23-year-old Vietnamese student speaks before hundreds of US congressmen about the East Sea

At just 23 years old, Vietnamese student Pham Nguyen Dang Trinh gave a speech before US congressmen about China's wrongdoings in the East Sea.

At the age of 23, 4th year student Dang Trinh has excelled in executive positions of many organizations: President of Phi Beta Delta Fund for International Scholars; President of the United Nations Finance Fund in Orange County, President of CSUF Students Recycle; on the Board of Directors of the CSUF Leadership Center...

Born in Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Pham Dang Trinh (Sky Pham) went to New Zealand to study high school at Wellington College, Wellington. After graduating, he went to the US to study Economics and Finance at California State University, Fullerton, California, USA.

Dang Trinh spoke in defense of East Sea sovereignty before hundreds of US congressmen.

With a high GPA among the highest in the school and impressive community activities, Dang Trinh received the CSUF Phi Beta Delta scholarship for two consecutive years, awarded to outstanding international students.

The Vietnamese man showed his leadership ability and was trusted with many key positions in social and economic organizations in the US despite his young age. In early 2014, Dang Trinh took on the position of President of the Financial Fund (United Nations Association-USA Orange County) of the United Nations organization in Orange County, California and was sent to attend the annual internal meeting in Washington DC.

On this occasion, in front of more than 100 US congressmen, Trinh strongly spoke out to protect Vietnam's interests when China illegally placed the Haiyang Shiyou-981 drilling rig.

“During that tense time, student organizations in the United States organized peaceful protests at Chinese diplomatic missions, along with writing petitions to President Obama and senators.

Thanks to the encouragement, contributions of ideas and advice from the brothers and sisters in the Vietnamese Youth and Student Organization in the United States, during a working trip to DC in early June, knowing that I would be meeting with congressmen and senior leaders of the United Nations, I prepared 3 speeches about China's violation of sovereignty," he shared.

Dang Trinh's goal is very practical: to provide objective and accurate information; to express the common desire for peace of the Vietnamese people to the leaders and always demonstrate the spirit of determination and solidarity of the Vietnamese people and ask for their opinions and feelings on the method of solving the East Sea issue based on international conventions.

Dang Trinh - Vietnamese guy is the President of the United Nations Financial Fund in Orange County, USA.

As President of the United Nations Financial Fund, 9X Viet has made practical contributions to the Orange County community. Therefore, Dang Trinh was honored to receive an honorary certificate from the California State Senator and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

“Your dedication, community service, and compassion in your work are an example to all,” Senator Lou Correa wrote in his citation. He was also honored by the Fountain Valley Department of Commerce for his positive contributions.

Notably, Trinh is the first international student to be selected to study and graduate from the California Supreme Court Leadership Academy – an academy that selects senior and influential personnel in large organizations in California.

Dang Trinh received the CSUF Phi Beta Delta Student Internationalist Award 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 for his academic excellence.

Here, the young man was directly instructed in leadership courses by 5 top Chief Justices of the US Government. After the introduction, everyone was surprised to learn that Trinh was Vietnamese because in history, no international person had been selected to study here.

Dang Trinh also made direct and important contributions in executive positions such as: President of Phi Beta Delta Fund (Honor Society for International Scholars) for scholars from 38 countries around the world; President of CSUF Students Recycle student group.

Trinh is a member of the CSUF Leadership Center Board of Directors; a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS); a member of the Vietnamese-American Chamber of Commerce from 2014 to present; and a member of the project team organized by Boeing Company at CSUF.

Aspiration to contribute to the community

As president of the environmental protection organization CSUF Students Recycle, Trinh developed several social action models recognized by Cal State Fullerton University and received the honorary title “Titan in Action Award” (2014-2015).

Busy with his leadership and studies, on weekends Dang Trinh still participates in cooking at the charity kitchen (Someone Cares Soup Kitchen) for the homeless in Orange County and considers these jobs as the ones that bring him joy and relaxation after class hours.

The Vietnamese guy used to support low-income families to file their annual taxes in Orange County, California (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance). Trinh, along with the non-profit organization Stop Hunger Now, organized donations and packaged 10,000 nutritious meals for poor orphans in Vietnam in 2013; volunteered to participate in the conservation of green parks at OC Parks, Tustin; directly managed the Charity Association of Compassionate Hands to support the unfortunate fates who need sharing in their homeland of Vietnam.

Trinh happily said that currently, the charity is sponsoring more than 5,000 unfortunate lives every month across all regions of the country through monthly rice sponsorship programs. With only 7 USD, generous donors around the world can help a lonely elderly person have 10 kg of rice for 1 month.

In addition, the Association also organizes scholarships for poor but studious students, builds charity houses, drills wells, performs eye surgeries and donates wheelchairs to the disabled. Next December, the Charity Association of Compassionate Hands will join Stop Hunger Now and more than 100 volunteers in Cam Quan to once again organize a fundraising event to pack and distribute more than 20,088 nutritious meals to help Vietnamese children.

Dang Trinh's study abroad journey, which affirmed his intelligence, leadership ability and compassionate heart, has been shared in articles in the Daily Titan and Orange County Register magazines in the US, as well as the student forum of Cal State Fullerton University, USA.

“I always believe that if I can bring joy to others, they will be happy once, and I will be happy ten times,” Trinh confided.

After graduating from university, he wishes to continue his education in the United States. In the future, Dang Trinh hopes to continue developing the charity organization “Helping Hands” with future projects such as building humanitarian facilities in Vietnam and expanding the program to countries like Africa, cooperating with large charities such as the Bill & Melida Gates Foundation.

Regarding work plans, 9X Viet confidently said, "Vietnam in particular and Asia in general are places with many potential and open opportunities for big ideas"./.

According to Dantri