linktr.ee/coachmonile Tue Si: https://tuesi.carrd.co/

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:

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:

Chúc mừng năm mới! In western cultures, we are used to set our intentions & goals for the next year by January first (as you can listen in our “End Of Year Review” episode). But It is quite different in Vietnam where we do celebrate the “western” New Year but nothing really moves until after the Lunar New Year (Tet). This offers the unsettling advantage of being able to celebrate two new years back to back. And so this gave the team the perfect opportunity to have an open discussion about how we follow through on our intentions and check on our progress at the beginning of this year of the Tiger. In this episode:

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:

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:

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.

It's time to review 2021!

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

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

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:

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. Support the podcast by buying us a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/creators.saigon Resources Mentioned Pussy by Regena Tomashauer Connect with Quynh Instagram: @quynhspeaks Men's Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/suonggforhim/ Women's Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/suongforher/ Couples and Singles Group for Conscious Relationships: https://www.facebook.com/groups/suonggforcouples/ Connect and Work with the Hosts: Dana: http://danadrahos.com/ Tue Si: https://tuesi.carrd.co/ Nicolas: https://www.nicolasthanh.com/

When you are an entrepreneur, it's easy to get overwhelmed or lost in your own mind. That is why, in this episode we invited Lam Tran, Co-Founder and CEO of Wisepass. We tried to understand what's the other side of the coin of being a "CEO" and how other entrepreneurs can become as resilent as him. Lam Tran shares with us his different experiences and how he organise himself and manages his startup to stay on track. He explains us why he moved back to Vietnam and what lead him to become a startup founder in Vietnam. We learned that the entrepreneur's professional and personal life can be strongly tied together when facing difficulties in life. We also asked him how he transformed criticism into constructive feedback and used it to reshape his business model. And what's the plan for Wisepass, his startup, to thrive in the coming years. Support the podcast by buying us a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/creators.saigon Follow Creators in Saigon: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creatorsinsaigon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatorsinsaigon/?hl=en Connect and Work with the Hosts: Dana: https://danadrahos.carrd.co/ Tue Si: https://tuesi.carrd.co/ Nicolas: https://www.nicolasthanh.com/

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! Support the podcast by buying us a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/creators.saigon Apply to be a co-host on Creators in Saigon podcast: https://forms.gle/SEhXX9G4wcghs42x6 Follow Creators in Saigon: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creatorsinsaigon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatorsinsaigon/?hl=en Connect and Work with the Hosts: Dana: https://danadrahos.carrd.co/ Tue Si: https://tuesi.carrd.co/ Nicolas: https://www.nicolasthanh.com/

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. Support the podcast by buying us a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/creators.saigon Follow Tam Nguyen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/minhtam-nguyenvu/ Vietnam Rising Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2JHMTDXAc37S6Z5InXAHew Follow Creators in Saigon: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creatorsinsaigon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatorsinsaigon/?hl=en Connect and Work with the Hosts: Dana: https://danadrahos.carrd.co/ Tue Si: https://tuesi.carrd.co/ Nicolas: https://www.nicolasthanh.com/

✨ 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.

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. So, Greg decided to take the leap an start his own social-business; Ology. For us at Creators in Saigon, it was the perfect opportunity to learn more about what is a social business and how different it is from a "normal" business. During this interview, Greg explains us how to transform your business into a mission-oriented social-business, that will truly create an impact on the long run and not just make a good sale today. We discuss what's behind "CSR" (Corporate Social Responsibility), what is truly social, what's not and how hard it is to build a social-enterprise. Greg also shares with us how important it is to connect with your community, go to help others in need and grow your business by truly adding value to other people around you. In other words, you will learn how adding the "social" dimension to your business can create a unique mutually beneficial ecosystem for all. This episode is only a fraction of what's left to cover on the topic of social entrepreneurship. So, if you are interested to learn more, feel free to connect with Greg and Ology! Support the podcast by buying us a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/creators.saigon Follow Creators in Saigon: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creatorsinsaigon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatorsinsaigon/?hl=en Connect and Work with the Hosts: Dana: https://danadrahos.carrd.co/ Tue Si: https://tuesi.carrd.co/ Nicolas: https://www.nicolasthanh.com/

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. Follow and support Wes Jackson If you haven't already, Follow Creators in Saigon: Facebook Page Creators in Saigon Podcast Instagram Page Creators in Saigon Podcast Support the podcast by buying us a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/creators.saigon Connect and Work with the Hosts: Dana: https://danadrahos.carrd.co/ Tue Si: https://tuesi.carrd.co/ Nicolas: https://www.nicolasthanh.com/

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:

✨ 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!

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. Support the podcast by buying us a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/creators.saigon Get in Touch with Darren Buy the Book: https://amzn.to/3xKusD8 ASE Podcast: https://spoti.fi/3ei5pzi Touch MBA Podcast: https://spoti.fi/36CHcj2 Blog & Newsletter: https://upstartist.tv/ Follow Creators in Saigon: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creatorsinsaigon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatorsinsaigon/?hl=en Connect and Work with the Hosts: Dana: https://danadrahos.carrd.co/ Tue Si: https://tuesi.carrd.co/ Nicolas: https://www.nicolasthanh.com/

✨ In This Episode, We have the pleasure to speak to Tuyen Vo, the incredible host, and creator of the "Dear Our Community" 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: https://www.facebook.com/coachjulesvietnam https://www.combatandperformancetraining.com/ https://www.facebook.com/plantasaigon Support the podcast by buying us a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/creators.saigon Follow Creators in Saigon: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creatorsinsaigon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatorsinsaigon/?hl=en Apply to be a guest or sponsor: https://www.creatorsinsaigon.com (placeholder for future) We can help you launch your podcast!: https://www.creatorsinsaigon.com (placeholder for future) Connect and Work with the Hosts: Dana: https://danadrahos.carrd.co/ Tue Si: https://tuesi.carrd.co/ Nicolas: https://www.nicolasthanh.com/

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

Welcome! You're listening to the Creators in Saigon Podcast, a podcast based in the rapidly modernizing city of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam. This podcast was created in 2019 by Dana Drahos, an American expat, and plant-based certified Holistic Nutritionist and Women's Health Coach. She helps people who menstruate to experience PMS-free periods and live in harmony with their hormonal cycle...good bye mood swings, fatigue, brain fog, and painful cramps! Hear her full story here. Get in touch with Dana: Website: https://danadrahos.carrd.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dana.drahos/ She started this podcast because of her passion for Vietnam and her curiosity to learn the stories of the interesting expats and locals who live here. This podcast is special because we're not afraid to go into deep and uncomfortable topics like childhood trauma, drug addiction, social issues, loneliness, sex, failures in business, relationships, cultural identity, and personal development. With every episode, you'll walk away with new insights, wisdom, and the feeling that you're not alone. Follow the Podcast! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creatorsinsaigon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatorsinsaigon/ Donate to Creators in Saigon to support with production costs: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/creators.saigon This podcast is co-hosted by Tue-Si Nguyen, a Personal Development Coach and Business Consultant with experience managing several companies in the tourism industry all over the world. He now helps people implement systems into their lives and businesses to accelerate their growth and emotional intelligence. By implementing these systems and habits into his own life, Tue Si was able to overcome a two year drug addiction. Hear his full story here. Get in touch with Tue Si: Website: https://tuesi.carrd.co/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tuesicoach/ Our other co-host is Nicolas Thanh is an Entrepreneur Coach from France & Vietnam living in Saigon since 2012. He is helping overwhelmed and stressed entrepreneurs to optimize, automate and delegate their business so they can have more free time for themselves, for their relatives and for different projects. Hear his full story here. Get in touch with Nicolas: Website: https://nicolasthanh.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolasthanhg

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. If you love this podcast, consider giving a small donation to support the financial costs of production: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/creators.saigon Connect with Marc Nguyen: Tickets to the Saigon Latin Cup: https://www.facebook.com/events/428065188486901 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcthelatindancer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marc.rojo.nguyen/?hl=en Also mentioned: https://www.facebook.com/thaodienecowellness Get in touch with Tue-Si: Website: https://tuesi.carrd.co/ Get in touch with Dana Drahos: Website: https://danadrahos.carrd.co/ Get in touch with Nicolas Thanh: Website: https://nicolasthanh.com/ Episode Cover Photo Credit & Shirt by Dynasty the Label https://www.facebook.com/dynastythelabel (our previous guest Kimmie, check out her episode here!: https://anchor.fm/creatorsinsaigon/episodes/Kimmie-Berhanu--Founder-of-Dynasty-the-Label--on-Identity-and-Ethical-Fashion-eq269u/a-a4im1ir)

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: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anth_meatballs/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tony.fornaro.1 Get in touch with Tue-Si: Website: https://tuesi.carrd.co/ Get in touch with Dana Drahos: Website: https://danadrahos.carrd.co/ Get in touch with Nicolas Thanh: Website: https://nicolasthanh.com/

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:

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: Struggles and successes Jana had when starting her first hair salon in South Africa Lessons she learned through having to close her business Why she is passionate about hair styling Why you need to learn to preserve your energy as an entrepreneur (or anyone!) and how to do so The importance of systems and structure for entrepreneurs and what tools we personally use Why and how Jana created her first hair product, Earthy Blonde, an all-natural shampoo for blondes Jana has been kind enough to offer an exclusive discount for our listeners! Head to her website https://www.janavanbeek.com/ or her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/JVBstylist/ and use the promo code CREATORSINSAIGON to get 10% off your purchase! All proceeds from this episode will be going to Little Rose Shelter, a charity and shelter in Saigon for young girls❤️ Get in touch with Jana Van Beek: Website: https://www.janavanbeek.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JVBstylist/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jvbstylist/ Get in touch with Dana Drahos: Website: https://danadrahos.carrd.co/ Get in touch with Nicolas Thanh: Website: https://nicolasthanh.com/

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! To connect with Lua Le, please find her on Facebook and feel free to ask her anything! Hosts: Nicola Thành & Dana Drahos This episode is brought to you by Creators in Saigon Podcast! Please, listen to this episode and share it with your friends, talk about it, and let us know your thoughts!

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. Resources: https://beautifulmindvn.com/ Connect with An: Instagram: @andorable._ Connect with Nicolas Thành: French Expat Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/frenchexpatsvn IzyViet: https://izyviet.com/ Personal website: https://nicolasthanh.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolasthanhg/ Connect with Dana Drahos: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dana.drahos/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dana.drahos/ Connect with Tue Si Nguyen: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tuesi

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 Find us on Instagram!

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. Shout Out to the Seven Million Bikes Podcast, hosted by Niall Mackay! Listen here or on any podcast app! Connect with Nicolas Thành: French Expat Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/frenchexpatsvn IzyViet: https://izyviet.com/ Personal website: https://nicolasthanh.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolasthanhg/ Connect with Dana Drahos: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dana.drahos/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dana.drahos/ Connect with Tue Si Nguyen: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tuesi