The Vietnamese with Kenneth Nguyen

thevietnamesepodcast
  • 4.9 (70)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

Being a part of the Vietnamese culture of over 100 million people comes with plenty of history, privilege, honor, and not to mention painful challenges. Join Kenneth Nguyen as he spotlights Vietnamese experience from around the world! Each podcast episode explores the creative process of individuals shaping the diversity of what it means to be Vietnamese--as a local, born and raised, or as a third culture kid. Gain insight on the divisions that separate us politically and culturally. This podcast can take multiple directions, but what it will aim to do is show Vietnamese from a transpacific lens, in all its facets and complexities. When you strip away the diaspora, we are #VietnameseFirst.

  1. 20h ago

    543 - What If Charging $41 For Pho Is The Key To Respecting Vietnamese Heritage? - Mr. Gao Viet

    How does a former boat refugee who lived in a jungle refugee camp for three years end up redefining premium Vietnamese dining in San Francisco? In this episode, Ken sits down in San Francisco with Viet (Mr. Gao), owner of Mr. Gao and Venticello/Ventre. Known across social media for his bold personality, luxury dishes, and $41 bowl of Phở, Viet opens up about the deeply personal backstory he rarely shares publicly. Viet breaks down his family’s journey leaving Vietnam in 1990 after 10 failed attempts, surviving three years in Indonesia’s Galang refugee camp selling bánh mì at age 12, arriving in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood to live with five family members in a tiny studio, and aggressively cold-calling his way into a successful career as a financial advisor before buying his first restaurant on a whim. Inside the Episode: Leaving Vietnam in 1990: Surviving 10 failed escape attempts, a three-day boat journey without food or water, and three years in Galang Refugee Camp. Arriving in the Tenderloin: The reality check of moving to a tiny San Francisco studio apartment with five family members and sleeping on a couch for seven years. From Finance to Food: Cold-calling 10 hours a day as a young financial advisor without fluent English, earning a signing bonus, and buying his first restaurant on Grand Avenue. The Business of $41 Phở: Breaking down food costs, 24-hour bone broths, rejecting the "cheap food" stereotype, and elevating Vietnamese cuisine to Italian/Japanese pricing. Managing Expectations: How early life lessons shaped his philosophy on authentic social media, realistic food presentation, and never cheating the customer. Connect & Follow: Guest: Viet / Mr. Gao (@mr.gaoviet) The Vietnamese Podcast: Instagram / TikTok @thevietnamesepodcast -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen Visit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    543 - What If Charging $41 For Pho Is The Key To Respecting Vietnamese Heritage? - Mr. Gao Viet

  2. Sep 25

    542 - Why Is Talking About Vietnamese History Gets You Labeled A "Communist" In Orange County? - Tracy La

    How do we honor our parents' refugee history while fighting for local policy, rent control, and political representation? In this episode of The Vietnamese Podcast, host Kenneth Nguyen sits down with Tracy La, founder and Executive Director of VietRise and candidate for the Garden Grove School Board. Years after first meeting at an Oregon symposium on the 50th anniversary of the war, Kenneth and Tracy reunite for a candid, wide-ranging discussion on the political realities facing the Vietnamese American community in Little Saigon. Tracy shares her personal backstory—from witnessing workplace exploitation as a teenager in San Diego to becoming student body president at UCI—and explains why she founded VietRise after the 2016 election. Together, Kenneth and Tracy tackle complex local issues: confronting the weaponization of red-baiting in Orange County, organizing around senior mobile home evictions, expanding history education, and navigating the emotional tension between refugee memory and modern political activism. Inside the Episode: Meeting in Oregon: Reflecting on a 2023 academic symposium and contrasting perspectives on reconciliation between the diaspora and Vietnam. The Root of Activism: How early childhood experiences seeing immigrant parents exploited in low-wage labor sparked a lifelong commitment to systemic change. Why VietRise Was Founded: Organizing young Vietnamese Americans post-2016 to address local housing, eviction defense, and community empowerment. Dismantling Red-Baiting: Why using "communist" accusations as a political weapon hurts local policy debates and how VietRise expands conversation around history. Running for Garden Grove School Board: Addressing senior housing crises, supporting public education, and creating pathways beyond traditional higher education. Connect & Follow: Guest: Tracy La / VietRise (@vietriseoc) The Vietnamese Podcast: Instagram / TikTok @thevietnamesepodcast -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen Visit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    542 - Why Is Talking About Vietnamese History Gets You Labeled A "Communist" In Orange County? - Tracy La

  3. Sep 21

    541 - Was Grinding As A PA For 20 Years Worth It For This Vietnamese-American Screenwriter? - Nick Huynh

    How does a camera assistant with 20 years in the film business transition into co-writing a feature film released by Sony Pictures Classics? In this episode, Ken sits down with Philadelphia-based writer, camera assistant, and filmmaker Nick Huynh. Nick shares his journey growing up in Northern Virginia, getting his start in theater at George Mason University, grinding through camera department roles for two decades on East Coast sets, and co-writing the quirky indie comedy-drama Ha Chan Shake Your Booty with director Joseph Kubota Vladica. Nick opens up about the writing process during the pandemic, crafting emotional storylines around grief and ballroom dance, navigating career pivots in a shifting film industry, and the importance of representation and small independent storytelling. Inside the Episode: East Coast Roots: Growing up in Northern Virginia (Falls Church) and discovering a passion for story over acting at a New York Film Academy summer intensive. Two Decades in Camera: Spending 20 years as a camera assistant, learning the nuts and bolts of filmmaking, and building a long-term career. Writing Ha Chan Shake Your Booty: Partnering with long-time friend Joseph Kubota Vladica to write a film loosely inspired by amateur ballroom dance culture, grief, and Latin dance. Balancing Comedy & Drama: Crafting awkward, cringey, yet deeply human moments that capture how people navigate loss and relationships. The State of the Film Industry: Navigating industry shifts, career longevity, and the release of their film across 500+ theaters via Sony Pictures Classics. Connect & Follow: Film: Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! (Sony Pictures Classics) The Vietnamese Podcast: Instagram / TikTok @thevietnamesepodcast -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen Visit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    541 - Was Grinding As A PA For 20 Years Worth It For This Vietnamese-American Screenwriter? - Nick Huynh

  4. Sep 18

    540 - $12 Billion A Year! Did Overseas Remittances Secretly Rebuilt Modern Vietnam? - Phu Nguyen

    How did family remittances, refugee history, and Little Saigon business shape the long road toward reconciliation? In this episode, Ken sits down with long-time friend Phu Nguyen—Coast Community College District Trustee, community advocate, and member of the historic Hoa Phat family. Phu shares his family’s harrowing journey leaving Vietnam by boat in 1981, being rescued by the Chinese military at sea, and arriving in Southern California to open Hoa Phat Fabric & Gifts, which became the first licensed Vietnamese money transfer business in California in 1998. Together, Kenneth and Phu discuss the massive economic impact of remittance dollars sent back to Vietnam, the political and cultural shifts among young Vietnamese Americans in Little Saigon, the need for an independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission to acknowledge the pain and history of both sides of the war, and Phu's groundbreaking work introducing ethnic studies and community initiatives as a college trustee. Inside the Episode: The Hoa Phat Origin Story: Escaping Vietnam by boat in 1981, Hong Kong UN refugee camps, and building a 42-year legacy business in Little Saigon. The Remittance Economy: Navigating trade embargoes through Air France cargo and growing into a licensed financial institution sending billions to Vietnam. Reconciliation & Truth Commissions: Why healing post-civil war requires bilateral acknowledge of history, pain, and legitimacy from both sides. Shifting Demographics in Little Saigon: How new waves of international students from Vietnam and younger generations are reshaping local perspectives on history and community. Representation in Public Office: Serving as the first Vietnamese trustee on the Coast Community College District Board and expanding Vietnamese American experience curriculum. Connect & Follow: Guest: Phu Nguyen (Coast Community College District Trustee) The Vietnamese Podcast: Instagram / TikTok @thevietnamesepodcast -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen Visit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    540 - $12 Billion A Year! Did Overseas Remittances Secretly Rebuilt Modern Vietnam? - Phu Nguyen

  5. Sep 17

    539 - Why Are Overseas Vietnamese Still Trapped In The Past While Vietnam Moves Forward? - Nam C Kim PT.2

    How does inherited trauma drive our deep obsession with history, identity, and cultural preservation? In Part 2 of this conversation, Ken sits down with Columbia University archaeologist Prof. Nam C. Kim to explore the deep psychological and cultural connection between trauma, passion, and heritage. Kenneth and Nam discuss how family displacement during the Cold War and the 1975 refugee exodus shaped their lifelong obsession with archaeology and storytelling. They also break down the anthropology of human conflict—from ancient hand-to-hand combat to modern drone warfare and AI—and contrast the trauma-informed perspective of the overseas diaspora with the forward-looking mindset of youth in modern Vietnam. Inside the Episode: Trauma, Obsession, and Art: How inherited family trauma fuels a lifelong drive for cultural preservation, archaeology, and creative work. The Anthropology of Warfare: Nam’s research on why humans fight, the shift from proximate combat to distant drone/AI technology, and the ancient roots of peacemaking. Diaspora vs. Modern Vietnam: Contrasting the trauma-driven cultural preservation of overseas Vietnamese with the forward-moving mindset of young people in Vietnam today. Cultural Kinship & Belonging: Why humans naturally seek identity and connection through food, traditions, and historical memory. Inside the Phúc Tạp Project: Reflections on Kenneth and Nam's ongoing documentary collaboration documenting the complexities of Vietnamese identity. Connect & Follow: Guest: Prof. Nam C. Kim (Columbia University) The Vietnamese Podcast: Instagram / TikTok @thevietnamesepodcast -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen Visit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    539 - Why Are Overseas Vietnamese Still Trapped In The Past While Vietnam Moves Forward? - Nam C Kim PT.2

  6. Sep 16

    538 - Why Did Ancient Vietnamese Warriors Paint Their Teeth BLACK? - Nam C Kim

    Why did ancient Vietnamese communities dye their teeth black—and what did it mean about their identity, beauty, and survival? In this episode, Ken reunites with Columbia University archaeologist Prof. Nam C. Kim to explore the history, science, and cultural evolution of tooth blackening (nhuộm răng đen) in ancient and modern Vietnam. Joined by special guest artist and tattoo historian Andy Hori Tran, Kenneth and Nam examine recent archaeological studies analyzing human remains from the 2,000-year-old Đông Sơn culture. They break down the traditional recipes involving iron salts and gallnuts, the hygienic benefits of enamel protection, and how body modifications like tattooing and tooth staining served as boundary markers between ancient indigenous communities and expanding northern empires. Inside the Episode: The Archaeology of Tooth Blackening: Examining recent chemical analysis of 2,000-year-old Đông Sơn human remains and recipes used for permanent staining. The Trưng Sisters Era: Han Dynasty Chinese chronicles describing southern "barbarians" with short hair, tattoos, and blackened teeth. Cultural Purpose & Hygiene: How resin pastes protected teeth from decay while serving as rites of passage, community markers, and human-versus-animal distinctions. Andy Hori Tran on Đông Sơn Art: Decoding the visual motifs on bronze drums, headhunting depictions, boat scenes, and indigenous identity. Why the Practice Vanished: How Western contact, French colonial beauty standards, and modern shifts led to the decline of nhuộm răng đen in the 20th century. Connect & Follow: Guests: Prof. Nam C. Kim (Columbia University) / Andy Hori Tran The Vietnamese Podcast: Instagram / TikTok @thevietnamesepodcast -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen Visit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    538 - Why Did Ancient Vietnamese Warriors Paint Their Teeth BLACK? - Nam C Kim

  7. Sep 13

    536 - How Did A 20-year-old Vietnamese-Canadian Producer Get A Track On A Drake Album? - FrancisGotHeat

    How does a young producer from Toronto go from making beats in high school to producing for Drake, Big Sean, Eminem, Zayn, and Nicki Minaj? In this episode of The Vietnamese Podcast, host Kenneth Nguyen sits down with acclaimed music producer FrancisGotHeat (Francis Nguyen-Tran). Francis shares his journey of growing up in Toronto as the youngest of six children in a musical refugee family, turning down early bad record deals at 17, and producing "4422" for Drake's More Life project. Francis opens up about his recent trips back to Vietnam, stepping into the Vietnamese entertainment industry as an international guest producer on Anh Trai "Say Hi" (Didn't Say Hi), the difference between AI music and human soul, and his long-term mission to help build the next global wave of V-Pop. Inside the Episode: Roots & Refugee Story: Growing up in Canada as the child of Vietnamese refugee parents who loved music but discouraged making it a career. The Toronto Hustle: Entering the Remix Project at 15, meeting industry lawyers, and flying out to LA as a teenager without taking bad early deals. The Making of Drake's "4422": Creating the moody, atmospheric beat in high school and having it picked up three years later for More Life. Reframing Vietnam: Overcoming family fear narratives, experiencing modern Saigon for the first time in 2025, and discovering the local music scene. Guest Producing on Anh Trai "Say Hi": Working with local artists, adapting from hip-hop/R&B to ballads, and experiencing the versatility of Vietnamese talent. The Future of V-Pop: Exploring what it will take for Vietnamese music to cross over internationally, blending traditional tones (cải lương, bolero) with modern production. Connect & Follow: Guest: FrancisGotHeat (@francisgotheat) The Vietnamese Podcast: Instagram / TikTok @thevietnamesepodcast -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen Visit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    536 - How Did A 20-year-old Vietnamese-Canadian Producer Get A Track On A Drake Album? - FrancisGotHeat

  8. Sep 11

    535 - Why Is A British Basketball Coach Fluent In Vietnamese? - Rob Newson

    How does a basketball coach from the UK move to Saigon and end up speaking fluent Vietnamese? In this episode of The Vietnamese Podcast, host Kenneth Nguyen sits down with British basketball coach and creator Rob Newson. Arriving in Vietnam in 2011 to coach international school programs, Rob quickly set out to learn the language—a decision that unlocked unique cultural connections and led him to become a pivotal early figure in the launch of the Saigon Heat and the development of the Vietnam Basketball Association (VBA). Rob shares his journey from coaching youth programs across Vietnam to navigating the early days of professional basketball in Saigon, meeting his Vietnamese wife, and building projects like the Vietnam Basketball Experience Trip (VBET) to connect international players with local basketball communities. Inside the Episode: The Language Journey: Learning Icelandic first, moving to Saigon in 2011, and building fluency through daily interactions and coaching. The Birth of Professional Basketball: Coaching early youth programs, working with local district teams, and helping launch the Saigon Heat franchise. Coaching & Culture: Bridging communication gaps between foreign imports, local Vietnamese players, and international staff. The Evolution of the VBA: How grassroots academies, proximity to pro players, and social media are growing basketball across Vietnam. Personal Life: Meeting his wife in Saigon, navigating cross-cultural relationships, and staying connected to Vietnam from the UK. Connect & Follow: Instagram: @thay.rob The Vietnamese Podcast: Instagram / TikTok @thevietnamesepodcast -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen Visit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    535 - Why Is A British Basketball Coach Fluent In Vietnamese? - Rob Newson
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4.9
out of 5
70 Ratings

About

Being a part of the Vietnamese culture of over 100 million people comes with plenty of history, privilege, honor, and not to mention painful challenges. Join Kenneth Nguyen as he spotlights Vietnamese experience from around the world! Each podcast episode explores the creative process of individuals shaping the diversity of what it means to be Vietnamese--as a local, born and raised, or as a third culture kid. Gain insight on the divisions that separate us politically and culturally. This podcast can take multiple directions, but what it will aim to do is show Vietnamese from a transpacific lens, in all its facets and complexities. When you strip away the diaspora, we are #VietnameseFirst.

Information

  • Creator
    thevietnamesepodcast
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    551
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Vietnamese with Kenneth Nguyen

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