PV:As one of the 100 most inspiring and influential women in the world in 2019, among the top 50 most influential women in Vietnam, and recipient of the Red Star Award, what motivated you to achieve these accolades?
Ms. Nguyen Thi Van:To answer this question, let me tell you a story. Although it happened a long time ago, I remember it vividly. That time, I went out to catch a taxi to go somewhere. Sitting in my wheelchair, I waited for a very long time. During the wait, four taxis passed me; they stopped, looked at me sympathetically, and then continued on their way. It was raining heavily, and I, small and frail, was shivering and soaked to the bone…
Like many other people with disabilities, every time I go out, I often receive curious stares from those around me. Even when I want to go for coffee, tea, or get a beauty treatment, I'm scrutinized and discriminated against. Because of this attitude, even though Vietnam has 6.2 million people with disabilities, we still see very few people with disabilities in public places.
This concern fueled my determination to do more, to gain recognition, and to enable all other disabled and disadvantaged people to integrate into the community… That is one of the reasons and motivations behind everything I have done and achieved so far.
PV: With her determination, she has built many businesses and projects aimed at helping disadvantaged people.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Van:Starting from the Center for Living Strength, founded by my brother – the late IT Knight Nguyen Cong Hung, we have provided free training and job placement assistance to thousands of people with disabilities each year. In 2016, recognizing that financial difficulties were a major barrier for people with disabilities in society, I founded Imagtor – an agency specializing in photo editing services with a team of over 60% people with disabilities. The company is growing well and helps our employees earn money to cover their living expenses.
At the end of 2022, I and my colleagues established the social enterprise, Nghi Luc Song Joint Stock Company. The company operates on the principle of using the majority of profits to support people with disabilities and vulnerable groups. Specifically, we maximize the employment of people with disabilities and vulnerable groups, and invest profits in training and vocational guidance centers for them.
Recently, we launched a luxury item care service run by people with disabilities and are also seeking investment from philanthropists for a beekeeping project to support farmers in sustainable agriculture… Although I have many ideas, my health is limited, so I will carefully consider and implement them one by one. I am committed to dedicating all my time to helping people have better lives and create more value.
PV:Besides providing concrete assistance, many people have shared that they received a lot of helpful and practical advice from her.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Van:I especially enjoy being close to friends and family and always want to bring people closer to me. Because of this, throughout my time living in Hanoi, I never felt far from home, as I've brought my relatives and close friends here to live around me – so many that people jokingly say we've "built a village in Nghe An" on the Linh Dam peninsula. I enjoy talking to them, spending time listening to them, solving problems together, and finding directions… One of the most effective ways to guide them is through respectful communication. Through communication and conversations, we understand each other, influence each other, and clarify issues to arrive at wise decisions in our work, careers, and relationships… I always encourage young people to express their own opinions and create their own lives, and in reality, my friends and I have done very well in this regard.
PV:Is it from that strength in conversation and communication that you created the series of videos called "Van Tells Stories"? And how did this channel grow so quickly and become so well-received by the online community?
Ms. Nguyen Thi Van:Actually, there was a time when I avoided the media and was hesitant to share about myself. That lasted for about 5 years. But now, when I feel that my sharing is helpful, that it can bring something to people, I decided to create the channel "Van Tells Stories".
The videos on the channel are neither too long nor too short, revolving around topics that young people care about, such as relationships, entrepreneurship, healing, and experiences… These are all real stories, heartfelt and sincere words recorded naturally in familiar settings of everyday life. I film them while traveling or hanging out with friends. Many people share that watching the videos feels like I'm sitting next to them, drinking tea and chatting. Perhaps it's this naturalness and authenticity that easily "touches" people's hearts.
I'm so happy that those views and shared experiences have been well-received. Currently, the channel's Facebook page has 175,000 followers, and its TikTok account has 64,500 followers with over 762,000 likes. Thanks to everyone's support, I and my colleagues have been able to carry out many meaningful projects for the community.
PV: After 18 years away from home, building a career and living in various places, do you still see many characteristics of a person from Nghe An, and how is it expressed?
Ms. Nguyen Thi Van:I see myself as possessing many characteristics typical of people from Nghe An, the most typical of which is my fighting spirit. Once I set my mind to something, I will fight to the very end to achieve it. Given my starting point and health condition, I had to overcome both internal fears and external obstacles. Moreover, my strength and determination lie in the most extreme moments, when I am rejected, abandoned, and marginalized… Without that characteristic, I probably wouldn't be where I am today.
Furthermore, my way of speaking is quick, concise, and direct, with a good degree of flexibility. These qualities are very evident. So evident that many people, upon meeting me for the first time, even for a casual acquaintance, guess that I am from Nghe An. In my opinion, these personality traits are typical of the people of Nghe An – President Ho Chi Minh's hometown – and I am proud to possess them.
PV: The community of people from Nghe An around her seems very close-knit. Is it difficult to build such bonds amidst the hustle and bustle of life?
Ms. Nguyen Thi Van:We're like one big family and we meet weekly. We're so close that if someone in the group gets sick and has to go to the hospital, the others, instead of visiting, will take turns being there to care for them. Every Saturday and Sunday, we don't work; we spend all our time together, drinking iced tea, chatting, cooking together, and sharing stories. It's a time for complete relaxation, allowing for truly meaningful and substantial community bonding.
It's not just me; all my fellow Nghệ An natives around me are proud of this community. We are proud to have maintained our hardworking, diligent, honest, and close-knit nature, no matter where we are.
PV: Thank you for sharing such meaningful insights!
