Choosing to Return to Vietnam

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After finishing my internship in Texas, many people asked if I wanted to stay. The company where I worked even offered support with the procedures to continue after my contract. For some, that could have been the first step toward an American Dream.

But for me, the decision was different. I valued the U.S. experience deeply, yet my vision went beyond personal opportunities. What mattered was not simply where I lived, but what I could do and how it could make a difference.

So I chose to return to Vietnam. I began by teaching at the university level, where I discovered how much I loved standing in front of students, guiding discussions, and sharing not just academic knowledge but also the lessons I had learned from life abroad. My teaching philosophy became clear: education is not only about transferring information - it is about helping students grow into better versions of themselves.

Soon after, I was invited to serve as Head of the International Cooperation & Personal Development Program (ICPDP) at FPT University. In that role, I designed workshops, mentoring activities, and international programs to expand students’ opportunities and perspectives. Leading this program gave me the chance to help students connect with the world, just as I once longed to do.

At the same time, I established my own company in Vietnam, dedicated to helping young people apply for scholarships and overseas study. Through it, I supported students who, like me in the past, might have doubted their chances. Watching them succeed reminded me why I had chosen to return: to give back, to share, and to create impact.

Returning was not the easier choice, but it was the one that gave me purpose. The classrooms I entered, the programs I built, and the students I mentored all became proof that meaning is not tied to a location, but to the lives we touch.

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